The Russell Stewart-trained pair Swear To God and Street Parade will be out to enhance their Pinnacles credentials in respective assignments at Belmont tomorrow.
Both three-year-olds made big impressions in their juvenile campaigns, with Street Parade placed in the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), while Swear To God won two of his three starts.
Street Parade returns in the Prive Fashion Platform Handicap (1000m), where he will take on the older horses.
Stewart said tomorrow’s race was a great way to launch Street Parade’s campaign.
“They’re good targets the one-metro-wins for three-year-olds in their early three-year-old year,” Stewart told TABradio.
“His trial shows me, and all the indicators at home, he hasn’t lost anything.
“If anything, he’s probably gained a little.
“I thought he’d be very hard to beat this one.”
Street Parade won on debut at Ascot last November and was placed at his next four starts.
The gelding was beaten six lengths by Amelia’s Jewel in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at his most recent start.
The son of Lucky Street is a $2.60 favourite with TABtouch for his first-up assignment, while Ghost Who Walks ($5), Queenship and Go Forward ($6) are the others in single figures.
Stewart elected to keep Swear To God in his own age group for his return, with the colt to line up in the Ascot Opening Day October 8 Plate (1000m).
Taj Dyson takes the ride on Swear To God, with Stewart electing to utilise the young jockey’s 3kg claim.
Stewart said he was confident the son of Playing God would run well, but felt he’d be better suited up in distance.
“He’s come through his trial run well,” he said.
“All signs are promising for him to run a very good race tomorrow.
“The 1000m will probably be a tad short.
“I had him in the 66+ 1200m later in the day, which was my target.”
Despite the slight concern at the short trip, Swear To God is the $2.70 TABtouch favourite, ahead of All Show ($3).
Stewart said he hoped both Swear To God and Street Parade could work their way through to the $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) on the opening day of The Pinnacles.
