Racing & Sports Canberra Preview - 15 April 2022
Race 1 (1200m) Mdn
TEXERRO (2) brought a Warwick Farm trial win and found one better here on debut. Draws to advantage and fitter is sure to take beating. MISS ADRENALIN (5) ran her best race beaten 2L at Mudgee. It was a good effort, and she won't have to improve much to go close. NICCOLINA (4) placed at Mudgee bet a 15-8F. Will be better for that and should have the speed to clear the sticky gate. BIONIC (3) won a Rosehill trial but looked in need of it at Newcastle on debut. Ford rides for a sharp Sydney barn and quick improvement is anticipated. COUNTRY STYLE (6) resumes and has shown enough to consider. Has a handy gate and Loy's booking suggests she's pleasing.
BET: Backing Texerro.
Race 2 (1400m) Mdn SW
ESPADRILLE (11) hasn't had much luck both starts and gets a couple of key switches. The blinkers are on first time and Penza rides and would have had choices. In the hot Matt Dale barn and tipping we'll see sharp improvement. NOBLE EXCEPTION (4) is also in good local hands and led and weakened-out on resumption bet 4-1. The colt is much better than that and Loy's booking is a lead. The colt is up to this and can improve into the finish. GRAVY TRAIN MAGPIE (12) just missed here third-up spiking his figures. Will use the handy barrier and fitter can't be ruled out. DERANGED (10) needed the first-up outing and the extra 200m suits. Will push forward and is in the mix. VAAROOM (5) would go close but treating as a scratching with no jockey declared.
BET: Leaning to Espadrille.
Race 3 (2000m) CL1
A good contest. EYES TO EYE (3) raced favourite third-up at Goulburn and finished it off well to place. Peaks now and has plenty up the sleeve. Will race forward and tipping the middle distance will suit. FUNAMBULIST (6) shapes as a danger. The former French galloper who was only beaten 1.3L first-up at 1500m having his first Australian start. The back-form reads well and he's sure to appreciate the longer journey. MIKASA (11) was just beaten at Hawkesbury and then didn't have the best of it in the Adrian Knox Stakes at long-odds. Will find this much more suitable and the blinkers are applied first time. A player. BACIO DEL MIST (4) improved again missing a lip at Scone over 2200m and that stacks right up. Has an awkward gate but trusting Ford to give her every chance.
BET: Leaning to Eyes To Eye.
Race 4 (1000m) Bm 60
NEPHRADIVA (6) resumes for the Olive barn with Loy a key jockey booking. Has shown enough to say this is winnable and performs fresh. Draws to advantage and is sure to have come on. FLYING ANNIE (4) has won 2/3 this campaign and was beaten a lip the other. Has the handy 3kg claim and has the speed to clear the awkward gate. In one of the nation's top barns and is feared. HAYYU (9) is fast and resumed an easy Maiden winner bet 9-4. Draws to control the race and looks capable of taking the next step. RUBICON RIVER (7) resumes and was beaten 1.1L in a recent Warwick Farm trial. Penza rides and that's a push. May be the one to add meat to the multiples.
BET: Going with Nephradiva.
Race 5 (1600m) Bm 65
A good contest. VANILLA SKY (10) runs along and improved again beaten 1.5L at Kembla Grange before folding up at Goulburn on a heavy track and forget that. Has plenty of weight relief and draws to advantage. This is winnable. MERCURY (7) has been threatening and had no luck at all here 7-days ago. His best is good enough and he gets another chance. DENMISS (5) has been knocking on the door and a leading course striker Loy replaces the apprentice. The mile shouldn't bother and he can make the finish. REAL PEACE (3) tends to be in-and-out but has ability and didn't have the best of it here the latest. In the mix finding his best. MOOKAREENA (4) is hard to follow but is back in class with a 3kg claim and the blinkers go on again.
BET: Backing Vanilla Sky.
Race 6 (1200m) CL2
KING GUTHO (3) was much too good on resumption heavily-bet. Draws for the run of the race and has more up the sleeve. Loy sticks and that's a lead. MASCHERATA (4) was okay in Stakes grade before the spell. Has spoiled things with slow offs both starts back and tipping he'll be much more competitive with those under the belt. Has been briefly freshened and respect the Sydney barn. CIRCULARITY (1) is also Sydney-trained and ran his best race just beaten at Muswellbrook. Had come off a trial win and looks a hope. SHARKIM (8) will be fitter and brings two heavy track country placings to the third-up outing and they stack up. Ran his best figure on the dry and Penza's booking encourages. BUDDEROO BLITZ (5) missed a nose here 16 days ago surprising the market. Will get back from the rail and that's a query.
BET: Sticking with King Gutho.
Race 7 (1300m) Bm 70 - Federal
DEVILS TRIANGLE (4) delivered the 72 win at Canterbury (7-4F) off near-misses at here and at Randwick. Goes wet and dry and keeps improving for the hot Matt Dale barn. Heywood replaces the apprentice, and the mare should get the run of the race over the longer sprint. MISS OSTEND (9) resumed in terrific order beaten 1.5L this grade behind Washington Towers and that form's been franked. She has plenty up the sleeve but lifts 300m and draws the outside gate. Expecting her to manage both and threaten. MR ALOYSIUS (10) is busting to win and has the figures to fight out the figures. She rides the speed and runs the 1400m right out. EVANORA (11) races handy and Cahill is reunited replacing the apprentice. Has the ability and gets the blinkers applied first time.
BET: Backing Devils Triangle.
Race 8 (1400m) CL1
STAY WEALTHY (2) pulled up with an issue at Hawkesbury and go on the 1.3L defeat at Wyong prior. That stacks right up and the gelding will get the run of the race from the low gate. Briefly freshened and tipping this is his race. HOW DO YOU SLEEP (3) hit the line hard to just miss here first-up and then came back and capped that with the big Maiden win a heavily-bet 1-2F. Has an awkward gate but Loy will manage that. A decent chance to take the next step over the longer sprint. LOOSE LOVE (4) is busting to win and Penza is a key jockey switch. Comes back 200m with the blinkers applied again. MAJOR GOWEN (5) is a former Victorian resuming for the hot Matt Dale barn. Will race over further but has a strong record this trip and most of the extra gear comes off. No surprise if he's on-song and hits the line hard.
BET: Leaning to Stay Wealthy.