Racing and Sports Canberra Racing Preview Friday 24 July

Racing resumes at Canberra following a brief break and remarkably we are still racing on the course proper. With fine weather forecast through to race-day the track should present around a Soft 5. The rail is out 3m from the 1000m to the 380m and is true the remainder.   

 

Race 1 (2000m) BM60

 

Most of these can race handy and are capable of pushing on to lead over the middle distance. An even contest on paper.

 

PRINCE CAMELOT (6) ran favourite in the 58 at Goulburn and disappointed. He was just beaten at Newcastle the one before in better than this and that followed the CL1 win. He gets some gear tweaks and will use the low gate. Clipperton rides for the Sydney yard and expect a much sharper run. STREET CRED (8) was just okay beaten 2.6L in that Goulburn race but posted a strong relative figure winning the CL1 win here prior. He gets the rail and keeps the handy 2kg claim and a bounce wouldn't surprise. CASINO TIME (9) tried hard just beaten in the same contest up from the mile. He draws well with Reith aboard and can make the finish. DUCHESS OF WINDSOR (2) has placed the last two at the mile and led the last one in a bit stronger. He's won at this trip and is ready for it again. BET: Leaning to Prince Camelot in a tricky race.

 

Race 2 (1300m) Maiden SW

 

Jack The Brumby can lob over and lead and California August can come with him.

 

CALIFORNIA AUGUST (3) is in a star Sydney yard and third-up improved again beaten 1L at Warwick Farm in better grade than this. Penza will push forward and ride the speed and the well-bred gelding is clearly the one to beat. JACK THE BRUMBY (5) is a promising local who runs along. He led and won here on debut and then was heavily-bet at Albury, but was collared late by Sunrise Ruby on the heavy track. He can bounce but will have to find more to top the above. KOWLOON TREASURE (7) debuts for the Sydney yard off a series of strong trial outings stretching back to November. He just missed the recent one at Randwick and is a big market watch drawn handy and with Clipperton booked.  BASEL MAESTRO (1) resumes off a tricky gate for the new (Albury) yard bringing a string of Victorian placings. He's been away for a while but has trialled and would be very competitive if produced on song. BET: Keen on California August.

 

Race 3 (1000m) Maiden

 

Of the ones we've seen Antonio and Different Badger run along. This is a very tricky Maiden and the market will be informative.

 

NO DOUBT A STAR (3) draws to advantage and brings solid form and race experience. She just found one to good the latest at Muswellbrook, but his best run was three back at Kembla Grange beaten 1.2L. He will go very close if he gets back to that. MUSTANG SUZY (6) debuts for a Sydney yard and owns two sharp trials, with the latest at Warwick Farm. She draws well and expect a bold run from the Snitzel filly. BIZ MO (5) debuted in Victoria and has had two city trials in preparation for his resumption. He's the better drawn of the two Team Snowden acceptors and keep a close eye on the market. Ditto stablemate HURT MONEY (8) who debuts and has been trialled. He's well-bred but needs to manage the wide gate. DIFFERENT TIME (10) raced well here her first preparation and returns with a Canberra trial win under the belt. Expect her to go well. BET: No Doubt A Star on an each-way basis.  

 

Race 4 (1200m) Open 2

 

Marsannay draws well and may get a soft lead. Another tricky Maiden.

 

MARSANNAY (7) ran along and was just beaten at Kembla Grange on debut and was immediately spelled. He resumed in town off two trial wins and was okay after a messy run. The well-bred colt will be better for that and can control the race today and win in this company for a leading metro yard. SHOWTIME LADY (3) missed a lip here on debut in an Open 2 in December and will be better for the two runs back in stronger races. She gets the blinkers applied first time to counter some quirks and high stable-striker Jennings rides for the first time. She will clear the sticky gate okay and looks a genuine chance. AWAKINO (1) creates plenty of interest on debut for the Sydney Freedmans. She's been well-trialled at Randwick and Clipperton sticks from the last two. Expect her to race well drawn to advantage. SIR FINN (4) debuts for the local yard and has trialled well. PROPOSE A TOAST (2) won the Maiden well at Wagga on the heavy track well-bet, and is also in the mix. BET: Hard to go past Marsannay.

