Racing and Sports Canberra Racing Preview Friday 24 January UPDATED
The smoke has well and truly cleared from the Canberra region and it is business as usual for trainers and jockeys. It’s a strong card with excellent representation from metropolitan stables. The track will present in good order and the rail is out 6 metres the entirety. The day’s feature is the BM70 TAB Federal Handicap (1200m).
Race 1 (1000m) 2YO
Speculative how they settle. Very tricky with five debutants - including from Sydney yards - and some promising trial form. I AM BOLT (3) debuts for the Snowdens and had been well-trialled. The stable has a whopping 47% strike-rate at Canberra and you can be pretty confident the well-bred colt will have ability and be ready to go. SUPERBELLAA (9) debuts and won the latest trial by 2.8L at Rosehill. Gets the rail and a bold effort is on the cards. Debutant STRIKE MISSILE (4) was close-up in a recent Randwick trial and is another who looks set to race well for a visiting yard. CHARMING PAT (1) has race experience and placed as favourite here at his third run. He's going well.
Race 2 (1400m) BM60
Monterey Magic will push forward and likely lead. HEAVENLY GLORY (5) resumed for the new yard off a string of placings and didn’t have the best of it in stronger provincial grade. The extra distance suits and fitter she will take beating. POWER LIFT (3) will be better for the three runs back and will find this easier than Kembla. Has been freshened and should be right in the finish. MONTEREY MAGIC (8) runs along and improved sharply up to this trip at Queanbeyan. The 3kg claim is handy and he has more to give. PAHRULI (6) resumes with a 3kg claim and will race over further. It wouldn’t surprise nevertheless if he’s presented forward and goes well.
Race 3 (1200m) Maiden
A number of the raced are capable of leading. ROCKETING TO WIN (7) resumes as a gelding for Team Snowden. His best figures are certainly good enough and he might now be poised to fully realise his potential. He draws to advantage and can win if the market reflects stable confidence. ROCQUETTE (10) returned in good order running when on well to place at Bathurst. He’d trialled well at Rosehill and is sure to have come on. SASSY ANNIE (5) missed a lip on debut for the Matt Dale yard. She will use the handy gate and looks a genuine chance with the extra fitness. ZEBEDABADOO (3) debuts and has looked sharp at the trials. Needs a good ride, but keep onside.
Race 4 (1400m) Maiden
Premier Award and Uprise will be prominent from the jump. FIRST CROWN (4) will be near peak third-up and just missed the latest at Wyong after an awkward start. He can sit handier today and build on that career peak. WANDONNA (12) presents third-up off good city efforts and the filly looks well-placed with the claim. The rail should advantage and she has more up the sleeve. PAHANG (5) resumes as a gelding for a hot Sydney yard and the blinkers are on again. He’s shown enough to say this is winnable if presented on song. UPRISE (9) and the debutant SNOBBY SHORES (8) both represent the Widdup yard and deserve consideration.
Race 5 (1000m) CL1
Good early speed with C’est La Vie and Look Only prominent. NOSTRO RE (1) resumes for the new yard owning a Rosehill trial win. Needs a good ride, but looks a winning hope bringing that to the races. YOUR KNUCKLESHIP (4) missed a whisker resuming here 28 days ago out of the market. Hasn’t won for a while, but draws well and the in-form McDougall retains the ride for a leading local yard. C'EST LA VIE (5) is fast and resumes off a heavily-backed Maiden win. She’s had three trials and is a market watch. DISOBEDIENT (8) is in good hands and comes to peak. Keep safe.
Race 6 (2000m) CL1
I am Flying may be the one to run them along. A competitive middle distance contest. LITTLE ARNIE (2) can cross over and take a sit and go on the 4L win this grade and trip two runs ago, when he led. He disappointed after at Kembla in stronger than this, and prepared to forgive. A bounce is likely. SATIRICAL KNIGHT (4) also represents a city yard and is feared. Placed here third-up in a BM 65 beaten 1.4L and has the figures to win. HAVADUEL (1) finds a touch harder at his third run for the Cleary yard, but is a genuine winning hope if he can recapture his Victorian form.
Race 7 (1200m) BM70
It’s not clear who will make the speed. A very open Federal with the better chances back from spells. ELM COURT (7) resumes and is one that will race on-pace. Only had one heavily-backed run last preparation and disappointed. She has strong city form in the CV and has won a trial in preparation for this. In good hands and a bold run is likely. PRINCE JACKO (1) brings strong form at this level to resumption and with McDougal sticking expect him to be ready to go for the in-form local yard . MOOKAREENA (12) has three runs last preparation and didn’t fire at all. She is good enough and Reith’s booking interests. A forward run isn’t out of the question. POLYXENA (6) is sharp fresh and gets a handy 3kg claim. Has figures to suggest she can make the finish.
Race 8 (1000m) BM65
A number can run along. MAJOR TIME (6) will stalk from the rail and delivered the BM60 here third-up as expected. Rates well and the scratching of Affinity Beyond says he’s the one to beat. PERFECT PITCH (2) resumes and has switched to the Dryden yard. Has been racing over further, but drops significantly in grade and needs to be kept safe with McDougal booked. ACTON SHALE (7) resumes and is sharp fresh. The form tailed off at the back of the last campaign, but he’s a very capable on-pacer who is likely to come back improved. EVE’S MISS (1) is back from town and will be better for that run. The claim is handy and the early market suggests she’ll go well.