Racing and Sports Canberra Racing Preview Friday 21 February

UPDATED POST_SCRATCHINGS

Canberra Mile Day in the lead-up to the Black Opal carnival. They race on a good surface with the rail in the true. A day of very competitive racing with plenty of Sydney interest.  

 

Race 1 (2000m) CL1

 

Charm Maker a likely leader form Hamogany. HAMOGANY (2) wasn't far away at Newcastle second and is ready to the middle distance. Draws to advantage and will be tough to beat.  CHARM MAKER (8) is still a Maiden, but runs along and gets the winkers first time at his run at 2000m. Note: Van Overmeire comes for the one ride. DIP ME LID (1) just missed twice before delivering the Maiden win as the market expected. Has to manage the step-up in grade and the extra 400m. OPPOSITE (7), won’t be far away and WHANGAMATA (3) has more to give second-up. BET: With Hamogany.

 

Race 2 (1400m) Maiden

 

Speculative how the field settles, but Abiding is sure to race forward. ABIDING (1) is clearly the one to beat with the scratching of the stablemate. Resumes as a gelding off a 314 day break. Missed a lip in Victoria on debut and owns two sharp Randwick trials. Has been heavily backed in early markets. STAND YOUR GROUND (9) made a ratings spike missing a nose here second-up showing a good burst of speed in the worst ground. May settle handier today and gets in light with the 3kg claim for a capable apprentice.  RIVERSTOCK (6) was good placing here at the last meeting against the above and can build on that. The debutant MARIANA DANCER (5) is in good hands and is a market watch. POCKET MISSILE (12) rates okay off the latest and is the other one to consider. BET: Stand Your Ground each way can provide the betting edge.

 

Race 3 (1200m) Maiden

 

A few will push forward, but it’s not clear-cut the lead. DANAAT (12) came off solid trials and did about what the market expected on resumption at Newcastle. His only other run was a lip defeat at Goulburn, when she hit the line well. She can make sharp improvement today for a top Sydney yard, and has the speed to manage the wide gate. UNRESTRICTED (8) debuts for the Sydney yard owning two solid trials. He’s sure to be very competitive if the market says he’s here to win. BRING IT BACK (1) ditto resuming off a very long break for Waterhouse-Bott. Will race over further, but his two city trials have been sharp and he’s shown plenty. VOL PRIVE (10) ran a good figure at Kembla 23 days ago at big odds and peaks for this. Gets the rail and Penza and could surprise. BOOM AND ZOOM (11) needed it here first up and will be much better today at 1200m. She has ability. BET: Going with Danaat at the juicy each way quote.

 

Race 4 (1000m) BM60

 

Speed across the barriers with a number of leaders engaged. ELTHAM PALACE (7) has placed twice since the strong Maiden win and gets the winkers first time. Draws to box seat and gets in light with Sherry’s claim in a touch stronger. Rates the one to beat on an 8-day return. FOR LOVE (4) is a threat building on the 1.5L first-up defeat at Newcastle in stronger. He has more to give and is capable of coming over the top of them. CHARLIE CHAP (1) resumes at a favoured trip in much easier grade. He is a three times first-up winner and draws to get the run of the race. He won’t be far away. SARZANA (9) deserved the Moruya win and then was wide after. Better this trip and is in the mix. BET: Like the top two selections and will look to back and save or dutch both, if the market allows.  

 

Race 5 (1400) CL1

 

Baracus and Bullet Storm will be prominent from the get-go. FIRST CROWN (5) brought strong form to his win here and then raced in stronger than this at Newcastle fading late. He’s at peak now and expect the Sydney galloper to take plenty of beating with winning rider Penza sticking. BULLET STORM (3) is feared building on the solid resumption at Kembla as favourite in better grade. Has strong figures and is a second-up winner. Gets Hyeronimus who will give him every chance using the rail gate. BUZZ 'N' JOE (6) won the Maiden well on resumption and then was wide improving again at Kembla in stronger than this. Has had a 45 day freshen and note he’s Magorrian’s only ride for the day. He’s a chance. BARACUS (2) is a Team Snowden stablemate to the top selection and is sure to have his admirers bringing Victorian form. Has been racing on wet tracks and is likely to improve on a dryer deck. IDEE (12) did nothing resuming but has competitive figures and the stable is known for springing the odd surprise. BET: Competitive, but First Crown makes most appeal at a healthy each way quote.

