Racing & Sports Canberra Preview - 13 March 2022
With fine weather forecast the track may present in the Good range. The rail is out 3m the entire and should present in tip top order. Terrific acceptances and an excellent betting program. The feature races have attracted plenty of sharp gallopers from top Sydney barns and there’s some promising local to also whet the appetite.
Race 1 (1000m) Bm CL1
GLAMOUR RUNS DEEP (5) is a promising mare on resumption for the sharp local barn. She was a big debut winner here and just missed her only run last preparation heavily-bet. She will use the rail and Berry's booking suggests she's pleasing. FLYING ANNIE (7) led first-up and was too good at Scone. She will be better for that and Ben Allen comes north to ride for the star barn. Draws to advantage and can prove the danger. AS YOU WERE (2) resumes off the Goulburn Maiden win (bet 1-2) and was even better just beaten in town prior. Will settle back but is a player with natural improvement. NEVER CARELESS (3) led and won the Maiden here second-up as expected. Impressed in that but needs some luck crossing over from the outside barrier.
BET: Glamour Runs Deep is sure to take beating.
Race 2 (2000m) CL1
LET'S KARAKA DEEL (6) is a Group performer in a star yard and was heavily-bet here at the last meeting before the race was abandoned. Resumes a gelding and is clearly the best horse in the race. Just missed in the Mornington Guineas first-up last time and kicking off at 2000m won't bother. Should have these well-covered. HANDSOME KING (5) lifted plenty in grade at Canterbury the latest and didn't have the best of it. Won and placed the two before and the tongue tie goes on. Fitter and like Loy's booking. GALIERRO (3) was just beaten at Newcastle in a 64 finding his best form over the lover journey. The Robl yard has had 23 runners here for a 30% strike rate and the gelding will go well. BRAVE BOY (7) won and placed at the provincials this distance range and then came back to the mile in a 64 and was plain unfancied. This suits better but he's likely to settle back off the low gate and that needs managing.
BET: Let's Karaka Deel will be very short but is hard to go past.
Race 3 (1400m) BM 65
TORETTO (7) resumed an easy winner further improved and then got too far back at Nowra and flashed home just missing as favourite. Latham sticks from that and may settle him handier today from the better gate. Fitter he's the one to beat for the sharp Dale barn. EMMA'S GIFT (11) is also in good local hands and hasn't been far away her last two starts a well-bet favourite. Will use the rail and last time at this trip was just nudged out at Kembla Grange in stronger than this. GUSONIC (4) is a leader who was out-graded at Wagga off the expected win there. This suits better and Clark is a key jockey booking. The gelding will take pegging back. MOHAHNA (8) resumes for the Olive yard. Will race over further but a big run fresh wouldn't totally surprise. AKHTAR (1) Is right up to this but treating as a scratching.
BET: Backing Toretto to win.
Race 4 (1200m) Bm 75
Very open on paper. PARK AVENUE (3) will be ready to fire third-up off the two solid city efforts. He always puts in and Clark goes on and will give him a gun ride from the low barrier. CAVALIER CHARLES (9) led and won by a space first-up and then missed a half-length in a CL5 after settling back. Fitter and is right up to this but needs a good ride from the outside barrier. IMPORTANT PRODUCT (12) won here and then went to Moonee Valley and was only beaten 1.8L. Will push forward and will go close with average luck in that. BEEP TEST (11) is much better than the two runs back suggest. Has figures that would win this and won the only third-up start. Berry's booking suggest she'll fire today.
BET: Park Avenue on an each way bases and /or play multiples.
Race 5 (1200m) Mdn – Federal
VAAROOM (9) has plenty of ability but disappointed the3 two outings last campaign. Resumes and tipping he's sorted out and will be ready to go on the big day. The Dryden barn is hard to risk at home. JIGGLER (3) debuts for the Goldman barn from a low gate. Profiles well and Berry's booking is a decent push for his chances. Expect him to race boldly. ALL ASTERN (13) is a lightly-raced Olive-trained filly who was in need of the first-up outing in an Open 2. Draws out but Pike rides and can manage that. Has the blinkers applied first-time and sharp improvement is on the cards. HOW DO YOU SLEEP (1) resumes and has switched from a Sydney barn. Loy will look to use the rail and he's a betting watch.
BET: Leaning to Vaaroom.
Race 6 (1000m) Open Sprint
ON THE LEAD (3) resumes and can win this if presented on-song. Has the blinkers again and King sticks from the Warwick Farm trial win. Has a sticky gate but he appeals most. Stablemate DUCHESS (5) runs along and has just missed in town her last two starts at 72 level. Gets 4.5kg weight relief in this grade and Clark rides and will position her quickly on speed. LANCASTER BOMBER (2) rates well off the two Randwick efforts and then had excuses at Flemington the latest. Peaks now and is a genuine winning chance. THE FACE (1) must lug a big weight on resumption but will have come on and will have admirers. DELACOUR (6) is a local who won't be far away.
Bet: Settled on On The Lead each way.
Race 7 (1400m) Open – National Sprint
A very competitive national sprint. CHAT (1) will be improved third-up off Group 3s the latest on a heavy track when just in the market. He will settle back but his peak figures would win this and fitter he gets the nod on the 9-day return. AIM (2) has been freshened off the 3.5L defeat in a rich feature at the Gold Coast. Has trialled sharply at Randwick since and the Snowden barn doesn't miss often when they come here. He will also finish hard. ASHMAN (3) is third-up and will find this easier that Group level. He's a winning chance at best and no surprise if he finds it. JAILBREAK (8) gets weight relief off the near-miss at Warwick Farm. Clark can give him the run of the race and he looks capable of making the frame.
BET: Going with Chat.
Race 8 (1200m) Group 3 – Black Opal Stakes
A terrific Black Opal. QUEEN OF THE BALL (10) runs along and led an won the Group 3 Widden Stakes on resumption and then raced a 5-4 favourite in the Group 2 Silver Slipper beaten 2L with the wet track disadvantaging. Has a wide gate and there is a stack of speed in this so she will need a clever ride from the outside gate. Fitter and should go close. RISE OF THE MASSES (7) led beaten 2L in the Group 2 Skyline and the heavy surface and will be better for that. Has the advantage of riding the speed from the low gate and will be tough to peg back. METALLICITY (4) brought three trial wins to debut beaten a half length in the Randwick Open 2. She can improve sharply off that and the Snowdens know what it takes to win a Black Opal. Counting on Berry to manage the sticky gate. SWEET RIDE (1) will likely push forward from the sticky barrier and absolutely walloped the Open 2s here 16 days ago. This is harder she can't do any more than win and did that in style.
BET: Sticking with Queen Of The Ball.
Race 9 (1600m) CL2
PINK PANTHER (3) is promising and is a leader and has been winning by spaces at Queanbeyan this trip. Keeps getting better and Loy sticks and rides from a low gate. Looks primed to make the hat-trick on the 7-day return. MANDERBOSS (4) is also on the improve and the near-miss this distance at Goulburn reads well. Settles back but will come hard. HARDY (2) peaks and also rates well for this contest. He will sit on the speed from the low barrier and is sure to go close. ALMAHERO (7) has been threatening since the Maiden win and is also a hope racing on-speed from a low gate on a 6-day return.
Bet: Leaning to Pink Panther in a good contest.