Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans
SUNDAY Nov 23, 2025
@ Thoroughbred Park
Canberra Community Chest Race Day
*Gates open @ 12 noon
*General Admission FREE
*1st Race @ 1.25pm
*Track likely Soft 5/6 & Rail out +5m:
*RACE 1 @ 1.25pm CARBINE CLUB OF THE ACT CLASS 1 PLATE (2000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. KONING (Richard & Will Freedman/Dylan Gibbons; 59kg & barrier 7) -we kick off the big Community Chest meeting over the staying trip for the lower class improvers; and settled on this hard fit 5YO by Kingman crucially coming back a furlong in trip on a 6 day turnaround. Has placed in his last couple; sticking on for a long way in a deeper Midway BM 64 at Hawkesbury before puncturing late from the front over a longer journey at Nowra last Monday. Again can roll across and control; the race; and gets a more favourable softer track deep into the campaign. Has a poor winning strike rate from 24 starts, but in the minor money 10 times; often against tougher opposition. Well placed to finally snap a long winning drought
DANGERS: 1. *Freud; 2. *Juan Pablo; 4. **My Greek God; 8. *Liyah’s Girl
Likely Tempo: Fair
My BET PLAN: KONING to WIN & Trifecta: 3,4/1,2,3,4,8/1,2,3,4,8
*RACE 2 @ 2.00pm MOBY DICK’S TAVERN MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 10. FIERCE IMPULSE (Matthew Smith/Ms Molly Bourke a0kg; 55.5kg & barrier 9) -back in distance for the maidens at set weights; and in a tricky race; it shapes well at big value for this emerging metropolitan-based 3YO filly by Fierce Impact improving sharply into her 2nd start. Failed on debut in the country from well off speed after being backed at each-way odds; and was immediately sent back to the trials where she was strong through the lining in winning a 1200m hit-out at Warwick Farm. Reportedly done well since; and over a furlong further this time; a different horse will be on show.
DANGERS: 1. **City Gold Field; 5. **Simply Nutbush; 6. **Agent Zero; 7. *Onoma; 8. *Milly Molly Mandy; 12. **Tinklejazz
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: FIERCE IMPULSE Each Way & Box Trifecta: 1,5,6,10
*RACE 3 @ 2.35pm E SECURITY GROUP MAIDEN HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. NORTHLANDER (Richard Litt/Dylan Gibbons; 57.5kg & barrier 9) -over the 5 furlong dash we go for a competitive maiden; and very keen to back this city-based 3YO gelding by North Pacific on debut behind two progressive Warwick Farm trials. Has been given plenty of time to mature and strengthen up before working through the line strongly at the trials just over a week ago. Bred to fire fresh being out of a mare by a Golden Slipper winner; and stable is renowned for striking with the new ones. Drawn to stay out of trouble; and a key gear addition has been made
DANGERS: 2. **Smart And Mighty; 4. **Skibidi; 6. *Pombia; 11. *Shuttering
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: NORTHLANDER to WIN & Trifecta: 2,3,4/2,3,4,6,11/2,3,4,6,11
*RACE 4 @ 3.10pm SKY RACING RACE CALLERS CUP BENCHMARK 70 HCP (1600m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4 DEVIL RIDER (Danielle Seib/Dale Cole a3kg; 57kg & barrier 7) -back out to the mile for a very testing and much higher graded contest. Like this tough & still improving home track 4YO by Derby winner Ace High at big odds coming back significantly in trip deep into the prep. Swept home to win in this grade at Bathurst over 2000m 2 starts ago before settling closer & boxing on to only go under by a long neck in a deeper race at Hawkesbury. Hard fit for the journey in what is a shade easier race; and gets in very well at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim. Expect him to settle a few lengths back away from the fence and come with a sustained burst over the final 350m
DANGERS: 1. **Associate; 2. **Extravagant Choice; 5. *Ferrari Man; 7. **Buenos; 9. *Petawawa; 12. *Ziggy Rose
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: DEVIL RIDER Each Way & First Four: 1,2,4,7/1,2,4,5,7,9,12/1,2,4,5,7,9,12/1,2,4,5,7,9,12
*RACE 5 @ 3.45pm TAB FEDERAL TONY CAMPBELL MEMORIAL CUP BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1300m) - Min Weight 55.5kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. COSSACK WARRIOR (Luke Pepper/Nick Heywood; 61kg & barrier 4) -now for one of the traditional sprint features; and again there’s plenty of chances. Rating on top is this progressive and sparingly raced home track 5YO by Russian Revolution who is primed to peak 2nd-up over 100m further; and coming back a shade in class. Was competitive in generally deeper races earlier in the year before missing by a nose in a one-off BM 66 run at Quirindi in May after being backed from $3.50 into $3.00. Given a 24 week break before hitting the line from midfield when resuming in similar company on the South Coast. Placed in all 3 2nd-up runs so far; and drawn to get a nice run a few lengths off the speed