 

Race 6 (1000m) Open SW 2yo

 

Speculative how the 2yos settle in the run. AFTERMATH (1) debuts for a leading Sydney yard and has trialled sharply in town. The stable has a 46% strike rate on the grass at Canberra and he's sure to be well prepared and hard to beat. TUDOR MUSIC (10) off the Scone placing when she raced favourite. She’s promising and will come hard. PRINCESS GLAMOUR (8) debuts for the Portelli yard and has also been well trialled. Has to be considered with Sherry’s claim. LADY OF LUXURY (6) debuts off a low gate for the Baker yard and is likely to be better than the trials suggest. The early market says she is. BET: With Aftermath if the late market confirms the ability/readiness.

 

 

Race 7 (1200m) Open

 

Manzana looks the leader and there are quite a few can race close-up behind. MANZANA (4) was okay resuming in town and then led again beaten 1L in the Sapphire Coast Open. He comes to peak now and brings strong figures to the table. Gets in light with the 3kg claim for a capable apprentice and loves his home venue.  SAUSEDGE (2) resumes for a top local yard and is sharp fresh. Has won 4/7 in the last 12 months including an easy win the latest in BM78 grade at Rosehill the latest. Rates highly, but will need some luck hitting the line from the outside gate. GOLD TOUCH (5) has the ability and no surprise if he goes better. Races extra well at home. BALANSA (7) resumes off a long break and has ability. He might need one, but draws well and needs to be kept onside. GO THE GANTRY (3) is better than the form line suggest and is an include at odds. BET: Manzana is the bet at the each way quote.   

 

 

Race 8 (1600m) Open

 

Mercurial Lad and Supreme Polarity are candidates to lead the feature sprint and Sir Plush will push forward and take up a handy spot. This is an intriguing contest. SIR PLUSH (1) has been freshened following his close-up effort in Listed grade at Randwick over the middle distance when he wasn’t fully tested. Posted his best figure winning the Kensington Open at this trip prior, and in December was just lipped out at the mile in the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Doomben. He keeps the form hoop and should prove hard to roll with any luck in the run. CINQUEDEA (11) rates highly off the Randwick near miss at 2000m and is back 400m for this on a 20 day return. Keeps getting better and is feared with the weight drop. BOBBY DEE (9) is a stablemate to the top selection and will push forward. Disappointed on a heavy track at Rosehill the latest but the previous two stack right up and he looks a player briefly freshened. ALL TOO SOON (8) comes to peak and made a ratings spike behind She’s Ideel at Randwick when caught wide without cover throughout. She should also manage the drop back to the mile. BET: Will play the top four selections in multiples.

 

Race 9 (1400m) BM 64 3yo.

 

A number will race handy and Gaelic is sure to be prominent push forward. GAELIC (2) came off a trial win to deliver impressively in a Canterbury Maiden on debut racing on speed on the heavy track. She looks promising and has the speed to manage the wide gate. Hard to risk the yard. SPARTAN (4) was beaten a lip on debut at Wyong and then resumed off a long break finishing close up in a Newcastle BM64, finishing hard after enduring a tough run. Was a bit fractious in the gates for that, but is sure to have come on could prove hard to beat. SIRMAZE (7) and FOXBOROUGH (6) both resumes off Group races over longer trips. They have ability and it wouldn’t surprise if one or both were presented more forward this time around. TRUST THE PROCESS (5) is lightly-raced and resumes seeking the hat-trick off Canberra wins. Will use the rail and is likely to race well. BET: Expect Gaelic to be hard to beat.