Trainer Lindsey Smith has declared Saturday’s odds-on 2017 Hyperion Stakes favourite Scales Of Justice being as “good as gold” ahead of his second-up run of the season at Belmont Racecourse.
Disposition is one of two Bob Peters-raced horses in Saturday’s Hyperion Stakes 2017 field in W.A. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
A four-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt, Scales Of Justice is best known for his Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) success during the summer at Ascot Racecourse.
Also second after a luckless run behind Stratum Star in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) in December, the gelding returned to racing on June 3 in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m).
Ridden by Daniel Staeck first-up from the outside barrier (12 of 12), Scales Of Justice finished second in a photo behind Rock Magic.
The punters have rallied behind the $1.17 million earner to return to winning form this weekend however with Scales Of Justice dominating the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on the $150,000 Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
Drawn in gate five and facing nine rivals, Scales Of Justice reunites with Staeck and currently pays a short $1.45 in the Hyperion Stakes odds.
Fitness wise, Smith couldn’t be happier with where his horse is at having gone from strength-to-strength since the Belmont Sprint a fortnight ago.
“He’s as good as gold and Daniel Staeck retains the mount,” the Casuarina-based Smith told The West Australian this week.
Just one other runner is under double-figures in Hyperion Stakes betting this season with former Victorian galloper Disposition at $3.80 to score the upset.
One of three in the Hyperion Stakes field prepared by Karnup father-and-daughter duo Grant & Alana Williams, Disposition is out to improve on his close third in the Belmont Sprint when under a length beaten second-up.
William Pike retains the ride this weekend from gate eight, Disposition raced by prolific W.A. owner Bob Peters who rates the horse a weight-for-age star in the making.
“Disposition has a long-term program of WA weight-for-age races,” Peters said.
Team Williams also saddle-up last start Ascot two-mile winner Zarantz ($21) and the rails-drawn I’m Feeling Lucky ($21) to be ridden by Aaron Mitchell and Glenn Smith respectively.
Peters meanwhile also owns the Grant Durrant-trained Battle Hero who lines-up in the Hyperion Stakes as a $20 shot from barrier three with Jarrad Noske aboard.
Stratum five-year-old Battle Hero has a strong Belmont track record of three wins and a second from six starts, but needs to improve notably from his Belmont Sprint seventh last time out.
It has been over a year between wins too as the gelding looks to break a drought that goes back to his Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m) victory at Belmont over Magnifisio in May of 2016.
Check out the full Hyperion Stakes 2017 betting odds and options open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the latest Perth black-type feature this weekend.
