Saturday Racing Tips & Best Bets - May 16, 2026

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Belmont Betting Tips for May 16, 2026 - Ageing Empire to Rule the Sprint

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Thu 14 May 2026 17:31

Alex Marsh 14 May 2026

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Belmont Sprint Day features established and emerging stars
Top tips: Ladies Pro, Western Empire, Magnique, Our Paladin Al
Western Empire returns as the standout for the feature race

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The Group 3 Belmont Sprint headlines Saturday's Perth card. (Getty)

Belmont hosts a strong Saturday metropolitan program, with the Group 3 Belmont Sprint headlining an afternoon that features several established performers and emerging winter contenders.

Belmont Tips May 16
The Lawn Pride Australia Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Tour Edge Golf Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Mrs Mac’s Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Drummond Golf - Belmont Sprint Tips (Race 8)

A number of key form lines return to Perth across the card, including the comeback of proven weight-for-age performer Western Empire.

For the latest news, form and betting coverage from all codes, visit Live Racing & Sports Updates.

Belmont Tips May 16

The Lawn Pride Australia Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Belmont Value Bet - Race 4 No. 2 Magnique

While she has been competitive in three 1200m attempts, keeping Magnique at five furlongs looks more favourable.

From 11 tries over this distance, the daughter of Magnus has recorded three wins and six seconds.

After placing behind the smart Smooth Chino when second-up, she produced a strong closing fourth in November when returning to 1000m.

Her only failure over this journey came on Heavy ground last winter, while the sole victory of her previous campaign came fresh over this trip when carrying 60kg.

There appears plenty in her favour on Saturday and Magnique arrives off a soft Belmont trial win on April 28, where she safely held off Long Service Leave, a talented youngster who won two of four starts in his first campaign.

Tour Edge Golf Handicap Tips (Race 5)

Belmont Best Bet - Race 5 No. 2 Ladies Pro

William Pike is a champion jockey, although even the best can get it wrong and the ride aboard Ladies Pro second-up on April 25 was a forgettable one.

There was an opportunity to follow the eventual winner into the race, although Pike instead rode for luck and the gaps never appeared.

It was frustrating for punters who took the short quote, although the run is a clear forgive.

Ladies Pro arrived there off a nice fresh victory after showing promise throughout her first campaign, which culminated in a fourth-place finish in the Group 2 WA Guineas.

Pike sticks with Ladies Pro over Like Clockwork, who also returned sharply a fortnight ago, and “The Wizard” will be eager to atone on Saturday.

Mrs Mac’s Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Belmont Next Best Bet - Race 6 No. 2 Our Paladin Al

Interestingly, Our Paladin Al backs up quickly after resuming only last Saturday, although that may have simply been the trial.

He was taken back from a wide draw there and, while never in winning contention, his work late and through the line was very impressive.

Our Paladin Al recorded the fastest closing sectionals of that 1400m affair and the rise to a mile alongside the kinder draw both shape as positives.

The gelding also brings a very consistent record with four wins, five placings and a hard-closing fourth from his 10 starts prior to last Saturday’s eighth-of-14 finish.

His strongest victory over summer came second-up, while he accounted for a subsequent stakes winner in his last triumph.

Drummond Golf - Belmont Sprint Tips (Race 8)

Belmont Feature Bet - Race 8 No. 2 Western Empire

The 2021 Railway Stakes winner has had a fascinating career, with Western Empire looking a potential superstar early before losing his way during a Melbourne stint.

Since returning to the Williams stable, the gelding has regained form and remained mostly consistent as an older galloper.

Although unable to salute in a four-run campaign earlier this season, Western Empire rattled home first-up on November 8 after settling back from a wide draw.

The gelding recorded the fastest closing sectionals of that meeting before a Group 1 Railway Stakes second, where giving 4kg to the winner proved the difference.

Western Empire has won both lead-up trials for this return and the class runner of the field looks ideally suited under weight-for-age conditions.

Verdict

Belmont - May 16

Our Belmont tips for Saturday, May 16 are:

Ladies Pro

To Win

$2.20 - 3 Units

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Western Empire

To Win

$3.00 - 3 Units

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Our Paladin Al

Each Way

$6.00 - 3 Units

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Magnique

Each Way

$8.00 - 1 Unit

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