Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans 26 November 2021

*Track likely Heavy 9 & Rail out +6m:

 

*RACE 1 @ 1.27pm DEFENCE PETS RELOCATION SERVICES 2YO MAIDEN HCP (1000M) - Min Weight 56kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

We kick off with the babies over the sprint trip on a track that will more than likely tumble well into heavy range with plenty of rain forecast. With all the field bar one on debut, siding with local Astern filly 6. ALL ASTERN (Nick Olive/Shaun Guymer; 56kg) who got through a Heavy 9 to finish close-up in a recent trial, and key gear has been fitted.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Randwick colt 1. Command Approved has won both lead-up trials, the latest convincingly in heavy going, and shapes as a rare Spirit Of Boom youngster who does prefer the sting right out of the ground. Improving 2. Old Newmarket was no match for the winner on debut here 11 days bago, but does have that heavy track race experience; while Star Witness colt and stablemate to Command Approval, 3. Speak Now debuts in blinkers behind two trials. Included in exotics Pariah filly 7. Nalabelle who was right behind the top selection and stablemare in that Nov 14 trial.

 

Likely Tempo: Solid to Good

My Betting Attack: ALL ASTERN to WIN & Trifecta 1,6/1,2,3,6,7/1,2,3,6,7

 

*RACE 2 @ 2.06pm JAMES MUNRO AO MEMORIAL BENCHMARK 65 HCP (2000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

Progressive local five-year-old 3. CLEM FANDANGO (Matthew Dale/Brodie Loy; 57.5kg) is hard fit and finally starting to fulfil his early promise. Won a weaker country race in heavy ground four starts back, and hit the line hard 24 days ago under a big weight. This is tougher, but she's a very handy wet tracker.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Tough mare 1. Milamoo continues to race very well, but is right in the eye of the handicapper now. Swept home for an impressive BM 65 win before a good thing just licked in Federal grade 12 days ago when she did all the work from a wide gate; still dashed clear before being run down right on the line. Been up for a long time, but from a draw where she can get cover, will again be hard to hold out. Include in wider exotics provincial mare 2. Riverstock who drops in grade and draws the inside; while South Coast mare 5. Urjuwaan has won two of her last three and is ready for this stronger assignment.

 

Likely Tempo: Reasonable

My Betting Attack: CLEM FANDANGO to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 3

 

*RACE 3 @ 2.41pm ALLINSURE MAIDEN HCP (1300m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

Very tricky battle. Improving Randwick four-year-old 1. HARDNESS (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Ms Winona Costin; 59kg) can fire back at just his second start over a little more ground. Did it tough when on debut at Queanbeyan as a hot favourite missing the kick and covering ground, but with gear changes he can get on the board.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Another metropolitan visitor, three-year-old colt 4. Brynner makes his return off two steady trials, and showed enough on rain affected tracks in his first prep to be a factor here from the inside barrier. Watch the betting on French-sired three-year-old 3. Manderboss who resumes and has heavy track experience; while metro-based 5. Windabull behind two recent trials; and hard fit mare 6. Midnight Oasis fifth-up; are both capable of running into the placings.

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My Betting Attack: HARDNESS to WIn & Box Exacta 1,3,4

 

*RACE 4 @ 3.16pm MARCUS QUINLIVAN OAM MEMORIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

Back to the shorter course for the maidens at set weights. Progressive metro filly 11. ONE POSE (Matthew Smith/Brodie Loy; 55.5kg) is drawn to go through and lead, and wouldn't need to improve much coming back from a handy provincial debut, beaten under two lengths by a couple of smart ones. Is by an Oakleigh Plate winner who was good on wet tracks.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Rival city colt 2. As You Were resumes off a four month spell and two solid trials. Not A Single doubt three-year-old 3. San Paulo has also trialled well ahead of his debut; while 4. At Midnight who resumes for a second prep; and Cable Bay filly 10. Brave Maso on debut; both go in exotic plays.

