Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans
Fri, Jan 24
Weather: Fine
Track: Good 4
Rail: +6m
Penetrometer: 3.71
**Race 1 @ 2.50m 1300TEMPFEST HCP (1000m) - Min weight 55.5kg for 2YO's & apprentices can claim:
Plenty of first starters in a competitive opening sprint for the babies. Well bred Randwick colt 3. I AM BOLT (I Am Invincible x Oxford Heart by Lion Heart) comes through some strong trials for team Snowden, none more so than leading comfortably before easily overwhelmed by super smart Cellsabeel who then resumed in dynamic fashion last Saturday shooting to the top of Golden Slipper betting. Blinkers and lugging bit are on in a good debut pointer.
MAIN DANGERS: Another first starter Rosehill filly 9. Superbellaa (Super One x Imananabaa by Anabaa) is bred for speed and draws the inside. Has won two of three lead-up trials in quick time, and will take some catching. Wagga colt 1. Charming Pat appreciated the drop back from smarter metro class to beat all but the winner here just after Xmas, and stable has removed the blinkers. Debutant Hawkesbury colt 4. Strike Missile (Smart Missile x Berrechon by New Approach) wasn't asked to do a lot in a metro trial working home behind the leading group, but stable has a high strike rate with their younger horses; while Randwick filly 6. Ashra Jahre was swamped first-up in a fillies maiden on the Kensington track, but did debut in Group 3 company in the spring, and trainer has removed the blinkers.
Tempo: Strong
My Betting Attack: I Am Bolt to win and trifecta 1,3,9/1,3,9/1,3,4,6,9
**Race 2 @ 3.25pm AUSTRALIAN HEALTH & SAFETY HCP (1400m) - BM 60; Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim:
Consistent 5YO Kembla mare 5. HEAVENLY GLORY has ability. Resumed with a tidy effort in a stronger BM 64 at home, and second-up last prep went down narrowly in a Class 1 at Dubbo.
MAIN DANGERS: Hawkesbury 7YO gelding 2. Rise To Fame hasn't won for a while, and is up in weight, but this is the thinnest race he has tackled in a while and draws to get a nice trail around midfield. Only finished a length from smart Sienna Rose at Eagle Farm in the spring, and has been fair to the line in his last two at BM 66 level, with 10 weeks in between. Queanbeyan 5YO mare 6. Pahruli resumes without a public trial, but draws to get cover with a 3kg claim, and if the speed's okay, she can charge into the finish late; while 8YO local gelding 7. Supreme Lad really mixes his form, but is hard fit from a low draw, and is capable of knocking them out on his best display.
Tempo: Moderate to Good
My Betting Attack: Heavenly Glory to win and box trifecta 2,5,6,7
**Race 3 @ 4pm PARKWOOD RACING & BREEDING HCP (1200m) - Maiden; Min weight 55kg & apprentices can claim:
Another open battle for the maidens, but anticipating progressive local filly 5. SASSY ANNIE can go one better with the winkers on after being edged out by a smart one on debut at Wagga over the same trip. Draws an ideal barrier for leading trainer/rider combination.
MAIN DANGERS: Watch the market on debutant 3YO Hawkesbury gelding 2. Grey Top (The Factor x Lightly Dusted by Gilded Time) who has had two steady trials for good stable. Bred to sprint, and debuts in winkers. Warwick Farm 4YO mare 1. Encumbrance returns for a second prep off two quiet trials, but chased hard on debut at Queanbeyan last winter as a $2.05 favourite. Kembla 3YO gelding and first starter 4. Zebedabadoo (Zebedee x Almuchelle by Almutawakel) is bred along UK lines, and looked good leading in a recent home trial before nabbed late, but was never pushed out; while 3YO Warwick Farm filly 9. Rocquette will improve second-up after a decent closing return at Bathurst when rock solid in the market
Tempo: Moderate to Good
My Betting Attack: Sassy Annie to win
**Race 4 @ 4.35pm GRATZ VELLA RACING PLATE (1400m) - Maiden; Set weights & apprentices can claim:
No shortage of chances in this one too headed by 3YO Randwick gelding 4. FIRST CROWN who can break through up after flashing home late in a deeper maiden at Wyong. Despite not having run a place yet from six starts, has never been too far away in handy company, and has returned a much stronger galloper in this second prep, and races like he will love the long straight here.
MAIN DANGERS: Talented 3YO Hawkesbury gelding 9. Uprise looks well placed second-up despite the wide draw. Resumed on this track behind smart Riverside's Cash who has since beaten a handy Class 1 field at Gosford, and was scratched from Tamworth on Thursday to be saved for this. Improving 4YO Warwick Farm stallion 2. Supra Marnium will appreciate the drop in class and getting out to this distance at third start after making steady ground from the back well behind the smart Canzonet at Wyong last start, but will likely drift a long way back again from a wide draw. Watch the market on rival 3YO Randwick gelding 5. Pahang who ran some handy races in first prep, and significantly resumes as a gelding off two quiet trials. Stablemate to Uprise, 3YO colt and first starter 8. Snobby Shores Uncle Mos x Chula Vista by Encosta de Lago) has been taken along quietly at the trials, but draws a soft barrier for a stable that normally leaves plenty in the tank for race day.
Tempo: Good
My Betting Attack: First Crown to win and box trifecta 2,4,5,9
**Race 5 @ 5.10pm BEGA CUP FEB 1 & 2 AT SAPPHIRE COAST HCP (1000m) - Class 1; Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim):
Warwick Farm 4YO gelding 1. NOSTRE ME hasn't started for more than six months, but fires fresh. Has been kept ticking over since a smart open trial seven weeks back, and on debut last May bolted in his maiden by more than five lens.
