Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans 24 June 2022
*RACE 1 @ 12.00pm DOUGHBOY DOWNS CLASS 1 PLATE (2000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 7. AUSPICIOUS CLOUD (John Thompson/Amy McLucas aokg; barrier 9 & 55.5kg) We start another strong card on an improving surface over the longer trip. Like this progressive Randwick-based filly 3rd-up over more ground. Impressed at big odds sweeping home from well back to claim her maiden first-up at Goulburn before couldn't run home late over 1800m in a BM 64 on a very shifty & unreliable Hawkesbury surface. Will eat up the 200m on a big track being by American Pharoah out of a Galileo mare, and she can settle back off the speed and produce a dominant final 400m
DANGERS: 5. *Miss Horsbro; 8. *Sperllz; 9. Fortivaci
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: AUSPICIOUS CLOUD to WIN
*RACE 2 @ 12.35pm SOUTHERN AG BENCHMARK 65 HCP (1600m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 9. TWIG (Matthew Dale/Brock Ryan; barrier 4 & 56kg) - Admittedly this talented home track mare is still to prove herself fully, but she finds an ideal race nearly four weeks between runs to finally get back in the winner's stall. Hit the line well, beating all bar the winner in consecutive CL2 races before well beaten in a much deeper Highway at Randwick late last month. Back up to the mile at home from a better draw where she can get cover around midfield is the recipe for her first win since last October
DANGERS: 1. *Gottaluvtrucks; 3. *Loafing; 4. *Single Crown
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: TWIG to WIN
*RACE 3 @ 1.10pm MELISSA BLACKWELL MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 7. JANOSIK (Joseph Pride/Alysha Collett; barrier 5 & 57kg) - Tough and tactical maiden with plenty of chances. This looks the right race 2nd-up for an improving & lightly raced Warwick Farm filly who can go on to win better races. Did her best work late first-up for six months in a handy metropolitan maiden on a heavy surface, and can improve significantly here over a bit further on a track that's slowly drying out. By Kermadec, and the best is still well and truly ahead of her
DANGERS: 1. *Amen Brother; 4. **Silvincible; 6. *Flying Mia; 13. *Wicked Games
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: JANOSIK to WIN & Trifecta: 4,7/1,4,6,7,13/1,4,6,7,13
*RACE 4 @ 1.45pm GET FRED OUT OF MY HEAD MAIDEN PLATE (1200m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. HELLO JACK (Scott Collings/Brock Ryan; barrier 10 & 59kg) - Very tricky sprint for the maidens here with little separating the first few in the ratings. Settled on this tough & improving 3YO who can peak getting up to the six furlongs 3rd-up. Held his ground only fairly as an easiong favorite first-up before again finishing off okay from just off the speed at the Sapphire Coast. Better suited on a much bigger track where there's extra time to settle, and the more the track dries out the better he's placed
DANGERS: 1. *Eastern Glow; 6. *Crazy Ladies; 11. **Rorschach's Magpie; 14. *Region Time
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: HELLO JACK to WIN
*RACE 5 @ 2.25pm FACOORY RACING BENCHMARK 50 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. KEITH (Donna Scott/Jett Stanley a2kg; barrier 11 & 61kg) - Plenty of chances too in this low-graded affair headed by this capable albeit inconsistent Albury 3YO who is hard fit and finds his thinnest race fifth-up and on a rapid-fire six day back-up. Finished well to only miss by a long neck in a handy CL1 at home two starts back before unsuited getting too far back on a tight-turning track at Narrandera 6 days ago. Far better placed over a further 200m on a much bigger circuit where most of these are only making up the numbers. Expect him to settle back and produce a stirring final 300m sprint
DANGERS: 4. *Mandalong Cash; 6. *Roman Candle; 11. *Tiz War Bro
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: KEITH to WIN
*RACE 6 @ 3.00pm MAD DUCT BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 12. REBEL DREAMER (Luke Pepper/Ms Anna Roper a3kg; barrier 11 & 55kg) - Competitive dash here, but like this emerging local 3YO Dissident filly 2nd-up with a crucial 3kg allowance. Returned from a 10 month break to rush home & miss narrowly at the Sapphire Coast when well in the market. Showed her versatility leading all the way on debut here in winter last year, but gives the impression now she will become a very good off-speed chaser. Carries 2kg less after the claim, and can settle back from the wider draw and produce a dominant closing sprint. Headed for better races
DANGERS: 1. *Incentive; 2. *Premosphere; 7. Crummin; 9. *Symo's Girl
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: REBEL DREAMER to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 12
*RACE 7 @ 3.40pm TAB FEDERAL BENCHMARK 70 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. MISS OSTEND (Norm Gardner/Ms Molly Bourke a2kg; barrier 2 & 58.5kg) - The feature race of the day throws up another absorbing sprint, but very hard to go past this smart home track Zoustar filly who looks well placed coming back from two tougher assignments. Found the pressure too much up front in a deeper BM 78 Sat race at Flemington five weeks ago before doing her best work late in a BM 64 at Gosford over the same distance. Has a very tidy home and soft track record, and drawn to get lovely smoother just off the speed
DANGERS: 2. *La Santé; 3. **Affinity Beyond; 7. **Easy Rosie
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: MISS OSTEND to WIN & Box Exacta: 3,5,7
*RACE 8 @ 4.15pm PMC PROJECTS CLASS 1 HCP (1300m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4. MITTATA (Emma & Lucy Longmire/Shaun Guymer; barrier 8 & 59kg) - Open battle for this grade to close the meeting. Like this improving & strong 4YO to finally nail a second career win fourth-up this prep. Has proven in two of his last three starts that he thrives on a big and spacious track like this, both times only narrowly beaten when leading and coming from well back. Suspect he's better when ridden quiet, and a month between runs over 100m further is ideal for him to finish over the top. By a Caulfield Guineas winner in Shooting To Win, and out of a good country sprinting mare who won five from 13
DANGERS: 1. **Sabino; 5. *Noble Exception; 6. *Vanilli
Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid
My BET PLAN: MITTATA Each Way
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R2 9. TWIG** Expect: $2.60 - $2.75; My Early Rating: $2.00
R6 12. REBEL DREAMER* Expect: $4.75 - $5.00; My Early Rating: $3.15
R7 5. MISS OSTEND** Expect: $3.25 - $3.40; My Early Rating: $2.17
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R8 4. MITTATA* Expect: $6.50 - $7.00; My Early Rating: $4.00
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R7: Box Exacta: 3,5,7