Best Bets for Idyllic Prince Stakes Day at Belmont.

It's Idyllic Stakes Day at Belmont this weekend, shaping as a season opener for horses aiming at The Pinnacles later this year.

The weather is expected to be fine on Friday and Saturday, with the track rated a Heavy 9 on Wednesday, and the rail will be out 9m for racing this Saturday.

The feature of the day sees the likes of Saloon Bar and Zipaway return to racing, taking on some in-form gallopers who are race fit.

It creates an interesting conundrum, but one that we can find a strong source of evidence to make a case through the trials leading in.

Saloon Bar's trial was rather plain, finishing 7.5 lengths off Shmoov Moova, who then failed first-up following that trial performance.

He appears a better horse over 1400m than the sprint trips we've seen him at, and the 1300m journey first-up may suggest that Dan Morton is looking to get him out over further this season.

While Saloon Bar is a classy customer on his day, I'm happy to watch and learn from him on Saturday.

I wish Zipaway had gone to the Perth Cup last campaign, but judging by the set up this time in work, I suspect that is the target.

Neufbosc - who scored in one of the great Perth Cup's in recent times - started a couple of his campaigns in this very race before slowly progressing to the Perth Cup to begin the new calendar year when trained by Neville Parnham.

Zipaway has been tried in Melbourne previously and could head in that direction, but with riches on offer in WA, the Perth Cup seems the right play. 

His trial coming in was sharp behind subsequent winner Castle Road and while short of his best first-up, he has proven effective over the mile and shorter early in his career.

The likes of Phanta and Wind And The Lion are both likely to sit close to the speed and will be tough to catch, but the class of Saloon Bar and Zipaway makes this a must-watch.

Over to the Best Bets on the card now, and we'll look to get the money early with the aforementioned CASTLE ROAD in the opener.

While stepping up to 1200m could be the niggle, the apprentice claim of Cooper comes in handy and he has the speed to get across from a tricky gate.

The market looks to have this a race in three, though Country God has enough knocks to oppose as the second elect in early betting.

While he does come through a good race last start where he jumped favourite, this is a completely different scenario to the one last week where he produced a peak rating.

He was a winner at this track and trip two back and while the Blinkers go on for the first time back in trip, there's just something that feels a little off with the set up.

Friar's Legacy comes through a good maiden win last start and will end up with 2.5kg off Castle Road, but he's thrown into the deep end now and it's a bit of a jump to match what Castle Road has done thus far.

Later in the day, progressive 3YO TWILIGHT TALE returns after showing plenty of promise in her debut campaign.

Following a debut win at Pinjarra, she went through the grades quickly to be placed in a 1000 Guineas and a Natasha Stakes enroute to the Oaks.

While not at her best there, it has to be expected with that being just her fifth career start. Her trial coming in was very impressive and while it says she finished 8th of nine on paper, visually it was what you want to see from a horse like her returning.

She may have something to say coming into The Pinnacles, and with only a Class 1 win to her name, she's able to pick a few cheap ones off on the way through, which will be important to her gaining a start in those better races.

Twilight Tale will most likely end up the best horse in the race - if she isn't already - and with further improvement anticipated, she can return with a bang.

The Best From The West

Race 1 #1 CASTLE ROAD

Race 6 #11 TWILIGHT TALE