Talented pacer Belly Up is set to get the chance to make amends for his narrow defeat in last year’s two-year-old Pearl Classic when he lines up in tomorrow night’s Team Bond three-year-old Pearl Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
Belly Up flashed home to finish second by a short half-head to Sebastian James in the two-year-old edition last August.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained pacer enters tomorrow night’s $50,000 feature off the back of an effortless win in his heat last Tuesday week.
The son of Foreclosure has drawn favourably in the Pearl in barrier three, with Seaside Magic and Elite Fleet underneath him in one and two respectively.
Greg Bond said he wasn’t sure what Seaside Magic would do from the draw, but hoped to see Belly Up handy to the speed from the draw
“We will just come off the arm and see where we lob,” Bond told TABradio.
“There are some nice horses drawn wide.
“If Paint The Palette and I’m Massimo had our draw, they might even be favourite.
“There could be a bit happening out there.
“I would’ve thought they’d be happy to take the trail with Elite Fleet on Belly Up.”
Belly Up recorded the second fastest heat time of 1:56.6 in last week’s heats, with I’m Massimo running the fastest time of 1:56.4.
Paint The Palette won the slowest heat in a time of 1:59.1.
Belly Up is the $2.70 TABtouch favourite for the Group 3 event, ahead of Elite Fleet ($4.20).
Captain Stirling, who also looks drawn to play a significant part in the event, is on the third line of betting at $4.40.
I’m Massimo and Paint The Palette are at $6.50 and $8 respectively.
As well as qualifying Belly Up for the Pearl Classic, the Bond team also had When In Vegas do enough in his heat to make the event.
While Bond said it appeared unlikely When In Vegas could win from barrier 12 tomorrow night, he indicated the gelding had a bright future.
“He’s probably one to watch,” he said.
“He’s a horse we have a fair bit of time for.
“He’s a horse when you find him a weaker race the one after this one, he’s one that will bob up and be getting the money for us.”
Tomorrow’s Pearl Classic meeting gets underway at 5.18pm.`
Tim Walker
Image - Pacepix