Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans - 14 April 2023

*1st Race @ 12.40pm

*Track likely improving Soft 5 & Rail out +4m:

 

*RACE 1 @ 12.40pm RELAXED LIVING LANDSCAPES/INTERIORS CLASS 1 HCP (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 2. PROPHET'S DAUGHTER (Ron Stubbs/Nick Souquet; 57.5kg & barrier 1) -We kick off the meeting with a handy maiden for the class, thankfully on a drying track. Sticking strong with this tough finishing & consistent 5YO Albury mare by Nostradamus who has done just about everything but win in four runs since breaking her maiden at the end of last year. Was very stiff not to win, charging home in a country BM 58 two runs ago before again hitting the line from midfield in a Class 1 off a 5 week break. Looks well in at the weights here carrying half kilo less, and gets first use of the inside where she can be tucked away off the speed & saved for that final 400m burst

 

DANGERS: 3. *Viennoiserie; 4. **Miss Adrenalin

 

Likely Tempo: Fair to Reasonable

My BET PLAN: PROPHET'S DAUGHTER to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 4

 

*RACE 2 @ 1.15pm INGOLD FLOORS MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 7. MISS STALWART (Nick Olive/Ms Jess Taylor; 57kg & barrier 6) -The maidens lock horns here over the same distance, and there's very little between the leading fancies. Settled on this improving 4YO mare by Group 1 winner Reliable Man who is hard fit, and finally stepping up to a more suitable trip. Has been working home okay from well off the speed all prep in generally races with more depth, but can improve again back on the much bigger track over a furlong further.

 

DANGERS: 3. **Fairness Is Best; 4. **Red Redemption; 5. *Dreamtime Legend

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My BET PLAN: MISS STALWART to WIN & Box Trifecta: 3,4,7

 

*RACE 3 @ 1.50pm CONNELL BROTHERS CONCRETING MAIDEN HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 7. MATRONYMIC (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace/Ms Louise Day; 55.5kg & barrier 8) -Back from tougher provincial company and nearly seven weeks between runs, very keen on this super honest metro-based 3YO filly by powerhouse Russian Revolution. Went to the front in a change of tactics at Wyong last time, but was swamped late, although suspect she'll be ridden from off the speed here coming back 100m in trip, and especially with the main market rival being preferred at Hawkesbury on Thursday

 

DANGERS: 2. *Boston Of Tuffy; 10. *Prophet Time

 

Likely Tempo: Solid to Good

My BET PLAN: MATRONYMIC to WIN

 

*RACE 4 @ 2.25pm VIVID CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS CLASS 1 PLATE (2000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 8. POKER DICE (Keith Dryden/Jeff Penza; 56.5kg & barrier 8) -Well out in distance we go at set weights, and it shapes up nicely for this fit and still improving 4YO by Group 1 winner Casino Prince and trained on the track. Was placed twice in handy country CL1's, both times working home okay from worse than midfield, before doing his best work late here on Black Opal day in a deeper CL1 than this. Bursting to break through now on a little freshen-up, and senior rider sticks like glue

 

DANGERS: 2. *Great Week; 4. *Stylebender; 5. *Aggrandize; 6. *Despoina

 

Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid

My BET PLAN: POKER DICE to WIN

 

*RACE 5 @ 3.05pm PACIFIC FACILITIES MAINTENANCE CLASS 2 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 6. JOHNNY DASH (Annabel Neasham/Andrew Adkins; 56.5kg & barrier 5) -Very keen at the value aboard this progressive metro-based 3YO by I Am Invincible and out of a Dash For Cash mare 2nd-up. Was okay through the line resuming in a good formline country CL2 when solid enough in the market. That was his first outing since tackling tougher provincial BM 64 company in late spring, and won second-up last prep in dominant fashion. Gets up to a more suitable trip now, and will thrive down the long straight here

 

DANGERS: 1. **Cool Lad; 2. *Retiro; 4. *Mr Metrics; 7. *Mil Ciento

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My BET PLAN: JOHNNY DASH to WIN & Trifecta: 1,6/1,2,4,6,7/1,2,4,6,7

 

*RACE 6 @ 3.40pm TAB FEDERAL BENCHMARK 70 HCP (1300m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 8. UNIQUE PRINCE (Matthew Dale/Ms Louise Day; 57kg & barrier 4) -Another deep Federal sprint on show with plenty of chances. Like this tough & still lightly raced 5YO by Shaft coming back 300m in distance a month between runs. Beat all bar the winner in three straight starts across Country C'ship Preview and BM 66 grades, each time chasing home hard from just off the speed. Then held his ground stepping up to a BM 75 over the mile on Cup day here. Prefer him back at this distance, and drawn to get a lovely trail just off the pace

 

DANGERS: 1. **Baledon; 6. *Rhythmboat; 7. **London Gal; 9. *Merc

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My BET PLAN: UNIQUE PRINCE TO WIN & Trifecta: 1,7,8/1,6,7,8,9/1,6,7,8,9

 

*RACE 7 @ 4.15pm CANBERRA SOUTHERN CROSS CLUB TUGGERANONG CUP BENCHMARK 65 HCP (1600m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 4. PERSEVERE (John O'Shea/Reece Jones a0kg; 60.5kg & barrier 13) -Now the rescheduled feature from 7 days ago over a mile & still the most open race on the card. Sticking strong at big odds with this improving metropolitan 4YO by Medaglia d'Oro who is primed to peak 3rd-up. Was only fair resuming in a provincial BM 64, but hit the line better when ridden quieter second-up in a deeper provincial race over this trip, and he should settle back in the field on a big & spacious track, and saved for one last surge over the final 400m. Any further rain would be a plus

 

DANGERS: 2. *Martini Crusader; 5. *Stratum Pride; 6. *Twig; 11. *Zedly; 17. *Loose Love

 

Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid

My BET PLAN: PERSEVERE Each Way

 

*RACE 8 @ 4.55pm GRADYS TRANSPORT BENCHMARK 65 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 7. BEAU ROCK (Gratz Vella/Ms Kayla Nisbet; 59kg & barrier 5) -We wrap with the big day with another competitive sprint for this grade. Confident this locally trained and tough 5YO by Magnus can make it three wins on the bounce 5th-up, and a month between runs. Thrived in similar going here last time jumping to the front and giving nothing else a chance, and while he tackles a much bigger field here, has never raced better, with a 33 percent winning strike rate from 12 starts at home

 

DANGERS: 1. *Lipstick Swing; 3. *Devine Miss

 

Likely Tempo: Good to Strong

My BET PLAN: BEAU ROCK to WIN

 

**My BEST EARLY BETS:

 

R1 2. PROPHET'S DAUGHTER** Expect: $2.85 - $3.10; My Early Rating: $2.10

R4 8 POKER DICE** Expect: $2.75 - $3.00; My Rating: $2.00

 

**My BEST EARLY VALUE:

 

R5 6. JOHNNY DASH** Expect: $5.50 - $6.50; My Early Rating: $3.80

 

**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:

 

R1: **QUINELLA: 2 & 4

R5: *TRIFECTA: 1,6/1,2,4,6,7/1,2,4,6,7

 

GOOD LUCK

@NeilEvansmail