Pete's Black Book

One of the best runs from Saturdays racing at Belmont Park came from trainer Alan Mathews' gelding Daka's Gem. Starting first up in an unsuitable 1200m sprint-and with the steadier of 57kg, the gelding was a conspicuous last approaching the home turn, but rattled off the fastest 600m sectional for the race to finish right on the heels of the placegetters-just over 2 lengths from the winner. A versatile galloper who has won 11 races from 1100m to 2200m, and over $300,000 in prizemoney, he's definitely one to follow when he gets up to 1600m or thereabouts.
Also from the weekend's racing, I thought at Belmont the win of Bella Pia was special, and Dee Picked was a certainty beat after getting a torrid run throughout. At Flemington, Miss Finland got beat but only because she got a kick in the ribs coming out of the gates and fired up racing to an eight length lead. She'll win the Thousand Guineas on her ear if she draws well. Dizelle came from last to get us again and run fourth in the Metrop. She'll win when no one's on her and along with Zipping who thundered home in the Turnbull Stakes, she's my Melbourne Cup horse. Sphenophyta showed courage to lead around the corner and fight off all challenges up the long Flemington straight. He was our best bet for the weekend, so I hope you followed my tip and got the $5.50!

- Peter Morley