Tough three year old Gatting is set to pad up for another innings when he takes centre guard in the Listed $100,000 Belmont Classic (2200m) at Belmont in Perth on Saturday.
The Bob Peters owned Western Temple will carry the same colours in the Belmont Classic as his talented stayer Real Love, above. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Gatting up will be stepping out for the third time on three consecutive Saturday’s and trainer Darren Mcauliffe said that the Hard Spun gelding has come through his last start win in a $60,000 BenchMark 78+ Handicap at Belmont last weekend in great shape.
“He’s pulled up terrific,” McAuliffe told The West Australian.
“The horse has an iron constitution and backs up well with a solid preparation.
“We’ll be keeping him up to the mark before the Classic.
“He’ll work on Monday and will gallop on Thursday. We won’t miss him.”
Gatting has drawn barrier eleven in the thirteen horse Belmont Classic field and will be ridden again by Matthieu Autier.
Gatting has been around the mark at his last three starts and prior to his last start win, finished behind Variation twice at Belmont when second in the Listed $100,000 Belmont Guineas (1600m) on June 24 and fourth in the Listed $100,000 Aquanita Stakes (2000m) on July 8.
Autier was also on board Gatting when he won the Group 2 $400,000 W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m) at Ascot in Perth on April 8.
Co-trainer Grant and Alana Williams will saddle up two runners in the Belmont Classic with the Bob Peters owned Western Temple drawing the rails with William Pike to ride and Fontainbleau to jump from gate seven with Glenn Smith in the saddle.
Western Temple is coming off a last start second in the Aquanita Stakes while Fontainbleau is a last start winner of the Listed $100,000 Belmont Oaks (2000m) at Belmont on July 8.
2017 Belmont Classic (2000m) Field
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37211×8241 | GATTING | Darren Mcauliffe | Matthieu Autier | 11 | 56.5kg | 90 |
| 2 | 2x2282x232 | WESTERN TEMPLE | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 1 | 56.5kg | 72 |
| 3 | 9536385125 | DUSTY STORM | Paul Jordan | Ryan Hill | 5 | 56.5kg | 61 |
| 4 | 9×43153113 | JACKPOT PRINCE | G Durrant & J Miller | Clint Johnston-Porter (a) | 13 | 56.5kg | 68 |
| 5 | 34x1730x06 | TAXAGANO | Fred Kersley | Daniel Staeck | 12 | 56.5kg | 65 |
| 6 | 536x61x787 | BURGER TIME | Aaron Bazeley | Peter Hall | 3 | 56.5kg | 62 |
| 7 | 9177×74 | GRAND CADEAU (NZ) | Stephen Miller | Brad Parnham | 2 | 56.5kg | 60 |
| 8 | 874522249 | NOBLE KING (NZ) | Ashley Maley | Steven Parnham | 9 | 56.5kg | – |
| 9 | 65×5328 | CRIMSON’S ROCKET | Kerryn Parsons | Jarrad Noske | 8 | 56.5kg | – |
| 10 | 12447×3151 | FONTAINEBLEAU | Grant & Alana Williams | Glenn Smith | 7 | 54.5kg | 70 |
| 11 | 07x4F52853 | ELEGANT BLAST | Justin Warwick | Ms Lucy Warwick | 4 | 54.5kg | 64 |
| 12 | 47×6387544 | PERSIAN PRINCESS | Alan Mathews | Patrick Carbery | 10 | 54.5kg | 62 |
| 13 | 315×325 | FAST AS THE WIND | G Durrant & J Miller | Shaun Mc Gruddy | 6 | 54.5kg | 59 |
