Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans 13 March 2022
*RACE 1 @ 12.25pm PFD FOOD SERVICES CLASS 1 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. AS YOU WERE (Bryce Heys/Tom Sherry a0kg; 59.5kg & barrier 9; Expect: $4.85 - $5.50; My Early Rating: $3.28) - Per Incanto 3YO colt resuming off a 12 week break in a potentially strong form race for this grade. Had only two runs late last year, flashing home in heavy ground against handy company at Warwick Farm before dominating from the back to claim his maiden at Goulburn. Comes to hand quickly & looms as the superior soft tracker
DANGERS: 3. *Never Careless; 5. **Glamour Runs Deep; 7. *Flying Annie
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Bet Plan: AS YOU WERE to WIN & Trifecta: 2,5/2,3,5,7/2,3,5,7
*RACE 2 @ 1.05pm SEPPELT 3YO'S & UP CLASS 1 PLATE (2000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. LET'S KARAKA DEAL (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace/Ben Allen; 59kg & barrier 2; Expect: $1.35 - $1.50; My Early Rating: $1.20) High class Dundeel 4YO resuming as a gelding in a significant class drop. Reloads from the washed out race on canberra Mile day; but reportedly working well and has had two trials. Beat all bar the winner in the Group 1 SA Derby last May, drawn to get a cosy run and rates a raging good thing
DANGERS: 3. *Galierro
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My Bet Plan: LET'S KARAKA DEAL to WIN & Quinella: 3 and 6
*RACE 3 @ 1.46pm ELVIN GROUP BENCHMARK 65 HCP (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. DEMANDING MO (Graham Byatt/Nick Heywood; 61kg & barrier 8; Expect: $18.00 - $19.00; My Early Rating: $7.50) Very tricky & wide race with some of the better fancies drawn out. Love the value here about this tough Wagga 5YO who is desperate to return to the longer journey deep into the prep, with three of his four career wins from only 19 starts coming over this distance. Honest weight carrier who has worked home late okay in handy company over shorter trips last two, and he will relish the long straight here with a bit more pressure up front. Well over the odds
DANGERS: 1. *Akhtar; 2. *Zounique; 4. **Gusonic; 11. *Emma's Gift; 15. *Princess De Roca
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: DEMANDING MO Each Way & First Four: 1,2,4,5/1,2,4,5,11,15/1,2,4,5,11,15/1,2,4,5,11,15
*RACE 4 @ 2.21pm LANDHQ BENCHMARK 75 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. EYE SEE THINGS (John Thompson/Brock Ryan; 59kg & barrier 2; Expect: $8.50 - $9.50; My Early Rating: $5.06) Progressive enough 5YO Star Witness mare who can peak fourth-up in another testing & wide race, with plenty of depth. Stuck on okay after leading in a metro 72 on a bog Heavy 10 surface 16 days ago, and ridden a little quieter on much drier ground, she can really attack the line. Only missed a place two from eight starts in Soft going; and one from four on Good ground
DANGERS: 3. *Park Avenue; 8. *Finally Realise; 9. **Cavalier Charles; 12. **Important Product
Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid
My Bet Plan: EYE SEE THINGS Each Way & Trifecta: 6,9,12/3,6,8,9,12/3,6,8,9,12
*RACE 5 @ 3.01pm RIHARNA THOMSON MEMORIAL MAIDEN HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 9. VAAROOM (Keith Dryden/Ms Alysha Collett; 56.5kg & barrier 5; Expect: $5.50 - $6.00; My Early Rating: $3.65) Always had an opinion of this locally-trained Zebedee 3YO despite taking plenty of time to offer progression since debuting here more than 13 months ago. Campaigned on the Black Opal trail okay this time last year before being spelled, and then returned with some handy closing efforts through winter. Can be dour so will need good speed on up front in this, but first-up for five months, he'll be the one hitting the line
DANGERS: 1. How Do You Sleep; 3. Jiggler; 7. Keynes Time; 13. All Astern
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: VAAROOM to WIN
*RACE 6 @ 3.41pm AFFINITY CONSTRUCTIONS AUSTRALIA QUALITY OPEN SPRINT (1000m) - Min Weight 54kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. THE FACE (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou/Jay Ford; barrier 8 & 61kg; Expect: $3.60 - $3.75; My Early Rating: $2.35) This shapes as an ideal starting point for a flying Rosehill-based Rubick 4YO who comes to hand quickly. Has built a solid sprint record against deeper opposition, and first-up in spring ran talented Triple Ace to just over a length in a strong metro BM 88 on Soft 7 ground. Will likely come over and sit outside the lead
DANGERS: 2. **On The Lead; 5. **Duchess; 7. *Key Largo
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Bet Plan: THE FACE to WIN & Box Exacta: 1,2,5
*RACE 7 @ 4.21pm SEEARS WORKWEAR LISTED QUALITY NATIONAL SPRINT (1400m) - Min Weight 54.5kg; Weights Raised 0.5kg; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4. IRISH SONGS (Kurt Goldman/Tommy Berry; 54.5kg & barrier 11; Expect: $8.00 - $9.00; My Early Rating: $4.95) Always a deep and intriguing feature race. Very keen at the value on this improving Shamus Award 6YO who comes through a high class form-line, and can peak 2nd-up off a five week break. Charged home late beating all but the winner when resuming in a good quality BM 84 at Flemington, and the third horse then bolted in at Sandown last Wednesday. Drops to 54.5kg for this with a leading Sydney jockey taking over, and represents terrific value
DANGERS: 1. **Chat; 2. *Aim; 7. *From The Bush
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: IRISH SONGS Each Way & Box Exacta: 1,2,4
*RACE 8 @ 5.01pm JOHN McGRATH AUTO GROUP GROUP 3 2YO BLACK OPAL STAKES (1200m) - Set Weights + Pens; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4. METALLICITY (Peter & Paul Snowden/Tommy Berry; 56kg & gate 14; Expect: $4.25 - $4.50; My Early Rating: $2.70) Feature race of the carnival for the juveniles, and with a couple of big fancies preferring Rosehill on Saturday, very keen on this emerging Zoustar colt at only his second run, and despite being drawn off the track. Sat outside the leader on debut at Randwick four weeks ago, and kept finding to go under only a long neck. Had won all three trials coming in, and as long as he can get across okay from the barrier, looms as the one to beat
DANGERS: 7. *Rise Of The Masses; 10. **Queen Of The Ball
Likely Tempo: Good
My Bet Plan: METALLICITY to WIN
*RACE 9 @ 5.40 MANE LODGE CLASS 2 HCP (1600m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. PINK PANTHER (Joe Cleary/Brodie Loy; 58kg & barrier 4; Expect: $4.60 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $2.80) Tough Real Impact 3YO in the best form of his brief career after taking a while to hit the mark this prep. Found the line okay on a couple of wet tracks earlier before switching on to bolt in an average maiden at Queanbeyan on dry ground. Repeated the dose at home effortlessly in a CL1 just seven days ago, and while he tackles some better ones here, again draws to get a lovely stalking role just off the speed
DANGERS: 2. **Hardy; 4. *Manderboss; *7. Almahero; *8. Jaimari
Likely Tempo: Fair
My Bet Plan: PINK PANTHER to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 3
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R6 1. THE FACE**
R9 3. PINK PANTHER*
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R4 6. EYE SEE THINGS*
R7 4. IRISH SONGS**
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R9: Quinella: 2 and 3