Strong nominations for inaugural Canberra Community Chest

The $200,000 Canberra Community Chest has received 26 nominations ahead of its inaugural running on Saturday, 25 November. 

A strong mix of City gallopers and local stars headline what is shaping up to be a fantastic contest over the 1400m at Thoroughbred Park.

Canberra Racing Club Racing & Equine Welfare Manager Chris Polglase said, “The Club is thrilled with the list of entries for the first running of the Canberra Community Chest.”

“It’s shaping to be a mouth-watering affair with a number of quality form lines.”

“The charity element gives this race a unique point-of-difference with our 12 charity partners due to draw their equine hero on Wednesday night at a Black-Tie event after acceptances.”

Matthew Kelley’s I’ve Bean Tryin’ looks a likely runner, fresh off a brilliant victory in the $250,000 Barn Dance (1300m) a fortnight ago. 

The consistent galloper has had to defy the barrier gods of late, having drawn barrier 10 or wider in each of his past eight starts. Despite this, the son of Spill The Beans has won three of those eight starts and produced a powerful final furlong to run fifth in the $2m Kosciuszko (1200m).

Matthew Dale’s Cavalier Charles, the 4th placegetter in the Kosciuszko is also nominated for the Canberra Community Chest. 

Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones will be keen to capitlise on Super Helpful’s rich vein of form when he steps out this Saturday. 

A Rosehill winner three starts back over 1300m, the talented gelding then produced a career best run to finish 3rd in the $3m Big Dance (1600m), securing his connections $300,000 in prizemoney. 

Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have nominated Danaustar and Boldinho, the latter one of a number of potential Victorian raiders including last week’s Snake Gully Cup winner, Superazi.

Ben Brisbourne’s Suparazi will be exempt from the ballot after winning the Snake Gully Cup, one of two ‘win-and-you-are-in’ races. Rathlin for Mathew Kelley is the other exempt after winning the TAB Federal Road to the Chest (1300m) at Canberra on Tuesday, 7 November. 

There will be a particular interest taken in John O’Shea’s Pizarro, who’s part-owner is CEO of Rise Above – Capital Region Cancer Relief, one of 12 charity partners who will race for their share of a $50,000 community chest. 

Group 3 Pago Pago winner, Rise Of The Masses has been entered by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, a partnership which has been dominant in Canberra feature races in recent years. 

Canberra racing fans will be hoping local hero Handle The Truth can run a big race for Keith Dryden is his final race start. Handle The Truth holds the track record over 1400m (1:21.63) at Thoroughbred Park. 

Canberra Community Chest nominations: