Robert Hickmott-trained Beltoro tipped to shine on seven-day backup at Sandown

Trainer Robert Hickmott needs to keep weight off the powerfully built gelding for an assignment at Caulfield at the end of June.

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Robert Hickmott has a simple reason to back up Beltoro at Sandown on Saturday.

He needs to keep weight off the powerfully built gelding for an assignment at Caulfield at the end of June.

Beltoro went well when beating all bar the Liam Howley-trained Virtuous Circle at Flemington last Saturday but the next suitable assignment over 2000m is a Quality at Caulfield on June 29.

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Hence Hickmott running Beltoro over 1800m in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1800m).

“Last Saturday, I thought he was a really good each-way chance but Liam’s horse was terrific,” Hickmott said.

“He’s such a gross-doing horse that I have to back him up because there’s a race at Caulfield in a couple of weeks. Having three weeks between runs would be too much because he’d be putting on 10kg in that time.”

Holding on gamely over the final stages, Beltoro has notched up a well deserved black type victory in the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup over 1600m at Morphettville.

With 5 wins overall and close to $500k in stakes, Beltoro becomes the 32nd stakes winner for @SwettenhamStud’s… pic.twitter.com/6iggATskGz

— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) March 13, 2023

Beltoro has steadily improved with racing this time in but will chase his first win since last year’s Listed Albury Cup in Saturday’s $150,000 race.

Hickmott said Beltoro, who has remained solid at $11 for Saturday’s contest, could find himself in longer races after his next 2000m test at Caulfield.

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“The way he’s racing, he might get a mile and a half this time in,” Hickmott said.

“He’s out of a Zabeel mare and he’s more a Zabeel type than a Toronado, even though he’s built more like a Toronado.

“He’s got that Zabeel look and hardiness about him.”

Beltoro has not been disgraced in any stakes test throughout his career, including when beaten less than three lengths in the Group 1 Australian Guineas as a three-year-old.

Hickmott said the rising seven-year-old was capable of winning a stakes race in the right circumstances.

“He’s getting up into that 100 grade now but when he’s getting into those Listed or Group 3 classes, that’s probably his optimum level, so we’ve got to pick the right one,” Hickmott said.

Originally published as Robert Hickmott-trained Beltoro tipped to shine on seven-day backup at Sandown