The formidable owner-trainer combination of Peters Investments and Michael Grantham have top prospects of landing both feature events at Belmont this Saturday with favourites for both Listed $125,000 events.

Connections will first start Westbound ($2.25f) in the Aquanita Stakes (2000m), who rates clearly at the top of betting from Spellborn ($5.50), Linchpin ($7.50) and Special Counsel ($7.50).

The Toronado gelding was freshened prior to a positive showing in the Raconteur Stakes (1400m) before finishing only seventh in the Belmont Guineas (1600m) two weeks later, though Grantham holds himself partly accountable.

“I was rapt with him first-up when he ran fourth and I think I lost him a little bit second-up,” Grantham told SEN.

“I know he tramped wide, covered a bit of ground, and Hot And High gave us a bit of a shove out the way, but I still thought when he got that shunt he should have been able to pick himself up and just finish off that little bit better.

“On paper, it looks great for him, but I got a bit of a reality check from that run. I was a little bit too bullish about his chances and probably forgot to train the horse and let him do it himself.

“I’ve tightened down his screws for this and I won’t be made a fool a second time, I don’t think.”

Half an hour later, the same connections will have Like Clockwork ($2.45f) in the Belmont Oaks (2000m) after an unfortunate fourth in the Guineas a fortnight ago.

“Every time I say something about how unlucky this horse is, I never get the luck, so good luck to her,” Grantham said.

“She was never meant to be in these races; she was always meant to be going out (for a spell) three runs ago.

“But she just comes home and eats the (feed) bin out. She’s only a little horse but she’s got little fast legs.”

Like Clockwork has only the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Ladies Pro ($2.65) for company in betting, though Grantham is not discounting his second-stringer, Effortlessly ($15).

A last-start winner over 1600m, Brad Parnham takes the mount to replace apprentice Cassey Martinan, who is ineligible to ride in the race.

“She’s half been forgotten about, I think,” he said.

“She’s come the backroads to it. She’s done her fair share of racing and she’s rarely put in a bad run.

“Cassey used her initiative the other day and bounced her out of the gate and used her light weight. She put her straight on speed and she out-toughed them all, really.

“She’d come back into work with the plan being these races, so winning the other day was a bonus and put us on the right track.

“She loves her work, so she’s fairly easy to train and she hasn’t looked back.

“Brad is obviously a topline rider and will be doing his best and if I had to choose one out of toughness, I wouldn’t be shying away from her.”