Belmont Oaks Showdown: Lyrical Angel Seeks Redemption
(Belmont Racetrack, Western Australia)
Trainer Hopeful for Filly’s Comeback
Trainer Kieran Regan hopes his talented filly Lyrical Angel can bounce back from a disappointing performance in the Belmont Guineas when she lines up in Saturday’s Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m).
Regan was left frustrated after Lyrical Angel endured a tough run wide in the Belmont Guineas, finishing a distant 35 lengths behind the winner Luvnwar. However, the trainer believes the God Has Spoken filly is far better than what she showed that day and expects her to rebound quickly in the prestigious Belmont Oaks.
“It’s a complete forget as far as I’m concerned,” Regan told Races WA. “There’s nothing I can do about it now. It’s a shame because she was tracking so well, but the Belmont Oaks has been her grand final race.”
Lyrical Angel’s Previous Form Promising
Lyrical Angel’s previous form suggests she can be a genuine contender in the Belmont Oaks. Three starts back, she charged home from last to win her maiden in impressive fashion at Belmont. Her next run at Bunbury, where she closed late for third behind Cherry Can Run and Kisses From Kelly, also showed her quality.
“What she was able to do from where she was with the rail out so far on a leaders bias track, it was incredible for a three-year-old filly at her fourth start to do that,” Regan said. “The form around her is stacking up.”
Lyrical Angel has drawn ideally in barrier four for the Belmont Oaks and will be reunited with regular rider Steven Parnham, who missed the Belmont Guineas ride.
Tough Competition in the Belmont Oaks
In a field of 10, Luvnwar dominates the Tabtouch market as the $1.90 favorite, chasing a hat-trick of wins after her Belmont Guineas victory. Belmont Guineas runner-up Petrouchka is on the second line of betting at $2.70.
Lyrical Angel has eased from $21 to $26 with the betting apps, but Regan believes that if she can display her best form, she can’t be discounted as having genuine claims in the Belmont Oaks.
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