Cracking Canberra Preview
FRIDAY Sept 18, 2026
@ Thoroughbred Park
Ph: (02) 6204 0000
Laminex Race Day
*Gates open @ 11.45am
*1st Race @ 12.45pm
*General Admission: FREE
*Track Good 4 & Rail out +3m:
*RACE 1 @ 12.45pm TAB SAME RACE MULTI CLASS 1 HCP (2000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. LIYAH'S GIRL (Matthew Smith/Grant Buckley; 60kg & barrier 7) -we open the big day with the lower class & improving stayers; and it sets up well for this progressive 5YO mare by So You Think who can make it 2 wins from her last 3. Came off a couple of fair closing efforts at Newcastle to charge home and land her maiden there when stepping up to 1900m. Was then ridden quieter here in a CL1 over this trip and zoomed home late to beat all but the winner. Finds a race now with less depth;. and she's continued to improve as the distances have risen. Up in weight; but hard fit and has a real edge in quality against some of these
DANGERS: 2. **Unmatched; 3. *Star Turn Dancer; 4. *Courting Emily
Likely Tempo: Fair
My BET PLAN: LIYAH'S GIRL to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 2
*RACE 2 @ 1.20pm INFINITE JOINERY BENCHMARK 50 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; 4YO & Up; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. THEO'S CHOICE (Wayne Carroll/TBA; 59.5kg & barrier 8) -right back in trip now for the low-graded sprinters; and confident at the value this tough & still improving 7YO by Bel Esprit can pounce 2nd-up off a let-up. Beat all but the winner in 2 from 3 runs against similar opposition up to 1400m through the heart of winter when always solid in the market. Then came off that break to do his best work late at Corowa in a deeper BM 58 17 days ago. Ready to win again over his pret trip; and will relish settling back off a solid speed on a big track, and be taken to the outside past the 400m
DANGERS: 2. **Inna Zou; 3. *Showtime Maggie; 4. *Minks Written; 7. *Cloud Of Dust
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: THEO'S CHOICE to WIN & Trifecta: 2,6/2,3,4,6,7/2,3,4,6,7
*RACE 3 @ 1.55pm ALPINE KITCHENS BENCHMARK 75 HCP (1600m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. MIGHTY MYRTLE (Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden/Dale Cole a2kg; 59kg & barrier 5) -up sharply in grade here for a tactical battle over the mile; and settled comfortably with this home track 6YO mare by Merchant Navy; well placed to strike rising to this journey 4th-up. Ran home hard from the back when resuming in a BM 85 Federal before missing by a head in a BM 64 at Kembla over 1400m when charging home. Then again did his best work late when not suited on the much tighter Moruya circuit 3 weeks ago after being backed from $3.90 into $3.60. Bursting for this longer trip now & back on a bigger track; she gets in well at the weights too after the jockey's 2kg claim
DANGERS: 2. **Feazabeel; 5. *Miss Stalwart
Likely Tempo: Fair to Reasonable
My BET PLAN: MIGHTY MYRTLE to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 2
*RACE 4 @ 2.35pm BIG RIVER TRADE HUME MAIDEN HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55.5kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. LUCSAIN (David Pfieffer/Jay Ford; 57.5kg & barrier 1) -right back to the pure sprint trip here for the maidens; and rating clear on top is this metropolitan-based 5YO mare by Zousain who finally makes her debut at a likely very short price. Had setbacks after a smart trial win earlier in the year & was put away. Then again looked ready via 2 strong Rosehill trials in mid winter; sailing clear late to win the 2nd over 900m by more than 3 lengths. Then freshened before returning for another dominant trial win at Randwick. Was scratched from a recent stronger race to wait for this; shapes as a real runner; and draws to get a soft run. The one to beat
DANGERS: 2. *Wild Romeo; 5. *Mr Xplode; 12. *Praire Star
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: LUCSAIN to WIN & First Four: 3/2,5,12/2,5,12/2,5,12
