The $200,000 G3 Belmont Sprint is the feature event this weekend, a feature winter race of the season that has seen a fine array of star WA gallopers grace the honour roll.
Below is a snapshot of the race’s history, going back to its inception in 1963.
BELMONT SPRINT OVERVIEW
- The Belmont Sprint was first staged in 1963 and won by Free Style.
- It was held over 1200m from 1963-72 & 1974-77, 1300m from 1973 & 1978-81 and 1400 since 1982.
- Since 1980 it has held Group 3 status.
NOTABLE WINNERS
- Burgess Queen (1977), Modem (2004), Let Go Thommo (2006), Marasco (2008), Universal Ruler (2009), Grand Nirvana (2010-2011), Luckygray (2012) & Rock Magic (2017).
BELMONT SPRINT JOCKEYS
- Pat Carbery, Paul Harvey and Dan Staeck share the best Belmont Sprint riding record with three wins each.
- Harvey: Modem (2004), Marasco (2008) & Universal Ruler (2009).
- Staeck: Grand Nirvana (2010-2011) & Kerrific (2013).
- Carbery: Who Did It (2005), Beat The Storm (2007) & Perfect Jewel (2020).
- Lucy Fiore: Material Man (2018) & Wink And A Nod (2016).
- William Pike: Galaxy Star (2019) & Elite Belle (2014).
BELMONT SPRINT TRAINERS
- Fred Kersley has trained four Belmont Sprint winners. His first arrived in 1993 courtesy of Dynamor and continued with Marasco (2008) and Grand Nirvana (2010-2011).
- Grant & Alana Williams have won three: Elite Belle (2014), Shining Knight (2015) & Galaxy Star (2019).
- Darren McAuliffe: Universal Ruler (2009) & The Velvet King (2021) and Justin Warwick Material Man (2018) & Wink And A Nod (2016) are dual winners.
BELMONT SPRINT BARRIERS SINCE 2000
- Barrier one has recorded five winners.
- Barriers five and six have had four wins apiece.
- No success from barriers four, eight, nine, twelve, fourteen and fifteen.
BELMONT SPRINT/FASTEST TIME
- Fastest time recorded over current distance (1400m): Another Omen. 1:21:68sec. in 1987.
- Snice 2000: Rock Magic. 1:22:48sec. (1400m)
LONGEST-PRICED WINNER SINCE 2000
- Perfect Jewel: $31.
- Universal Ruler: $19
SHORT-PRICED FAVOURITES SINCE 2000
- Galaxy Star: $1.30.
- Luckygray: $1.80
BELMONT SPRINT/ROMA CUP
- Santaland (1968), Firelight (1969), Clear Mak (1973), Craigie Boy (1975), National Boy (1979), Tangiers (1980), Tribula (2003), Modem (2004), Grand Nirvana (2011), Luckygray (2012), Rock Magic (2017).
PREVIOUS RUN
- Since 2000 eight winners were successful at their previous starts, four of those were first up. The Velvet King (2021), Material Man (2018), Universal Ruler (2009), Corporate Bruce (2001) & News Review (2000).
Julio Santarelli