Best Bets for the season opener at Belmont.

With heavy rains forecast, this weekend's season opener has been transferred from Belmont to the Pinjarra Scarpside, with all distances and fields remaining the same.

While a top of 18 is on the cards, 15-30mm of rain is expected on raceday, drenching the Scarpside surface which is already rated a Soft 6.

The rail will be in the True position on Saturday with eight races on the card and no feature to speak of.

Without a feature to speak about - let's dive straight into the best for this weekend, keeping in mind the weather forecast and altering stakes to the conditions.

We'll kick things off early in the day with CRUISE TO VICTORY in race two, and hopefully he can do just that.

He closed off nicely at Bunbury second-up, bumping into the subsequent winner Asphalt who was just too good on the day.

The track played a little funky there with the outside being the best going, though Pike was forced to duck back to the inferior going and make his run up the inside.

The gelding closed off strongly to finish in second position, handling the Heavy rated surface and looking poised to strike third-up.

The niggle is that he's back in trip, but he should be reaching peak fitness and with improvement anticipated, he looks the one to beat.

History Won't Care is his main danger, both in the market and on the ratings, though the market trends in his direction mainly due to a softer barrier.

Aside from CJP sitting a touch closer on the main danger, Cruise To Victory beat him straight up at Bunbury and I'm happy to be in the corner of Pike and Team Williams again.

Over to race four where VAST ART looks to have some value in his price following a very impressive return to racing at Bunbury.

While the son of Flying Artie did end up in the best going in the H.G. Bolton Sprint, he was only first-up there off one trial.

He placed in an Idyllic Prince 12 months ago off a similar set up and while his second-up record doesn't look the best on paper, he's been competitive in those events.

Vast Art ran right up to his peak rating with R&S first-up, but this looks a recipe for him to go to another level again on Saturday.

Sensessional was strong through the line in his trial coming in, but he may be vulnerable first-up over 1400m with his best form being over further.

The Best From The West

Race 2 #2 CRUISE TO VICTORY

Race 4 #1 VAST ART