DANGERS: 3. *Dolly; 4. *Xceptional Fella; 7. **Stormbringer; 9. **Neeson; 11. *Holy Hell
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: COSSACK WARRIOR Each Way & First Four: 5,7,9/3,4,5,7,9,11/3,4,5,7,9,11/3,4,5,7,9,11
*RACE 6 @ 4.25pm AFFINITY ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGIES SINGLE GAZE OPEN HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 9. MY LAST HOORAY (Frank Cleary/Ms Alysha Collett; 55kg & barrier 4) -we come back a shade in distance for one of the highlight races on the program; and in another very open affair; all aboard this talented 4YO by Harry Angel at the value; 5th-up into the campaign with important gear changes. Was close up in an open Federal here before doing it tough from the draw in a feature sprint at Moruya. Then hit the line hard into a place in a BM 85 here before doing his best work late from a wide gate & a mile off the speed in a deeper Class 3 Highway at Rosehill. Bursting to win a 4th time from 16 starts; and can settle closer in the run this time from a better draw and on the limit weight; and just needs a clear crack at them from the 400m
DANGERS: 1. *The Prodigal Son; 2. *Kimberley Secrets; 3. *Zulfiqar; 5. **Vella Fox; 8. *Mighty Myrtle; 10. **Sutton Vella
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: MY LAST HOORAY Each Way & First Four: 5,9,10/1,2,3,5,8,9,10/1,2,3,5,8,9,10/1,2,3,5,8,9,10
*RACE 7 @ 5.05pm CANBERRA COMMUNITY CHEST OPEN HCP (1400m) - Quality; Min Weight 54kg; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 9. MICKEY’S MEDAL (Annabel & Rob Archibald/Shaun Guymer; 54kg & barrier 5) -we go back up a furlong in trip for the big one of the day run under Quality conditions; and with a stack of depth on offer. Among many chances; settled on this talented and metro-based 5YO by Brave Smash resuming at big odds behind 2 soft trials up to 1200m, although he was also accepted for Kembla’s stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Took big strides last campaign; winning 2 in a row up to BM 78 level at Rosehill before ridden quieter and charging home late to finish only 1 length from the smart Thunderlips when pushed up to BM 88 grade over 1500m. Rounded out the prep with a plain midfield finish against similar company; although the winner who has since gone on to bigger feats over the spring carnival. Comes to hand early in any prep; and carries his lightest weight in a long time on the 54kg limit. Can settle a few lengths back & off the speed before given his head from the 400m
DANGERS: 1. *Victoria Road (also accepted for Kembla); 3. **Mayfair; 4. *Superazi; 5. *Kintyre; 6. **Sir Artie
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: MICKEY’S MEDAL Each Way & Box Exacta: 3,6,9
*RACE 8 @ 5.45pm PFD FOOD SERVICES CLASS 2 PLATE (1000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 12. RUNRANIRUN (Matthew Smith/Dylan Gibbons; 55kg & barrier 9) -we cap the big day with a competitive class sprint; and maintaining the trend of strong & wide betting races; very keen on this metro-based 4YO mare by Press Statement resuming for only her 3rd prep behind 2 progressive open class trials. Hasn’t raced since late autumn when capping an improving campaign in and around the money against tougher provincial opposition. Only win so far from 7 starts came fresh; and the wider draw here will likely be an advantage late in the day on a soft surface. She can either roll forward & sit just off the speed; or take a position back midfield & come with superior acceleration over the final 350m
DANGERS: 2. *Oryx; 8. *Stern Looks; 11. *Our Little Star
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: RUNRANIRUN to WIN
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R3 3. NORTHLANDER**
R8 12. RUNRANIRUN**
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R4 4. DEVIL RIDER**
R5 5. COSSACK WARRIOR**
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R3 Trifecta: 2,3,4/2,3,4,6,11/2,3,4,6,11
R4 First Four: 1,2,4,7/1,2,4,5,7,9,12/1,2,4,5,7,9,12/1,2,4,5,7,9,12
R6: First Four: 5,9,10/1,2,3,5,8,9,10/1,2,3,5,8,9,10/1,2,3,5,8,9,10
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
#Capital Connection
Next Meeting:
FRI Dec 05; 2025