Cracking Canberra Preview 13 December 2020 by Neil Evans
*1st Race @ 1.05pm
*Track improving to near Good 4 and Rail back to the True:
*RACE 1 @ 1.05pm WOMEN IN RACING BURSARY PLATE (2000m) - Class 1; Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Staying test to get us underway, and very keen on progressive 4YO Warwick Farm gelding 1. COMMAND KING (Clare Cunningham/Blaike McDougall; 59kg) fourth-up in his first prep. Was well backed and very good at Gosford after missing the start, made up plenty of ground chasing home the in-form Ruddock who had it easy in front. Won on debut at Goulburn running over the top of a couple of handy ones, and this looks an ideal journey at this stage.
*MAIN DANGERS: Similarly Canberra 4YO 5. Heydaze got home well at the Sapphire Coast over a mile in only his second start. Extra trip is a natural plus, and blinkers have been applied. Now that local 5YO 3. Wondalga has finally broken through, finishing best from midfield at Wagga, he goes back out to this distance at peak fitness.
Likely Tempo: Moderate
My Betting Attack: Command King to Win
*RACE 2 @ 1.40pm KCH PLASTERING HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55.5kg; 2YO's; Apprentices Can Claim:
Right back in trip for the babies, and most are on debut. Improving colt 1. WILSONS PROM (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace/Brodie Loy; 59kg) was well fancied in the market when leading for a long way on debut here behind a promising colt. Fitter now, and will roll forward again from the draw. The one to beat!
*MAIN DANGERS: Kembla filly 8. Hole In Your Heart debuts in winkers; while Hawkesbury filly 6. Blinding Light has trialled okay.
Likely Tempo: Strong
My Betting Attack: Wilsons Prom to Win
*RACE 3 @ 2.15pm MONGARLOWE GOURMET PLATE (1400m) - Maiden; Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Very keen on improving 3YO Warwick Farm filly 10. TOO MUCH CLASS (Ciaron Maher/David Eustace/Blaike McDougall; 55.5kg) who made up plenty of late ground first-up off a long break at Orange, and form country rider has been booked. Was scratched from Kembla on Saturday to be saved for this.
*MAIN DANGERS: Watch the betting on Randwick filly 9. Kung Fu Mushu who resumes off two quiet trials; while Wagga filly 11. Zip Lane is clear best of the rest after a fair debut at home.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: Too Much Class to Win
*RACE 4 @ 2.50pm CAPITAL PLASTERING HCP (1200m) - Maiden; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Tough one here, with most either resuming or on debut. Leaning to 3YO Randwick Kermadec gelding 9. SHOCK ZONE (Peter & Paul Snowden/Ms Alysha Collet; 57.5kg) resuming as a gelding off a typical quiet trial.
*MAIN DANGERS: Canberra colt 4. Arcadia Power will also improve on firmer ground, with blinkers off, after holding his ground on debut at Wagga; while 4YO 2. Jobkeeper was close-up resuming, but this looks a little deeper. Include 3YO debutant 7. Galactic Warrior in wider exotics after a handy trial.
Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid
My Betting Attack: Shock Zone to Win
*RACE 5 TAB FEDERAL (2000m) - BM 70; Hcp; Min Weight 55kg; 3YO's & Up; Apprentices Can Claim:
Small, but intriguing field for the feature race. Keen on 5YO Moruya gelding 5. GLOBALIZE (Jamie Stewart/Jordan Mallyon; 55kg) getting out to this distance on the six day back-up. Wasn't far off them in a stronger Highway at Kembla on "Gong" day before running on late at Nowra behind the smart War Deck.
*MAIN DANGERS: Tough 5YO 2. Havaduel surged late to win the BM 79 Queanbeyan Cup, and while that form stacks up well for this, goes up sharply in weight and not convinced the inside draw does him any favours in what will be a battle of tactics. Local 6YO 3. Royal Thunder hasn't won for a while, but finished okay in a stronger Federal two runs back before again closing well at Wagga.
Likely Tempo: Moderate to Fair
My Betting Attack: Globalize to Win and Quinella: 2 & 5
*RACE 6 @ 4.05pm PROALLIED HCP (1200m) - Class 1; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Good quality sprint for this grade. Was a little disappointed in local 4YO gelding 2. NUREMBURG CASTLE (Matthew Dale/Brodie Loy; 60kg) who loomed to win a CL1 here second-up, but just didn't savage the line. That said, he steps to a more suitable trip here, and with subtle gear changes, he can hit his peak.
*MAIN DANGERS: Progressive Randwick 3YO 4. Requited is a serious threat resuming from the inside draw, and looked very forward winning the second of two trials. Home track 3YO filly 6. Boho Chick landed a strong betting move leading all the way at Wagga second-up in heavy ground, and drawn to find the top again. Keep safe improving and well bred 3YO 5. Feeling Mighty who ran over the very promising Stoltz here two runs back before again finishing well in this class, and suited by the extra distance.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: Nuremburg Castle to Win and Boxed Trifecta: 2,4,5,6
*RACE 7 @ 4.40pm GLEN MIA ACT HCP (1200m) - BM 65; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Competitive battle here with a few chances. Big fan of progressive 5YO local mare 1. FUCSA (Joseph Ible/Ms Alysha Collett; 59.5kg) who charged home to win a handy BM 60 here for us last start, and can repeat the dose over the same journey. Earnt the handicapper's respect only carrying half kilo less for a jump in class, but she has the best final 400m in the field, and maps to find a trail off the fence.
*MAIN DANGERS: Rival local 5YO 12. Eurosay is on the cusp third-up after hitting the line nicely behind Fusca, and looks the weighted runner, meeting the top selection 1.5kg better. Watch the betting on 4YO and ex-Tasmanian 7. Hezredhot who is fresh and having his first run for new local stable. Home track 5YO 3. Acton Shale can be hard to catch but found the line okay in that same race, although would need to find a couple of lengths to turn the tables. Randwick 4YO 5. Vox Pop fought okay behind Fusca in that same race, and gets some weight relief, although drawn off the track.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: Fusca to Win and Quinella: 1 & 12
*RACE 8 @ 5.15pm AUSTRALIAN HEALTH & SAFETY HCP (1400m) - BM 60; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
We close a strong card, with another even and open contest. This stacks up well for 6YO home track mare 4. SUCCESSFUL DAY (Nick Olive/Jeff Penza; 60kg) who was well supported in betting working home nicely behind Fucsa who of course can provide a big pointer in the race prior. Natural improver second-up, and this is her pet distance.
*MAIN DANGERS: Warwick Farm 4YO 9. No Collusion has made big progress in first prep, landing his maiden at third start. Blinkers have been applied, but will need to show early tactical speed to off-set a wide draw. Progressive 5YO 3. Fly Like An Eagle has won three from his last five, the latest powering home to claim a CL3 at Queanbeyan, although does rise sharply in weight. Local mare 7. Zaromatic stuck on for a long way in that same race behind Fly Like An Eagle, and again can roll forward from a handy gate.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: Successful Day to Win
**My EARLY BEST BETS:
R1 1. COMMAND KING
R3 10. TOO MUCH CLASS
R7 1. FUCSA
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R6 2. NUREMBURG CASTLE
**TRAINERS TO FOLLOW:
Matthew Dale*
**JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW:
Blaike McDougall***
Brodie Loy*
Ms Alysha Collett*
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
CANBERRA RACING:
Next Meeting: Tues, Dec 29, 2020