*RACE 5 @ 3.10pm TOP SHELF JOINERY BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. INCHYRA (Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones/Pierre Boudvillain; 59kg & barrier 9) -staying over the sprint trip here for the middle grade improvers & very keen to back this tough & progressive 5YO home track mare by Brutal who can resume with a bang; and make it 3 wins from her last 4. Went home best to claim her maiden at the Sapphire Coast in early autumn before repeating the dose in a BM 58 from just off speed. Then parked in a similar spot before missing by under 2 lengths in a much deeper CL3 at that same track to round out the campaign. Reportedly has been working well; and less depth in this having her first outing here after racing out of the stable's South Coast yard. Leading jockey sticks; and given her sound tactical and versatile speed; the 5 furlongs suits nicely
DANGERS: 1. *Hello Jack; 3. *Shaft Attack; 4. **Coool Blaze; 7. *She's The Key
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: INCHYRA to WIN & Quinella: 4 and 6
*RACE 6 @ 3.45pm LAMINEX MAIDEN PLATE (1300m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 11. HELLO G'DAY (Annabel & Rob Archibald/Ms Mollie Fitzgerald a0kg; 555kg & barrier 8) -back with the maidens again over more ground at set weights; and in an open race; it shapes sweetly for this progressive 3YO metro-based filly by Hello Youmzain who is primed to break through at her 3rd start if she starts here instead of Newcastle. Fought hard to miss narrowly in a strong maiden on debut at Wyong before missing by a whisker from just off the speed over this trip at Taree. Showing more than enough ability; right at peak fitness now; even better suited on this bigger circuit
DANGERS: 1. *First Assault; 3. *Roy Kelton; 8. *Columbo; 9. *Yes We Have; 10. *Cool Art
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: HELLO G'DAY to WIN
*RACE 7 @ 4.25pm TAB FEDERAL BLACK MOUNTAIN QUALITY (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. VELLA'S BEST (Gratz Vella/Nick Heywood; 60kg & barrier 5) -now for the headline sprint run under Quality conditions over 5 furlongs; and all aboard this powerhouse & locally-trained 5YO by Headwater returning off a 7 week let-up. Led for a long way in a deeper race at Randwick through early winter before tracking the speed and chasing home a smart winner in a BM 87 Federal here on the synthetic. Freshened again & went back to Randwick on the Kensington track where he stalked the speed before finishing best in a BM 72 under 59kg. Has won 3 from.4 both at this track and 1st-up; and reportedly has been training the house down. Drawn to utilise early tactical speed and sit right behind what should be a solid pace
DANGERS: 1. *Fine Vintage; 3. *Who But Roo; 5. **Action King; 7. *My Last Hooray; 9. *Keikoku
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My BET PLAN: VELLA'S BEST to WIN & First Four: 2,5/1,2,3,5,7,9/1,2,3,5,7,9/1,2,3,5,7,9
*RACE 8 @ 5.05pm TURNERS BUILDING SUPPLIES CLASS 2 PLATE (1300m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. SKIBIDI (Gratz Vella/Sairyn Fawke; 59kg & barrier 7) -we wrap the big day over the same distance for a handy class sprint at set weights; and in another very tough & open race we can upset a hot favourite aboard this sparingly-raced & improving 4YO by Heroic Valour from the same home stable as the previous on top selection at huge odds. Won 2 straight; charging home to claim his maiden here under 59kg before repeating the dose from well off speed in a BM 58 at Moruya. Then failed to hit the line in a much tougher CL2 Highway at Rosehill over 1400m. Hard fit and back a shade in trip in a race of less depth are right up his alley
DANGERS: 1. *Famoso; 2. *Kool Kade; 10. **Judith's Revenge; 11. **Kendalia; 13. **Alabama Charm
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: SKIBIDI Each Way & Boxed Trifecta: 5,10,11,13
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R3 1. MIGHTY MYRTLE - Early Price $4.50 - $4.75; My Rating: $2.30
R5 6. INCHYRA - Early Price $4.25 - $4.60; My Rating: $2.50
R7 2. VELLA'S BEST - Early Price $3.00 - $3.25; My Rating: $2.05
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R2 6. THEO'S CHOICE - Early Price $7.50 - $8.50; My Rating: $3.95
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R2 Trifecta: 2,6/2,3,4,6,7/2,3,4,6,7
R3 Quinella: 1 & 2
R7 First Four: 2,5/1,2,3,5,7,9/1,2,3,5,7,9/1,2,3,5,7,9
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
#Capital Connection
Next Meeting:
SAT Sept 26; 2026