Cracking Canberra Preview by Neil Evans 7 August 2020

**RACE 1 @ 12.20pm HYGAIN PLATE (2000m) - Class 1; Set Weights; Apprentices can claim: We kick off a strong & deep meeting with a tactical arm-wrestle for the mainly older stayers. Consistent Warwick Farm mare 4. DREAM MAIDEN (Jason Coyle/TBA; 57kg) looks a good thing after a trio of second placings, most recently chasing home a progressive filly at Goulburn. Only missed a place three times from 11 starts. *MAIN DANGERS: Hawkesbury 8YO 1. Celebrator shouldn't be taken lightly despite just one win from 30 starts. Has been placed 14 other times, and comes back a long way in grade after being outclassed a mile in a BM 78 at Rosehill. Improving Kembla 4YO 5. Club Legend is clearly best of the rest. Likely Tempo: Fair to Moderate My Betting Attack: DREAM MAIDEN to WIN & Trifecta: 4/1,5/1,5 **RACE 2 @ 12.55pm JOHN MCGRATH AUTO GROUP HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55.5kg; 3YO's; Apprentices can claim: Back to the sprint trip for the 3YO's, and keen on Randwick filly 6. WAAFIYA (Peter & Paul Snowden/Jeff Penza; 57kg) at only her second start getting back on firmer footing. Did enough to the line from well back on debut against stronger at Canterbury, and bigger track also a plus. *MAIN DANGERS: Must respect debutant filly 3. Arizona Night (Deep Field x Cool Trade by Trade Fair) from the Gary Portelli yard who has trialled soundly, and stable is having a good run with its youngsters. Rosehill gelding 4. Blue Tone has his first run resuming for the Gerald Ryan stable after two ordinary efforts in Victoria through autumn. Two trials have been very forward, and the trainer has changed up the gear, including removing blinkers. Gap to the rest, but Queanbeyan filly 8. Jesta Diva improved sharply second-up behind a smart one, and drawn to get a handy run. Watch the betting on local gelding 2. Padrona who resumes without an official trial for a strong trainer/rider combination; while home track filly 5. Different Time has enough tactical speed to off-set a wide draw. Likely Tempo: Good My Betting Attack: WAAFIYA to WIN and Box Exacta: 3,4,6 **RACE 3 @ 1.35pm TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY HCP (1400m) - Maiden; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can claim: Progressive local 4YO gelding 1. JACK THE BRUMBY (Nick Olive/Brendan Ward; 60.5kg) fought on terrific to miss by a whisker behind a handy one here last start, and probably threw the race away laying in over the final furlong. Hasn't finished further back than second in three runs so far, and looks well capable of controlling this. *MAIN DANGERS: Home track 6YO 7. Costa Chin Chin has been in and around the money all prep, but still hunting that first success after 16 starts. Draws to be tucked away on the fence back in the field, and be saved for one last surge, although not convinced drop in distance helps. Warwick Farm mare 4. Unloch The Rock was disappointing first-up at Goulburn when heavily backed, but extra trip is a plus; while stablemate filly 12. Zou Island was no match for the winner at Goulburn after leading early, but back to 1400m suits. Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid My Betting Attack: JACK THE BRUMBY to WIN **RACE 4 @ 2.10pm SEEARES WORKWEAR HCP (1400m) - Class 1; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can claim: Progressive Albury 4YO gelding 3. HIGH ADVICE (Donna Scott/Nick Souquet; 59kg) just got too far back resuming here in this grade, but his last furlong was impressive. Only career win so far came second-up in autumn, and this looks ideal for top notch Riverina trainer and rider. *MAIN DANGERS: Emerging Randwick colt 6. Marsannay dominated from barrier to box this track second-up as a 2YO when well backed, and will be out to repeat the dose from the inside draw. Warwick Farm 4YO 2. Emthree capped some consistent closing form by sweeping home for a dominant maiden win at Wyong, although will be forced a fair way back from a wide gate, and has to lump heaviest career weight so far. Watch the market on resuming Warwick Farm mare 5. Lady Kirkham who returns off a six month break and two quiet trials, but only career win was here last spring. Likely Tempo: Moderate to Fair My Betting Attack: HIGH ADVICE to WIN **RACE 5 @ 2.45pm AFFINITY CONSTRUCTIONS AUSTRALIA PLATE (1200m) - Maiden; Set Weights; Apprentices can claim: Tricky and absorbing sprint for the maidens. Improving 6YO mare 11. WILFUL SOUL (Keith Dryden/Jay Ford; 57kg) has really attacked