Leading trainer, Adam Durrant, has a number of excellent chances at Belmont on Saturday afternoon. On Tabradio he said:
Gibraltar’s Street (Race One):
“Has not let us down so far and produced a good second at his second race start when we thought he was a pretty good chance. Hopefully can run a consistent race again. Looking at him and the way he moves and what he has shown on the track he has got a future as a winner and hopefully it’s tomorrow (Saturday).”
Banana Boy (Race Two):
“Probably should have won last race but was held up. Miss Gelana and Muskets At Dawn have the fitness but if he doesn’t run third at worse I am a bad judge. He is going really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him win in the condition that he is in.”
Tower Of Lohnro (Race Three):
“With 60kg and 2000m which he has failed at twice you have to query his chance. But in saying that he is in the best form of his career and going the best I have had him. If he gets 2000m the Darwin Cup becomes an option but honestly I think he is a serious risk at the distance.”
Gladstone (Race Three):
“A mile would have been more suitable with one run under his belt and the step up to 2000m. I’m pretty confident he is close to the mark and if they don’t go overly hard he should be pretty strong at the finish but in a genuine slog he might be exposed.”
Zuccheros (Race Four):
“You have to ride him like you are not trying until the final 300m and have one little sharp crack at them. He has led and been caught once so you need to conserve as much energy as you can. I would be very cautious with a horse backing up after a career-best performance and with issues. Is he going to get the same luck and run? You are going to be a brave man if you declare he is.
Fiddlers Elbow (Race Five):
Up against better horses he may have found his mark. If he can reproduce run from two starts ago when third he will be competitive but it’s not like I can do something that Justin (Warwick) hasn’t. Sometimes you can get one out of them with a change in environment.”
Born To Excel (Race Seven):
“He has had issues over the years and there is no great confidence but hopefully he can reproduce first up run for me from six months ago and get back to his 3YO form when he was one of our up and coming horses.”
Bonny Zara (Race Eight):
“The barrier is the big cross against her name. When she is on she is a pretty good mare this one and could win a Jungle Mist and Jungle Dawn or any of those fillies and mares races over the carnival. She has matured into a nice horse and will be one of my better ones in the next 18 months. Look for her to be really rattling home and if she gets luck at the right time and a very good ride from the barrier, she can certainly finish in the money.”