Canberra Racing Preview Friday 20 September
The rail position is out 3m entire and the track is rated a Soft 6 with a warm day in the Capital.
Strong, competitive fields are the order of the day and there will be some value in most races for those finding the winners.
Race 1 (1400m)
Sorridere the likely leader. BRENNAMAN (5) peaks now and has been having no luck. He’s had strong market support and the winkers are applied first time. One more chance. GIRLS ARE READY (1) will be looking to use the rail and is ready to win third up following a good effort at Rosehill in stronger. Gets the blinkers first time and will be tough to beat with a good ride from the 4kg claimer. NAVY CROSS (4) resumes for Waterhouse-Bott. Brings three solid city trials and has been gelded. Keep very safe. ZELAGO (6) can improver for Barb Joseph.
Race 2 (1000m)
Mahjong Rose and Stand You Ground can run them along. SWAN ISLAND (4) presents third up and has switched from Team Hayes to Matt Dale. Has had good backing since resumption on synthetic surfaces and is up to this. Expect her to be ready to go. STAND YOUR GROUND (10) is better then the form line reads and she should be ready to show her best. The low gate advantages. DALMATINKA (1) debuts and has trialled well. Watch the market with her. SHADY DIAMOND (2) may be next best.
Race 3 (1000m)
A tricky contest on paper. MONTE MAJURA (4) resumes off an easy win in CL1 grade and is an on-pacer drawn to advantage. He’s very tough and will be better for the recent trial. Expect him to be ready and take beating. POLAR STAR (2) came back from the city and won comfortably, and then ran along at Goulburn and was okay in better grade than this. Gets the advantage of the rail and the improving 4kg claimer and expect him to go close on the 7-day return. BALONNE (6) resumes in easier and is capable at best. Gets some gear tweaks and a forward run won’t surprise. ENJOY THE STARS (9) and ONSETTLING DOWN (10) both resume and would be a chance at best. They must be kept safe.
Race 4 (1400m)
Moss The Boss and Hercegovka can run them along. An open race. WAIHEKE (1) is ex Waller and returned in good order for the Dryden yard when beaten a lip here behind Arithmetic. He gets the 2kg claim and won’t have to improve much to be tough to beat. AWAY SHE GOES (6) has won two of the last three and did it by 4.5L the latest in the Gundagai CL2. Keeps McDougall and will go very close. HEAVEN ON EARTH (4) raced handy and won in this grade here two weeks ago. Peaks now for Dryden and is a genuine hope drawn handy. GOTTA WANT IT (3) won well first up and can build on that.
Race 5 (1300m)
The Stamp and Lots Of Dosh can run them along from Mr Costigan and Litchfield crossing over. A tricky Maiden. BULLET RAIDERS (6) has had two runs this preparation for Team Snowden racing in stronger provincial Maidens. He comes to a much more suitable trip and will race handier. Gets the winkers first time and should prove hard to beat. TIME STAMP (2) debuts for Waterhouse-Bott and has been well-trialled. He is sure to use the low gate and the market will be a good indicator of his readiness. MR COSTIGAN (13) gets Cahill today and is better then the formline suggest. He can bob up at adds without surprising. TACTICAL PLOY (1) debuts with the blinkers applied. Is likely to be better than the trial suggests and could prove a smokey. LITCHFIELD (4) is an improver, but needs a good ride.
Race 6 (1200m)
A number are capable of leading with early pace across the barriers. MADAM OAKS (3) led and was much too good for the Maidens here two weeks ago. She should have no trouble again clearing the wide gate and repeat win is on the cards. TOCATCHACOD (6) has won and placed the last two and keeps improving. Settles back and the longer trip suits. ZAROMATIC will use the low gate and has more to give second-up. She's also suited up to the 1200m. WOOLLAHRA (11) will also be better second-up and deserves consideration.
Race 7 (2000m)
This is a very competitive BM 65 over the middle distance. HILLTOP HOOD (6) missed a lip resuming and then delivered the 58 at Nowra as favourite. He’s placed 2/3 this trip and is ready for it. Draws low and a wet track won’t bother. SWEET KNUCKLE (10) was much too good winning here this grade two weeks ago sprinting hard after getting clear. The 2000m looks well within reach. Stablemate CONFIDENTIAL (8) did everything but beat the flying O’Princess this trip at Moruya as favourite. He deserves the win and gets another chance. LOST COMMAND (5) improved at the mile at Wagga and is a hope if he runs out the extra trip.
Race 8 (1200m)
Acton Shale, Revitup Rednut and Boys Day Out may run them along. SAUSEDGE (10) resumed off Stakes grade and didn’t do a bad job at Warwick Farm after a slow off. She is sharp second-up and is a course and distance winner. She wins this at best and can find it with a good ride from Lever from the tricky gate. ACTON SHALE (9) impressed winning the Maiden easily first up on the synthetic and then was just alright the same track after as favourite. He’s placed 2/2 at the 1200m and is an on-pacer ready for the step-up. REVITUP REDNUT (14) has just missed the last three and he didn’t have the best of it the latest at Randwick. She draws to advantage and looks suited. POLYXENA (8) has won and just missed the last two and Cahill replaces the 4kg apprentice from those. He will push forward and also rates a hope.
Race 9 (1600m)
Trapper Tom and Miss Anabanana can lead from Secretary General crossing over. MAJELLA (4) just missed twice before delivering the convincing Maiden win at Newcastle. That reads very well for this and he can repeat drawn to advantage. WHO'S SHOUT (2) peaks off three placings, including in town. He got very close the latest and is a leading hope with the blinkers off on a 7-day return. MISS ANABANANA (5) led and won as expected at Queanbeyan and draws to advantage with the blinkers applied first time. She may control this and just has to run it right out be make the finish. WAR DESK (10) won't be bothered by the return to the mile and rates well. The outside gate is the query.