Progressive filly Tick Tick Bloom appears poised to take the next step in the Listed Belmont Oaks on Saturday following her ultra impressive victory in the Belmont Guineas last start.
Spotting the leaders a somewhat impossible start rounding the turn for home the daughter of Viscount proved the superior stayer over the concluding stages when grinding down the leaders to get there in the final stride.
In what was her fourth straight attempt at the mile she now appears set to relish the step up to 2000m as her rivals clearly struggled to see out the trip in the testing conditions last start.
Successful in recording a new peak on that occasion, Tick Tick Bloom is expected to improve again on the weekend and given she already rates clear it's hard to see her rivals turning the tables.
Adam Durrant is arguably one of the best trainers in the country at present, striking at 23% and more notably has run at a POT of +2.0% this season.
William Pike is in great form this season striking at 17% and more notably strikes at 45% for the Adam Durrant stable and has run at a POT of +43.0%.
Adam Durrant has been involved in six of the past eight Belmont Oaks for two wins and four minor placings.
We expect Tick Tick Bloom to repeat the efforts of stablemate Summah's Touch last year who won the Belmont Guineas and Belmont Oaks before going on to win the Belmont Classic.
Currently installed a 9-10 chance seems more than fair as we have Tick Tick Bloom rated closer to $1.70 and expect her to firm on Saturday.
The Simon Miller trained Wild Stratus returned in great order last start and appears well placed to keep her unbeaten run in tact when stepping out in the final event.
Yet to taste defeat in her three career starts the daughter of Hurricane Sky has continued to raise the bar and does appear well placed against the older horses on Saturday.
Though drawn wide she is expected to adopt a position just off the speed and should prove hard to beat with Jason Whiting sticking aboard.
Currently installed a 9-2 chance appears a great betting proposition as we have her rated closer to a 2-1 chance and hence are more than happy to take the current price on offer.
She clearly possesses more upside than a majority of her rivals on the weekend and is expected to take a power of beating.
One runner that does appear under the odds on Saturday is the Adam Durrant trained Tower Of Lonhro in the fourth event.
While clearly flying this time in we are confident he has reached his respective mark and will now struggle to defeat his more proven rivals.
We are keen on both Dominating and When We Were Kings to fight out the finish and are inclined to play that way.
Best From The West:
BANKER: Race 6 #2 Tick Tick Bloom @ $1.90
PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 8 #14 Wild Stratus @ $4.50
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 4 #6 Tower Of Lonhro @ $3.50
