Best Bets for Strickland Stakes Day at Pinjarra.

After confirmation that Belmont is out of action until August, the Strickland Stakes heads to Pinjarra with eight races on the program.

Wet weather is forecast to continue in Perth this weekend, with up to 30mm forecast on Friday and possibly a further 20mm expected on Saturday, making things a bit tricky out west where wet track form is minimal.

While we don't know what the surface will be like on Saturday, what we are sure of is that the Strickland Stakes is a very interesting affair.

Western Empire was awesome in the Hyperion Stakes a fortnight ago when mowing down Magnificent Andy and taking the win right on the post. That effort sees him open an odds-on favourite for the Strickland this Saturday, however we have read this book before.

Just 12 months ago, Western Empire jumped a $1.35 chance and was beaten by Let's Galavhant on a Soft 5 rated surface and on Racing and Sports Ratings, he's coming in off a similar figure.

The difference this time, is that I would argue that this year's edition is weaker.

Last year, Let's Galavhant beat Western Empire in the Hyperion Stakes before repeating the dose in the Strickland, but none of the Empire's rivals come in off a similar rating this time around.

Hemlock Stone is currently second pick in the market and comes in off a mark some 10 pounds lower, beaten 4-1/2 lengths.

On numbers, this looks Western Empire's race, but numbers are only part of the equation when the gates crash back.

Over to the Best Bets on the card now and the Fiore's look to have a smart one in MONEY TREES, who lines up in race two.

The lightly raced son of Rommel was very good late in the race over 1200m on the Scarpside circuit most recently and the rise in trip looks ideal.

He's got plenty of improvement up his sleeve and this looks a brilliant opportunity to show what he's really capable of.

Money Trees' recent ratings stack up highly in this event, and while a rain-affected surface is an unknown, he looks to have further improvement to come and that makes him an attractive commodity on Saturday.

Other horses worth specking on Saturday is the Luke Fernie-trained SKULL BONE AND PIG in race five and in the last, BOHEMIAN DIAMOND for the Dan Morton stable.

SKULL BONE AND PIG is an interesting prospect, still being a maiden but lining up in Saturday grade for just his fourth career start.

The gelding was disappointing when leading first-up on the Scarpside, but the form out of that race worked out and he was scratched last week out Maiden grade.

I suspect he'll be ridden a touch quieter on Saturday, but that can see him back to his best.

BOHEMIAN DIAMOND was caught wide last start in a $100k Westspeed Final and never really got into the race as a $1.65 favourite. Prior to that, she was a big winner fresh at an odds-on quote and hinted that she could work her way through the grades this time in.

While this race is tougher, the first-up rating stands out and the set-up on the weekend suggests she may be able to better than figure.

THE BEST FROM THE WEST

Best Bet: Race 2 #2 MONEY TREES

Also Backing: Race 5 #5 SKULL BONE AND PIG

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Race 8 #4 BOHEMIAN DIAMOND