Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans 30 March 2022
*RACE 1 @ 1.30pm MITAVITE - IT'S ALL IN THE BAG MAIDEN PLATE (1000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. TEXERRO (Richard Litt/Jack Martin; 58.5kg & barrier 4) - Tricky maiden over the sprint trip to get us rolling; but very much with this Warwick Farm-based Pierro three-year-old on debut. Progressed nicely in two recent trials, winning the latest in heavy going, and the sireline is in the zone at the moment. Gets a nice trail from the craw & will be strong late
DANGERS: 1. *Deep Finesse; 2. **Echo's Arrow; 5. *Pyramid Of Fire; 7. *Drummin
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Bet Plan: TEXERRO to WIN & Trifecta: 2,6/1,2,5,6,7/1,2,5,6,7
*RACE 2 @ 2.06pm HYGAIN RELEASE MAIDEN PLATE (1200m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 10. ESPADRILLE (Matthew Dale/Ms Kayla Nisbet; 56.5kg & barrier 2) - Up a little in distance for the maidens, and a few live chances. Sticking with this home track 3YO Foxwedge filly who did some work from the wide gate on debut at Wagga before sticking on okay into a place when solid enough in the market. Draws much better here, carrying 1kg less, and with that experience she looms as the one to beat
DANGERS: 2. **How Do You Sleep; 3. *Trooper Knuckle; 4. *Vaaroom; 8. **Deranged; 12. *The Redman
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: ESPADRILLE to WIN & Box Exacta: 2,8,10
*RACE 3 @ 2.41pm MITAVITE ATHLETE PLUS 3YO & UP CLASS 1 PLATE (2000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. AURORA FLORENTINA (Matthew Smith/Jack Martin; 57kg & barrier 10) - Reasonably even battle over the longer journey here. Confident this metropolitan 4YO Dundeel mare can peak here deep into her prep. Zoomed home from midfield to easily win her maiden four starts back, and has since continued to work home okay over slightly longer trips. Will relish the 10 furlongs around this course, and is the superior distance closer in the race being out of a Shamardal mare
DANGERS: 2. *Galierro; 5. *Balmain Lad; 6. **Chance Reward; 10. *Mikasa
Likely Tempo: Fair to Reasonable
My Bet Plan: AURORA FLORENTINA Each Way & First Four: 3,6,10/2,3,5,6,10/2,3,5,6,10/2,3,5,6,10
*RACE 4 @ 3.16pm JOHN HYGAINS CHAMPION CLUB MAIDEN HCP (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. AIRCRAFTMAN (John Thompson/Jean Van Overmeire; 60.5kg & barrier 8) - Another testing contest. This progressive 3YO Randwick gelding is ready to strike third-up, although has also been accepted for Canterbury. Hit the line late resuming behind a smart sprinter at Canterbury before working home okay over further in heavy ground. Up in weight coming back from metro opposition, but much better off on the bigger track where he can settle quieter a few lengths off them and wind up from the 500m. Any rain won't hurt either being by Starcraft out of a Not A Single Doubt mare
DANGERS: 2. *Noble Exception; 5. **Chenzel; 7. *Luckyimwithaimee; 12. *Ella Amelia
Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid
My Bet Plan: AIRCRAFTMAN to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 5
*RACE 5 @ 3.51pm MITAVITE MAKE A DIFFERENCE BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. FOURMADEC (Matthew Dale/Ms Hannah Williams a2kg; 58kg & barrier 9) - Competitive and smart field for this class. Not a chance I'll be hopping off this talented and progressive 4YO local Kermadec mare, although another one also dual accepted for Canterbury. Swept home for an impressive CL1 win on Cup day after being in an awkward pocket at the 300m. Had hit the line in her previous two without much luck, and sharp weight rise has been off-set by a 2kg claimer being booked. Will again settle back from the draw, but has the superior closing sprint around this distance
DANGERS: 2. *Mohahna; 4. *Divine Future; 6. *Mercury; 7. **Diamond Star
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: FOURMADEC to WIN & Box Exacta: 4,5,7
*RACE 6 @ 4.26pm HYGAIN FEEDING CHAMPIONS BENCHMARK 65 HCP (1300m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 13. TWIG (Matthew Dale/Jeff Penza; 55.5kg & barrier 2) - Very keen on this progressive 4YO local mare from the Dale stable again, resuming for only her second prep. Showed plenty last spring coming to hand quickly, and winning two from four by sitting just off the speed and producing superior acceleration early in the straight. Looks well placed from a soft draw and down in the weights, and this shapes as an ideal starting distance for one by Shooting To Win who will comfortably get a mile and beyond
DANGERS: 4. The Rampant; 5. Propose A Toast; 9. Emma's Gift
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: TWIG to WIN
*RACE 7 @ 5.01pm TAB FEDERAL BENCHMARK 70 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: R7 4. PRETTY WOMAN (Matthew Dale/Ms Hannah Williams a2kg; 59.5kg) - Feature Federal sprint comes back to the short course, and that stacks up nicely for this smart and lightly raced home track filly second-up since spring. Burst on to the scene in autumn 2021 bolting in the Black Opal Preview in quick time before having no luck in the Group 2 Reisling at Randwick. Failed in her only run last spring before again being given time by the leading yard. Got the job done first-up at Goulburn after stalking the speed, but that was in heavy ground, and she'll come on enormous from that, carrying the same weight here
DANGERS: 3. **Fangela; 7. *Distillate; 9. *Miss Ostend; 10. *Devil's Triangle
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Bet Plan: PRETTY WOMAN to WIN
*RACE 8 @ 5.36pm HYGAIN GOT THE BONAFIDE ADVANTAGE CLASS 1 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. BEAU ROCK (Gratz "Twinkle Toes" Vella/Ms Kayla Nisbet; 58kg & barrier 5) - We wrap the meeting with a fairly open sprint battle. Like this tough local Magnus 4YO who reloads deep into his prep off a five week break. Has been raced sparingly this time in, leading all the way here to claim his maiden three strats ago before right behind the winner in his next two in similar grades. Has natural tactical speed, and split Rivabrook and Fourmadec in a tight finish on Canberra Mile day which is a very strong pointer for this race
DANGERS: 3. **Glamour Runs Deep; 7. *Shocking Force; 9. *Wilful Spirit 12. *Clever Choice
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Bet Plan: BEAU ROCK to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 3
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R5. FOURMADEC*** Expect: $3.00 - $3.10; My Early Rating: $1.96
R6 13. TWIG** Expect: $3.40 - $3.75; My Early Rating: $2.30
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R2 10. ESPADRILLE** Expect: $5.00 - $5.50; My Early Rating: $3.20
R8 2. BEAU ROCK** Expect: $4.50 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $2.78
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R5: BOX EXACTA: 4, 5, 7
R8: QUINELLA: 2, 3