MAIN DANGERS: Loved the second of two trials from 3YO Randwick gelding 3. Recruiting To Win who looks ready to go. Won first-up last prep on the synthetic here, but this is a much smarter field. Local 7YO gelding 4. Your Knuckleship ran a beauty at big odds first-up for nearly 14 months in a good quality BM 60, and draws to park right behind the speed.
Tempo: Strong
My Betting: Attack: Nostre Me to win
**Race 6 @ 5.45pm WOMEN IN RACING PLATE (2000m) - Class 1; Set weights & apprentices can claim:
After three promising runs back, 4YO Randwick gelding and Northern Hemisphere-bred 4. SATIRICAL KNIGHT gets his chance to notch up a second career win in what is a thinner race. Finished close-up in consecutive Class 1s before finishing off again behind Sepulchre in a stronger race here just after Xmas. Only won once from 10, but placed a further six times
MAIN DANGERS: Queanbeyan 4YO gelding and former Victorian 1. Havaduel has been well fancied and finished close-up in both runs so far for new stable, and can peak again back out to 2000m. Progressive 3YO Warwick Farm gelding 11. Lord Tropicana, by a Cox Plate winner, is the weighted runner of the race after rider's 2kg claim, and is on the quick back-up from a good fighting effort in a handy maiden at Gosford a week ago. As the big weight suggests, 4YO Hawkesbury gelding 2. Little Arnie is also much better than his one win and one placing from 11 starts suggests. Bolted in his maiden here over this trip two runs back before disappointing in stronger BM 64 grade at Kembla, but this is more to his liking.
Tempo: Moderate
My Betting Attack: Satirical Knight to win and Box Exacta 1,4,11
**Race 7 @ 6.15pm TAB FEDERAL HCP (1200m) - BM 70; Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim:
Naturally a stack of chances over this trip, but keen on lightly raced 4YO local mare 7. ELM COURT off a freshen-up and a timely trial. Didn't run on in a Class 3 at Gundagai nine weeks ago, but that was first run in five months, and is much better prepared for this.
MAIN DANGERS: Plenty of them headed by Big watch on 5YO Wagga gelding 5. Rock 'N' Roller who resumes off a five-month break, and a forward trial, and two of his four career wins have come fresh. Home-track 5YO mare 6. Polyxena is building a nice record, and resumes without a public trial, but normally fires early in the prep. In very well at the weights after rider's 3kg claim, and draws to get a nice trail off the speed. Watch the market on unpredictable 5YO Albury mare 10. Yousay Bolt who did little resuming in a good quality BM 84 at Wagga, but has plenty of ability on her day, and second-up form is much stronger. Lightly raced 4YO local mare 11. Flora Bel progressed nicely last prep, and has been given two trials ahead of her return. Include another home mare in 12 Kathaire who flew home to win first-up in a Class at Wagga before not disgrace behind a smart one at Warwick Farm, and also in with a light weight after rider's 2kg claim.The handicapper hasn't missed 7YO local gelding 1. Prince Jacko first-up for six months with 61kg, but fresh form is okay, although this is a tough ask without an official trial; while rival local 9YO 2. Emerald Fortune is another one resuming without a trial, and weighted to his best.
Tempo: Good
My Betting Attack: Elm Court to win and first four 5,6,7,10/5,6,7,10,11,12/1,2,5,6,7,10,11,12/1,2,5,6,7,10,11,12
**Race 8 @ 6.45pm HYLAND RACE COLOURS HCP (1000m) - BM 65; Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim:
Emerging 3YO filly and sprinter star 8. AFFINITY BEYOND is also accepted for a Highway at Randwick on sat and likely to go there, but if she starts here, almost impossible to see her being beat. Destroyed her maiden opposition resuming before impressive again from a wide gate at Wagga. Loves the five furlongs, and gets a decent weight advantage on her main rivals. If she's scratched, 4YO Canberra gelding 6. MAJOR TIME can push forward from the inside draw, and be hard to run down fourth-up. Only just missed in his last couple here, but still on the rise. and capable of running good splits.
MAIN DANGERS: Local 5YO mare 1. Eve's Miss has been banging on the door all prep running a string of placings before a fair effort in stronger company at Warwick Farm. Up sharply in weight, but gets blinkers for the first time. Resuming stablemate mare 2. Perfect Pitch fought hard in three runs at BM 70 metro level to close her last prep, and despite the hike in weight, she normally goes okay fresh. Watch the market on 6YO local gelding 4. Trumbo who hasn't started for nearly a year, and prefers it much longer, nut drawn to get cover with a 3kg claim, he could zoom home late off a good speed.
Tempo: Good to strong
My Betting Attack: Major Time to win (if Affinity Beyond doesn't start) and quinella 1 and 6
**My BEST BETS:
R3 5. SASSY ANNIE
R4 4. FIRST CROWN
R6 4. SATIRICAL KNIGHT
*Jockeys to follow: Chad Lever
*Trainers to follow: Peter & Paul Snowden; Matt Dale
Previous Meeting: Dec 27
Track Good 4; Rail +4m
Winning barriers: 1, 6, 7, 7, 10, 8, 2, 2, 14
Leading riders: Brodie Loy (4); Blaike MacDougall (2)
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Thoroughbred Park - CANBERRA