Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans 25 February 2022
*RACE 1 @ 1.00pm ALAN RUMMERY BOOKMAKER BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can Claim:
Top Selection: 6. RED KANZI (Ron Weston & John Nisbet/Jordan Mallyon; barrier 2 & 57kg; Expect: $4.50 - $5.00; My Early Rating: $2.55) Progressive 5YO mare who is trained on the track & can strike here 2nd-up. Settled back last resuming here from the outside gate in stronger grade three weeks ago, but made up plenty of late ground & was well specked that day from a double-figure price. Big key here is settling closer in the run, and just needs to work into the clear from the 350m, and she can finish over the top staying at the short trip
DANGERS: 1. Eurosay* (Todd Smart/Jean Van Overmeire - barrier 5 & 61kg); 3. Testa's Flower (Terry Croft/Ashley Morgan - barrier 8 & 58.5kg); 5. Sestina (Doug Gorrel/ Matthew Cahill - barrier 6 & 57.5kg); 7. Blazing Beau (Jarrod Austin/Ms Jess Taylor - barrier 4 & 56.5kg)
My BET PLAN: RED KANZI to WIN & FIRST FOUR: 1,6/1,3,5,6,7/1,3,5,6,7/1,3,5,6,7
*RACE 2 @ 1.35pm SNEDDEN HALL & GALLOP LAWYERS - shglawyers.com.au 43 - 49 Geils Court, Deakin ACT; PH: (02) 6285 8000 E: info@shglawyers.com.au - CLASS 1 HCP (1300m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: CHARLEMAGNE (Jean Dubois/Brodie Loy - barrier 2 & 57.5kg; Expect: $5.00 - $5.50; My Early Rating: $3.35) Keen on this progressive country 3YO fourth-up this prep from a low gate if he starts here given also an accept for the Guineas Preview. Only previous run this track swept home to win his maiden in smart fashion five weeks ago before again doing his best work late at Goulburn in a race with a little more depth. Can settle back midfield with cover & be produced early in the straight, and any likely track downgrades are a further plus
DANGERS: 5. Fourmadec** (Matthew Dale/Chad Schofield - barrier 9 & 57.5kg) 2. Blue Jager (Matthew Smith/Ashley Morgan - barrier 7 & 58.5kg); 3. Beau Rock (Gratz Vella/Ms Kayla Nisbet - barrier 8 & 57.5kg);
My BET PLAN: CHARLEMAGNE & FOURMADEC both to WIN & Quinella:
*RACE 3 @ 2.10pm KENNARDS HIRE - kennards.com.au 1 Townsville St, FYSHWICK ACT; PH: (02) 6126 3900 E: fyshwick@kennards.com.au - MAIDEN HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: NEVER CARELESS (Peter Robl/Rory Hutchings - barrier 6 & 58.5kg; Expect: $4.00 - $4.50; My Early Rating: $2.72) This stacks up as a lovelty second start assignment for an emerging Capitalist 3YO. Came home late on debut at Newcastle through soft going, and behind that experience and with winkers added, suspect she'll settle a little closer this time and go home best
DANGERS: 5. Stariks (Lee & Cherie Curtis/Jay Ford - barrier 14 & 48kg); 6. Williams Bay (Richard & Michael Freedman/Jean Van Overmeire - barrier 15 & 58kg); 13. Miss Adrenalin (Jarrod Austin/Ms Jess Taylor - barrier 2 & 56kg)
My BET PLAN: NEVER CARELESS to WIN
*RACE 4 @ 2.45pm CASINO CANBERRA - casinocanberra.com.au 21 Binara St Canberra, ACT; PH: (02) 6243 3700 - CANBERRA GUINEAS 3YO BENCHMARK 65 PREVIEW (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: 5. KELVEDON ROAD (Todd Smart/Billy Owen - barrier 9 & 59kg; Expect: $4.50 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $3.15) In an open & tricky race, like this progressive local gelding who can make it two straight this prep stepping up in trip and grade. Came from the back in whirlwind fashion resuming to beat a weaker field on the South Coast carrying 1kg more, and like most of the Star Witness stock, any downgrades well into soft range only add to his appeal. Has missed a place just twice in six starts, and always races best when he can settle back with a trail and get to the middle on a big track. Potential city winner!