the line hard in consecutive maidens at Goulburn, and even better suited returning to her home track, although will have to slot in somewhere from a wide barrier. *MAIN DANGERS: It's been a long wait for the debut of 4YO Randwick gelding 4. Kowloon Treasure (Stratum x Gigas by Dubai Destination), but he looks suited under the set weights conditions. Kept ticking over after trialling nicely in the heavy a month ago, and the John Sargent yard is travelling big time with their newer ones. Lightly raced local 5YO 5. Mohanna hasn't been seen at the official trials, but been in work for a while ahead of his first run in 2020. Was close-up on debut at Wagga more than a year ago, and drawn to get a handy trail. Local 4YO 2. Celestial Warrior held his ground okay at big odds resuming in that good maiden behind California August and Jack The Brumby. Expected to hold his form, and winkers have been added. Watch the betting on Rosehill mare 8. Radiant Cut who was well supported in an average effort resuming at Goulburn, but draws better here on a more suitable track. Likely Tempo: Solid to Good My Betting Attack: WILFUL SOUL to WIN and Trifecta: 4,5,11/4,5,11/2,4,5,8,11 **RACE 6 @ 3.25pm JOHN AND JEANETTE COGHLAN HCP (1000m) - BenchMark 60; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can claim: Another open battle over the short course. Banking on plenty of speed on up front to set it up for 5YO Warwick Farm gelding 2. CANYONERO (Richard Litt/Brodie Loy; 61kg) who will settle a long way back from the wide barrier. Flew home at Goulburn two runs back before having little luck when it counted when heavily backed in the heavy at Hawkesbury. Don't be concerned by his single win from 22 starts. Has placed a further 12 times, and is a power weight carrier. *MAIN DANGERS: Queanbeyan 4YO gelding 7. Redicon is almost a fresh specialist, and looks tuned up for another big return off a nice trial win. Draws to get a nice trail off the speed. Also resuming, local 5YO 6. My Aloysius has early speed, and drawn to either lead or sit right behind the speed. Include home track 5YO mares 4. Farthing Wood; and 10. Tycoon Tily in exotics. Likely Tempo: Strong My Betting Attack: CANYONERO to WIN and Box Exacta 2,6,7 **RACE 7 @ 4.05pm TAB FEDERAL (1600m) - BenchMark 70; Hcp; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can claim: Another strong edition of the Federal, and two runners stand above the pack. Home track 4YO gelding 6. WICHITA WARRIOR (Keith Dryden/Brodie Loy; 57kg) is still on the way up this prep, and the one to beat from a nice trailing draw. Came back from a tougher Highway at Rosehill when worked hard from a wide gate to easily sweep home in a CL2 at Goulburn, and he has city winning potential. *MAIN DANGERS: Local 7YO mare 7. Away She Goes exploded late from a mile back to win off a break over a shorter trip here a fortnight ago, and will again drift back and look for a toe into the race. Tough Queanbeyan mare 2. Katie Did It was swamped after leading in that Federal behind Away She Goes, but has a far more effective record over the mile. Include local 4YO 11. Casino Time who drops back in trip from a commanding last start BM 60 win over 200m, and while this is a decent jump in quality, he gets in hard fit and on the limit weight. Likely Tempo: Solid My Betting Attack: WICHITA WARRIOR to WIN **RACE 8 @ 4.40pm BALDOCK CARPENTRY & CONSTRUCTION HCP (1300m) - BenchMark 65; Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can claim: We close out a super card with a competitive affair. Lightly raced 7YO Albury mare 4. DAMSELFLY'S KEPT (Mitchell Beer/Ms Danielle Scott; 57kg) roared home from well back to win a weaker race resuming at Leeton, and while this is a sharp rise in class, her second-up form is even better around this distance. As long she gets cover, and the track is reasonably dry, she can run the fastest final 400m of the race. *MAIN DANGERS: Queanbeyan 5YO mare 2. Glamour Cat will get a cosy run from the inside draw after making up many lengths in a good BM 66 at Goulburn, and better suited over this longer journey. Albury 7YO 6. Supplyzing hasn't raced for nearly 10 months, but cleared out to win a heavy track trial a month ago. Likely Tempo: Solid My Betting Attack: DAMSELFLY'S KEPT to WIN **My BEST EARLY BETS: R1 4. DREAM MAIDEN** R4 3. HIGH ADVICE** R7 6. WICHITA WARRIOR **My BEST EARLY VALUE: R5 11. WILFUL SOUL** **TRAINERS TO FOLLOW: Keith Dryden** Nick Olive* **JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW: Brodie Loy** Jeff Penza*