Racing and Sports Canberra Racing Preview Monday 9 March TAB Canberra Cup
Racing And Sports Canberra Racing Preview Monday 9 March Canberra Cup Day — Updated after scratchings
Race 1
At least four capable of leading. Rates a two-horse race on paper. Leaning to ANTARCTIC OCEAN (5) who led and deserved the Bathurst win and never looked like being beaten. This is obviously a step-up, but he draws to advantage and McDonald is a key jockey booking. Doubt the mile will be an issue. ABIDING (8) is the obvious danger building on the first-up win here heavily-backed. He has the speed to manage the tricky gate. ADONIS VICTORIOUS (2) matched his best just missing at Newcastle from the front and comes to peak. Will be in the finish with Rawiller booked. BET: Antarctic Ocean may just provide the betting edge.
Race 2
Nieces And Nephews may be the one to lead. Not much between these. KATHAIRE (2) has been saved for this and will be hard to beat. Was very good last time and the 3kg claim brings her right into it. IL PROFESSIONALE (7) impressed winning first-up at Wagga and then things didn’t work out as favourite after. Likes wet tracks and Rawiller’s booking is a decent push. The yard won two yesterday. FIGHTING FAITH (4) represents a leading barn and no surprise if he fires in this third-up. Right up to this at best. NIECES AND NEPHEWS (3) is promising and peaks off the Moruya placing on slow ground. Runs along and is sure to be primed for today. AWAY SHE GOES (5) resumes and is also a chance. BET: Kathaire each way.
Race 3
Tiz War Bro will be prominent from the jump. ROND DE JAMBE (11) couldn’t have been more impressive beaten a lip first-up here behind Abiding. She absolutely belted home and only needs to handle the soft ground to go one better. FIRECRACKER (5) debuted at Orange for the Matt Dale yard and made the placings. She will be much better for that and Berry replaced the apprentice. Expect the local yard to have her wound up for Cup day. UNRESTRICTED (3) was in need of it here on debut and no surprise if he made sharp improvement today. Draws to advantage and high stable-striker McDonald goes on. That’s a big push. COSTA CHIN CHIN (7) brings a string of placings and they stack up. Will go well on the 7-day return but is running out of chances. BET: Backing Rond De Jambe.
Race 4
Miss Twilight may lead again. BULLET STORM (2) presents third up and has been disappointing as favourite both outings. Expect him to be much sharper today and his best more than stacks up. MISS TWILIGHT (6) is promising and blew the Maidens away at Goulburn. Will take plenty of getting past building on that and the wet track is no bother. CAVALIER CHARLES (3) is a Matt Dale improver who gets Berry and will likely use the rail draw. Expect him to make a ratings spike and be right in the finish. ROSY DAWN (5) resumed in good order and has more to give. Gets a handy gate and will be very competitive for the canny local yard. BET: Bullet Stormy each way.
Race 5
They will run along with Willangie the likely leader crossing over. PHOENICIAN QUEEN (10) debuts for a Sydney stable and has warmed up with two trials. Rawiller sticks from the latest and that is a big positive. Is likely to have plenty of ability and this is very winnable. TALIHINA (12) resumes off a trial win with Jason Collett booked and is likely to be much improved for Danny Williams. SPANISH PEARL (8) will also have come on and Tim Clark is a key booking. SMARTKAP (11) was wide the latest, but the debut was good and she's on a 7 day return. She's the value runner. BET: Phoenician Queen if the market holds solid.
Race 6
Good early pace with Gone By and Promotions candidates to lead. KNICKPOINT (1) wasn’t beaten far before the break in Listed level in Melbourne. Was heavily supported resuming at Warwick Farm on the heavy and didn’t really get into it. Made quick amends spacing a BM74 at Canterbury when bet into the red. Gets the rail and McEvoy today and is the one they have to beat. Stablemate PROMOTIONS (5) won the Maiden easily resuming and then was okay on the heavy and after again a well-backed favourite. Bowman rides and will use the handy gate. Has been kept up to the mark with a trial. FOXBOROUGH (8) couldn’t have been more impressive winning the lead-up race here looping the field and winning comfortably. He has more up the sleeve and represents some value in morning markets. McDonald rode both Knickpoint and Promotions at their last starts, but sticks with the promising SAVOURY (2). He led and won the Canterbury BM70 second-up and will keep getting better. Will push forward just needs to run the extra 150m right our to be a serious contender. BET: Backing Knickpoint and a Godolphin quinella won't surprise.
Race 7
Fun Fact will be prominent from the get-go. MUGATOO (9) is a UK stayer who has won both runs for the Kris Lees yard heavily-backed and keeps getting better. Not sure the rail suits but the extra 200m does and he's the one to beat. EASTENDER (1) was beaten a lip second-up in the Listed Parramatta Cup and can lift again off that for Waller. Draws well and the booking of Bowman is a strong push. CINQUEDEA (6) is promising and couldn’t have been more impressive winning here at the last meeting back to the mile. Ran his best figure this trip prior and is a serious player. FUN FACT (7) is well-up to this, but disappointed last start in the Parramatta Cup. Has been up a while, but gets Clark and he’s a bit of a Canberra carnival specialist. MAID OF ORE (11) sits down in the weights, and has more to give up to this trip off the tough second-up placing behind Cinquedea. Winning rider Berry is reunited and she will bring the house down if she gets up. BET: Hard to go past Mugatoo.
Race 8
Early pace across the barriers with Living Doll and Damagic candidates to lead. GLAMOUR CAT (2) missed a nose at Canterbury in stronger than this, and then came back a level when close-up at Randwick as favourite. McDonald sticks with her on a 9-day return. She will take tossing, but the current $2.30 is too short. MAJOR TIME (3) keeps putting in and is better suited back to the 1000m. He will run along and prove hard to get past. TRUMBO (5) will get all the favours from the low draw and comes back in grade. Is capable and the in-form McDougall will give him every chance. DANGEROUS BREEDING (6) missed a lip at the Sapphire Coast running a strong career best. He will push forward and could prove the surprise packet. IMITATION GAME (7) seeks the hat-trick on a 7-day return. Rates well, but the rail draw could prove an issue for him. BET: Like the two top selections. Leaning to Glamour Cat and will stand both in multiples.