 

Race 5 (1600m) CL1

 

Plenty of on-pacers engaged and they should run along over the mile.

 

OAKSASTAR (11) was okay resuming for a star yard and then was heavily-bet at Goulburn coming home like a train after meeting trouble. She gets Clipperton and the blinkers applied again and will get a soft run from the rail. She wins finding her best. LORD DESANIMAUX (2) keeps putting-in and was just beaten here twice before finding one too good at Nowra coming back to this trip. He will get a soft run racing forward and deserves a win. HOLY SUNDAY (6) was slow-off placing on resumption at Scone for the strong Sydney barn doing about what the market expected. He'd trialled twice and will be ready for the mile. His figures this distance range read well. TAPICONIC (4) has been knocking on the door for a leading yard and comes back a couple of levels in grade. He races at the mile for the first time and it's sure to suit. Keep him very safe. COSMIC KING (5) is a Waterhouse-Bott improver drawn well and sharp improvement is on the cards. BET: Backing Oaksastar to win.

 

Race 6 (1300m) CL1

 

Mr Maharaj looks the likely leader and a number won't be far away.

 

CHELSEA REIGN (2) hasn't saluted for a while but is knocking on the door and is another strong winning chance for Team Snowden (43% strike-rate this track). She peaks off two placings this grade at the provincials and can improve on those. A negative is the tricky gate and she will need a good ride. RARE GEM (4) also draws out but made sharp improvement missing a lip Wagga. She looks to have turned the corner and presents as a genuine hope for the sharp local yard. EARP (5) ran the same figure winning the Maiden at Cowra heavily bet. The back-form is even stronger and it would be no surprise if she went on with it with Clipperton in the saddle. HIGH ADVICE (1) is lightly-raced and resumes for the Albury yard. He has ability and will race handy. Keep a close eye on the market. BET: It’s competitive but going with Chelsea Reign.

 

Race 7 (1300m) BM70 Federal

 

Katy Did it and Supplyzing can make the speed. A competitive Federal which is usually the case.

 

TERRA REIGN (1) won the 65 here before the spell running her best race. She then resumed at this level at Kemba Grange and was tough beaten 1L. She has more up the sleeve and gets a key jockey switch to Clipperton who is building a sharp record with the Matt Dale yard. She gets a soft run from the low gate and is the one to beat. KATIE DID IT (2) won the 60 here easily and then ran along again beaten a lip the same grade/venue. Forget the latest when she was outgraded at the mile in the Narooma Cup at Open level. She's had a month away and can bounce in this class back to sprinting and keeping the handy 2kg claim. BALONNE (4) didn't do a lot in the Moruya Town Plate a month ago in stronger, but ran on well resuming here this grade first-up. He will be very competitive finding his best and Guymer will be looking to give him a soft midfield run from the rail. FLORA BEL (9) and AWAY SHE GOES (1) are also well in the mix. BET: Backing Terra Reign to win.

 

Race 8 (1000m) BM65

 

There are on-pacers across the barriers with Shores Of Avalon a likely leader. Numerous runners are first-up and the market will be informative.

 

BRASH SAMMY (11) was heavily-backed winning the Maiden by a space here on debut and then found the Open 2s a bit of a stretch at Randwick. He brings a strong city trial to resumption and has been gelded. He's another decent winning chance for Clipperton-Sargent linkage. SHORES OF AVALON (6) resumes seeking the hat-trick for the leading local yard. She has a sharp record at this venue and has the speed to make short work of the wide gate. She gets the 2kg claim and can race boldly. GALAXY FORCE (5) is Albury-trained and was last seen 335 days ago just beaten in a CL2 at Randwick. He's trialled and would be right in it if presented on song. EVE'S MISS (1) resumes and is a second on the Dryden runners. She has raced four times fresh and has won twice. She has an enviable record this course and trip and draws to get on-pace favours. She drops in grade and the 3kg claim brings her right into it. AMERICAN SALUTE resumes for a Sydney yard and is a market watch. BET: Tricky. Leaning to Brash Sammy.