DANGERS: 7. Allgemeine** (Matthew Dale/Ms Kayla Nisbet - barrier 7 & 57kg); 2. Retiro (Gary Portelli/Alysha Collet - barrier 8 & 60.5kg); 2. Super Helpful (Barbara Joseph & P & M. Jones/Quayde Krogh - barrier 5 & 60.5kg); 4. island Press (Dean Mirfin/Anthony Cavallo - barrier 10 & 59.5kg); 8. Charlemagne* (Jean Dubois/Brodie Loy - barrier 4 & 55.5kg)
My BET PLAN: KELVEDON ROAD to WIN & Quinella: 5 & 7
*RACE 5 @ 3.25pm TBC DISTRIBUTION - act.tbcdistribution.com.au 3/110 Lysaght St Mitchell, ACT; PH: 1300 132 428 - MAIDEN PLATE (1300m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: 3. FLOATING (Matthew Smith/Brodie Loy - barrier 6 & 58.5kg; Expect: $21.00 - $26.00; My Early Rating: $7.50) Convinced this 3YO by Puissance De Lune will develop into a nice miler & stayer. Was good on debut at Hawkesbury getting well back before being checked a couple of times working home, and he should have finished much closer. Has reportedly continued to work well, and can get a little more economical run from this draw. Would prefer him over a bit more ground, but he's way over the odds so watch for him charging late
DANGERS: 10. Mrs Gloop* (Matthew Smith/Grant Buckley - barrier 2 & 56.5kg) 6. Tycoon Charger (Matthew Smith/TBA - barrier 16 & 58.5kg)
My BET PLAN: FLOATING Each Way
*RACE 6 @ 4.05pm TAB - tab.com.au - FEDERAL NATIONAL SPRINT HCP PREVIEW (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: 3. MR MAGICAL (Jamie Stewart/Billy Owen - barrier 4 & 59.5kg; Expect: $6.50 - $7.00; My Early Rating: $4.25) High class 5YO on his day who has taken time this prep to hit his straps, but shapes to peak here third-up from an ideal draw where he potentially lands the 1/1 trail. Improved sharply when settling much closer from the gate in a competitive BM 88 Bega Sprint nearly four weeks ago beaten only a long head. Was backed from $6.00 into $4.40 that day, and like him staying at his pet trip, especially if the rain comes
DANGERS: 7. Island Bay Boy* (Tony Sergi/Ms Winona Costin - barrier 7 & 55kg); 2. Up Trumpz* (Joe Cleary/Brodie Loy - barrier 10 & 60kg) 1. Intuition (Kurt Goldman/Ms Amy McLucas a1.5kg - barrier 3 & 59.5kg); 5. Girls Are Ready (Joe Cleary/Ms Jess Taylor - barrier 11 & 56kg)
My BET PLAN: MR MAGICAL Each Way & Box Exacta: 2,3,7
*RACE 7 @ 4.40pm ETS REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING - etsrefrigeration.com.au 2 Kealman Rd Queanbeyan West, NSW; PH: (02) 6239 1800 - BLACK OPAL 2YO PREVIEW (1000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: 4. SWEET RIDE (Annabel Neasham/Jean Van Overmeire - barrier 8 & 57kg; Expect: $4.50 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $3.05) Got plenty of time for this emerging colt by Deep Field. After leading all the way in dominant fashion on debut at Rosehill six weeks back, he buckled late under pressure in the stronger Listed Millenium at Randwick behind Xtravagant Star, but back 100m in trip for a race with less depth here is ideal
DANGERS: 1. Ferrari Man* (Gai Waterhouse & ASdrian Bott/Ms Winona Costin - barrier 10 & 57kg); 5. All Astern (Nick Olive/Jordan Mallyon - barrier 4 & 55kg); 8. Birdonawing (Annabel Neasham/Brodie Loy - barrier 2 & 55kg)
My BET PLAN: SWEET RIDE to WIN
*RACE 8 @ 5.20pm AFFINITY ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGIES - affinityelectrical.com.au 53 Grimwade St Mitchell, ACT; PH: (02) 6100 2459 - CANBERRA QUALITY MILE (1600m) - Min Weight 54kg; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
Top Selection: 7. SILENT AGENDA (Joseph Pride/Alysha Collett - barrier 5 & 54kg; Expect: $12.00 - $13.00; My Early Rating: $5.95) - In a naturally wide race with plenty of chances, value-wise want to be on this six-year-old fifth-up at big odds now that he's broken back into the winner's stall. His Benchmark 88 win at Randwick over this distance 13 days ago stacks up very well here, and he's still well treated up only 2.5kg to the limit 54kg
DANGERS: 4. Lackeen** (James Cummings/Grant Buckley - barrier 3 & 56.5kg); 2. Steely (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou/Adrian Layt - barrier 8 & 58.5kg); 10. Off Shaw (Bjorn Baker/Matthew Cahill - barrier 9 & 54kg); 8. Five Kingdom (Matthew Dale/Jeff Penza - barrier 10 & 54kg)
My BET PLAN: SILENT AGENDA Each Way & Trifecta: 2,4,7/2,4,7,8,10/2,4,7,8,10
*RACE 9 @ 6.08pm MANE LODGE - 2840 Sutton Rd Sutton, NSW; PH: (02) 6230 3324 E: manelodge@bigpond.com - CLASS 1 PLATE (1600m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Top Selection: 9. MEDIARO (Matthew Smith/Ashley Morgan - barrier 8 & 57.5kg; Expect: $5.50 - $6.50; My Early Rating: $3.20) Despite stepping up to a handy CL1 and facing a good quality metro 4YO who is getting ready for some bigger staying targets, this progressive 3YO can go back-to-back. Liked the way he put his maiden rivals to the sword as a hot favourite here three weeks ago, and he will also appreciate the extra 200m. By Lonhro and out of a good UK dam line
DANGERS: 4. Let's Karaka Deal* (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace/Brodie Loy - barrier 14 & 57.5kg; 2. Hardy (Luke Pepper/Jay Ford - barrier 9 & 59kg)
My BET PLAN: MEDIARO to WIN
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R1 6. RED KANZI**
R7 4. SWEET RIDE*
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R5 8. I AM MIGHTY**
R9 9. MEDIARO**
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R4: Quinella: 5 & 7
R8: Trifecta: 2,4,7/2,4,7,8,10/2,4,7,8,10