Racing & Sports Canberra Preview - 12 December 2021

It’s been wet in the Capital and on Friday the track was rated a Heavy 8. With no more rain it may come back to a 7, or 6. The rail is out 8m the entire and good rides will be at a premium. All of the races are chunky but expect scratchings given the likely conditions. Plenty of interest in The Federal with the return of Miss Ostend to the racetrack.

Race 1 (1400m) CL2

PRUSCINO (5) was heavily-bet first-up at home and disappointed, and then went to Cowra and belted them in a CL1 as expected. Had support at Rosehill the latest but did plenty wrong early on the heavy track. Penza is a key jockey booking and fitter the mare can bounce back. DIAMOND CLASS (6) is third-up and ready to fire. Gets in well this grade with Budler's claim and was one to make ground here the latest on the heavy and the longer sprint suits. SALLY POPS (4) brings solid efforts from stronger races on soft tracks. Suited and she will get her chance. AEROBATIC WARRIOR (1) resumes for a Sydney barn and has trialled well at Randwick. He will have come on and has shown enough to keep very safe.

BET: Pruscino can get back on track.

Race 2 (1600m) BM 65

BET RED (1) wasn't beaten far first-up on the heavy and has missed 1.5L since at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm. They read well for this but the 1.5kg claimer will need some luck managing the rails barrier. AL SAHARA (6) raced favourite in the Warwick Farm contest but was beaten off and pulled up with an issue. Was heavily-backed winning easily at Scone prior and her best figure was recorded on a heavy surface. Expect a bounce. LOVING CILLA (7) returned to racing an improved galloper when just nudged out at Goulburn and then got too far back in the CL5 on the Newcastle heavy. Like Loy's booking and fitter she's in the mix. CALL ME ARTIE (3) is up to this but has been struggling to find his best. Will find this easier than Rosehill and is worth a look on the 8-day return.

BET: Going with Bet Red.

Race 3 (2000m) CL1

AFFILIATE (5) runs along and forgiving the latest on a good track coming back to the mile. Won and placed prior on the heavy and the effort here two back was good. Will race handy again and take beating. ARCADIA POWER (7) just missed at Dubbo at the middle distance improving again. Has the winkers first time and Cahill sticking is a lead. We know he goes on the slow at least. ELEGANT CARRIAGE (6) was tracking well and then appear didn't let down on the Newcastle heavy. She will be fitter and is worth another chance. JACK THE BRUMBY (2) is a leader out to the middle distance for the first time. Was beaten 1L here at the mile 16 days ago and relishes heavy conditions. Has a small claim and just has to see it right out.

BET: Backing Affiliate.

Race 4 (1200m) Mdn

DREAM GAME (1) is a lightly-raced former Queenslander resuming for the Matt Dale barn and rates strongly off the city Open 2s. Loy's booking suggests he'll be ready to go and she debuted on a soft track just beaten. BRAVE MASO (6) trialled well and was just beaten resuming on the Sapphire Coast slow. Gets an outside gate but fitter had to be considered. POETIC MISS (12) led and finished just behind the above resuming in the same contest. She also draws out and has decent heavy-track run in the back-form. DARK ORIGINS (2) was on-speed and held on to place here on debut of a heavy surface. Has a wide gate but fitter is a hope. HAYYU (11) runs along and likes it here on the heavy. Draws well and is on an 8-day return.

BET: With Dream Game if the betting moves his way.

Race 5 (1300m) Bm 60

A tricky form assignment. SLY SONG (4) won on the heavy two back and didn't miss by far after that. Races handy and always puts in. In good hands and gets the nod. JAC THE GREAT (5) resumes for Matt Dale and has placed 2/3 fresh, Jury is out a heavy surface but he's back in grade with a claim and draws for a soft run. JUST BUSINESS (3) Also resumes and should be ready to go. Winning rider Loy sticks and that's a push for the gelding's chances. Is likely to settle back off the low gate and look for the splits to come. STARLIV (1) was an easy 58 winner on the Wagga Riverside and that has her in the game. The 2kg claim takes care of the weight lift and she's a candidate to control the race from the rail.

BET: Leaning to Sly Song.

Race 6 (1400m) Mdn SW

KOONDEEMAN (7) runs along and third-up is ready to win for a top Sydney barn. Is back from the mile and will see it right out. Has the tow to clear the wide gate and the stable has an impressive record this venue. HE WILL ACHEEV (6) debuts for another Sydney stable and the blinkers are on. Owns a 5L Warwick Farm trial win and will be looking the use the rail. Hutchings sticks from the trial and looks here to win. STARSTRUCK BARBIE (14) resumed in solid order at Kembla Grange and has won a Warwick Farm trial easily since. She will get the run of the race and is worth another chance on a heavy track. RUBICK ISLAND (10) just missed resuming at Wagga as favourite and then was tailed off on the heavy at Gundagai and forgiving. He has placed in a Canterbury trial since and Loy sticks from that and would have had choices. Quick improvement is on the cards.

BET: Koondeeman makes most appeal.

Race 7 (1000m) Bm 75 (Federal)

It's hard to go past MISS OSTEND (8). She is 2/2 fresh and earlier in the year was only beaten 1.7L in the Group 3 Black Opal. Comes off solid Listed effort in Sydney and owns a 9L trial win this track. Despite the wide gate and heavy track she can take this out and go on to better things.  HONEYSUCKLE CHOICE (9) just missed here on the good and then came back and demolished the 60 graders from the front on a heavy surface. Expect that to stack right up and she gets 4kg weight relief at this level. AFFINITY BEYOND (5) is a well-performed speedster and has been plain since the first-up near miss in Open grade. Expect her to be on-song today and the 2kg claimer can control the race from the rail. OUTTA REACH (10) is good enough but has been off the scene for 825 days. She's trialled well at Canterbury and will box seat from the handy gate. It's an ask but she needs to be kept safe. CALESCENT (2) will handle a deep track and will be better for the first-up outing. Keep onside as well.

BET: With the progressive Miss Ostend.

Race 8 (1200m) CL1

An interesting contest. ALLGEMEINE (8) began awkwardly on debut but still proved 2.3L too good for the Maidens here on the heavy and three winners have come out of that. Is still new but fitter looks up to repeating for the sharp local barn despite the tricky barrier. DETHRONED (4) resumes for one of Australia's leading stables and two-back was an easy first-up Maiden winner. Has been well trialled for the resumption and Loy sticks from the latest. Draws handy and expect a bold return. MY SNOW QUEEN (2) was tracking well before a plainer effort in better grade at Warwick Farm. Draws wide but peaks now and the Sydney trained filly looks capable of taking this out. EASY ROSIE (9) followed the easy first-up Maiden win with a solid placing in stronger at Gosford. She will come over and run along and looks a chance.

BET: Allgemeine each way.