Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Preview — 17 March 2021
At the time of writing the track is rated a Soft 7 with fine Weather forecast through to race day. The rail is out 9m the entire course and they may look for the outside going as the races progress.
A tidy meeting coming off the big two-day Black Opal Carnival.
Race 1 (1000m) CL1
Crucial Witness may be the one to lead. MISSILE MAGIC (1) was back to his best beaten 0.8L here 10 days ago and it was an eye catcher from back in the field. He can come over the top of them based on that. CRUCIAL WITNESS (5) led and missed a lip in the same race. She's come back to racing improved and the on-speed galloper is feared with the extra fitness. DELIGHTFUL DREAM (3) resumes and won on debut before the 1.3L defeat at the provincials. That stacks up and she's likely to come back further improved. RAPIDITY (8) brings improving form to peak and winning rider McDougall is reunited. He's some hope back to a shorter sprint. KENELEM (6) resumes and is good enough. Elevate if serious big money comes. BET: Going with Missile Magic in a good contest.
Race 2 (1000m) Maiden SW
The Tapster and Sifu will race close-up and Grand Lusitano will be right there if they elect to go forward today. Tricky with three debutants engaged who look to have good ability. Of the raced GRAND LUSITANO (2) is clearly the one to beat. Just missed twice from the speed before settling well back when beaten a whisker here in a strong race. Comes to peak and draws handy. HALLIES COMET (5) made sharp improvement placing at Goulburn. She will push forward and the Dryden-trained galloper is a player. RUBICK ISLAND (9) and KEITH (10) are both debutants who have shown talent at the trials. The former is in an in-form local yard and the latter is Sydney trained. The betting will likely tell if they're up to winning. THE TAPSTER (7) showed good improvement placing at Wagga and can build on that drawn to advantage. SIFU (6) was good winning the Maiden here three-back and has been plainer since. McDougall's booking suggests she's pleasing and she will box-seat from the low gate. Keep safe. BET: Grand Lusitano sets a decent standard.
Race 3 (1300m) Maiden
Duke Of Buckingham and Destiny's Republic are capable of running along. NOBLE ALBERT (6) needed the first-up run and then led beaten 1.5L at Hawkesbury. She should get a nice sit and won't have to improve much to take this out. SAMASAY (9) had trialled sharply but was plain here on debut in a strong form Maiden. Draws wide for the resumption but should have the ability to cope. In the hot Baker yard and keep a close eye on the betting. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM (5) resumes with two city trials under the belt and expect her to be much improved. Ford's booking suggests he's pleasing. OFF TO MOE'S (11) wasn't beaten far here resuming and has more up the sleeve. He can make the finish without surprising. BET: Leaning to Noble Alert in a tricky contest.
Race 4 (1300m) BM70 — Federal
Zelago can run them along from the low gate. They didn't miss ZELAGO (3) when he won the 65 comfortably here from the speed delivering a peak effort. He can control the race from the low gate and racing at full fitness looks set to win again. BANGER (1) also ran his best race beaten a whisker at Canterbury in much stronger grade. Has to come back to a sprint but winning rider McDougall takes over and he's feared briefly freshened. ONTHETAKE (4) won the 66 at Albury before the 0.5L defeat here behind Quiet Riot. He will use the rail and can make the finish. ONS VIER (5) continues to race well and is always a chance in these contests. BET: Sticking with Zelago.
Race 5 (2000m) BM60
A few can race handy but it's not clear who leads over the middle distance. SEPORTO (4) made sharp improvement placing at Goulburn and then didn't quite have the best of it at Wyong. Comes south with McDougal booked and will be well-positioned from the low gate. He gets his chance in this company. GARROS (2) had been around the mark in better grade before the lip defeat back to the mile. He's rock-hard fit and is a player. LARMOUR (3) was much better up in trip at Cowra and peaks for this. He has to be considered along with WHISKEY JACK (1) who was outgraded in the Canberra Cup for the new yard, but brought solid provincial efforts to that. CONFIDENT LAD (6) will run along and won't be far away. BET: Backing Seporto.
Race 6 (1600m) BM65
Nieces and Nephews can lead from Exotic Deel. LAND AHOY (5) was only beaten 1.3L first-up and then made a ratings spike winning the Newcastle CL1 this trip racing handy. The well-bred filly gets a gun run from the rail and fitter can go right on with it. EXOTIC DEEL (1) just missed three-back at Canterbury in the 72 and hasn't had the best of it since. Raced favourite here the latest but the sticky track saw him undone. He's also well-bred and is feared at this level with the winkers on first time. LOAFING (4) is also back in grade and has been knocking on the door. He's also a hope racing at peak. NIECES AND NEPHEWS (2) comes out of the same race where he placed and won't be far away pushing forward. BET: Backing Land Ahoy.
Race 7 (1600m) CL1
Port Douglas may take the opportunity to lead. PORT DOUGLAS (4) just missed twice heavily-supported before delivering the Wagga Maiden up to this trip and backed deep into the red. Draws to control the race and can go right on with it for the hot local yard. Stablemate VALLAURIS (6) needed the first-up run and expect sharp improvement up to this trip. Gets McDougall first time and would take this out finding his best Victorian form. LAKE TAI (2) is lightly-raced and can build on the Mudgee Maiden win. Draws out but settles back anyway. The Baker yard is getting stacks of winners. HIMIKO (11) draws the outside gate but may have the speed to cope and has trialled twice. She's capable and keep a close eye on the market. MANDALONG NICKO (3) is knocking on the door but hasn't won for 995 days. BET: Will look to back the Matt Dale pair: Port Douglas and Vallauris.