29 gallopers remain in contention for the 2025 Canberra Community Chest

The Canberra Community Chest has attracted 30 strong nominations, headlined by a number of black-type winners.

The Quality Handicap over 1400m enters its third running on Sunday, 23 November. Its short honour roll features Super Helpful (2023) who is amongst the nominations and Chorlton Lane (2024). 

Group 1 winner Victoria Road (IRE) and Group 2 winner Snitzanova head a strong Ciaron Maher contingent that includes serious gallopers Sunshineinmypocket (NZ) and Yes Lulu. 

“This looks a great race for Snitzanova.” Cairon Maher’s Racing Manager Sam Fitzgerald said.

“While her last trial might read that she was beaten 12 lengths, the winner took it out by 6 lengths with Overpass in second.”

“With her rating she’s quite hard to place but she’s going to be very well in here.”

Winner of the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m), the lightly raced Snitzanova boasts a strong record with three wins from her six career starts that also includes Newcastle’s Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m).

A starter in the 2023 Cox Plate and Group 1 winner, Victoria Road (IRE) enters second up after a significant lay off.

“After so long out, he is a horse that is going to take plenty of natural improvement with every run in.” Fitzgerald said.

“We think we’ve found him a race where he’s in well enough to give it a good shake.”

“He is a mile back to 1400m if he goes to the Community Chest so some change of gear should have him sharp enough to figure in the finish.”

The Community Chest holds an additional $50,000 in prize money for 12 charities partners, who will randomly select their equine partner in the race at a Black-Tie Event on Thursday, 20 November.

There are 6 locally trained horses amongst the nominations, including Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden’s Fangela who is exempt from the ballot after winning the TAB Road to the Chest (1300m), a fortnight ago. 

Scott Collings’ Ticklebelly is also exempt after a gritty win in Gundagai’s Snake Gully Cup (1400m).

The Canberra Community Chest headlines a strong program in Canberra on Sunday with the Affinity Electrical Technologies Single Gaze (1200m), TAB Tony Campbell Memorial Cup (1300m) and Sky Racing Race Callers Cup (1600m).