 

Likely Tempo: Solid to Good

My Betting Attack: ONE POSE to WIN

 

*RACE 5 @ 3.53pm BID WILLIAMS MEMORIAL BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

Plenty of value and chances in this one behind what should be a good speed headed by home track Deep Field five-year-old 7. REDICON (Ron Weston & John Nisbet/Jordan Mallyon; 58.5kg) who resumes on going he relishes. Did his best work late in the last two against weaker opposition before spelling, and can come to hand quickly.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Improving home track mare 8. Diamond Class powered home late to just miss resuming here in a similar race 24 days ago, and is already a second-up winner although unproven on heavy. Local mare 5. Honeysuckle Choice also missed narrowly hitting the line late in that same race, and was scratched from Wagga last week to be held back for this. Has the ability but a query if the track is genuinely heavy; while 6. No What To Keep draws the inside first-up from a long break.

 

Likely Tempo: Solid to Good

My Betting Attack: REDICON Each Way & Box Trifecta: 5,6,7,8

 

*RACE 6 @ 4.33pm TECHNOLOGYONE CLASS 1 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

Thin race augurs well for progressive home track mare 9. I CALL JUNEE HOME (Luke Pepper/Matthew Cahill; 55.5kg) who ran them off their feet second-up in soft ground on the South Coast, and can repeat the dose here carrying 1.5kg less.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Under-rated mare 11. Em Cee Gee swept home to win a weak maiden here two starts back, and has always shown a liking for wet tracks. Needs plenty of speed on, but draws to get a nice trail around midfield. Capable three-year-old 3. King Gutho dropped out in heavy ground resuming at Gundagai, but winkers going on will help, although like his footballing namesake, struggles to win. Progressive colt 5. Scoffa bolted in a weak country maiden from the front at his fourth start, but a query in these conditions; while keeping safe 2. Chalkley who drops back from a fair run at BM 64 provincial level.

 

Likely Tempo: Good

My Betting Attack: I CALL JUNEE HOME & Box Exacta: 3,9,11

 

*RACE 7 @ 5.13pm TAB FEDERAL HCP (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

The feature race of the day is typically open in what might be very heavy conditions late in the day. Have to be ultra forgiving of classy and lightly raced seven-year-old 2. HEALING HANDS (Gayna Williams/Kayla Nisbet; 58.5kg) who missed the jump badly in the Snake Gully Flying at Gundagai on a Heavy 10 bog, yet did a sterling job making up a tonne of ground to be beaten only three lengths. Had previously won a heavy track trial by a country mile, and stepping out to this trip on the bigger track is right up his alley.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Local six-year-old 4. Banger also had very little luck at Gundagai before doing his best work late, and can settle a bit closer back at home. Improving mare 8. Girls Are Ready charged up to win second-up here in heavy ground, and she gets a nice weight drop for this tougher class. Keep a close watch on local eight-year-old 10. Balonne who finished off okay at Federal level over the mile last start; while 9. Thistledo was beaten out of sight fourth-up at Gundagai, but he's much better than that and draws to get a softer run.

 

Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid

My Betting Attack: HEALING HANDS to WIn & Box Exacta: 2,4,8

 

*RACE 8 @ 5.51 MONARO WINDOWS 3YO & UP CLASS 1 PLATE (1600m) -Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

We wrap up the meeting over a mile. Progressive Warwick Farm mare 6. ELEGANT CARRIAGE (Jarrod Austin/Ms Jess Taylor; 57kg) can make it two wins from her last three. Given 24 days since surging home here in a similar race, and looms as the best weighted runner in the race.

 

*MAIN DANGERS: Lightly raced mare 7. Hokahey sept home from the turn to win that CL1 here, and she's a superior wet tracker, although will have to tuck in from a tough and wide draw. Home track five-year-old 1. Jack The Brumby can peak fourth-up out in trip; while 3. Outahand takes on a tougher grade, but she prefers it wet and winkers replace blinkers. Included in wider exotics 4. Straya Pride who was a heavily backed country maiden winner last start.

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My Betting Attack: ELEGANT CARRIAGE to WIN

 

**My BEST EARLY BETS:

 

R4 11. ONE POSE**

R7 2. HEALING HANDS**

 

**My BEST EARLY VALUE:

 

R5 7. REDICON*

 

**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:

 

R3: Box Exacta 1,3,4

R7: Box Exacta: 2,4,8

 

**TRAINERS TO FOLLOW:

 

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott*

Matthew Dale*

Matthew Smith*

 

**JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW:

 

Brodie Loy*