By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 3.5m from the 1200m to 350m into a cut/away and True the remainder:
| Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1175m): |
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We kick off with the maidens at set weights on a firm surface, and home tracker 3. Cooee can strike on debut as a gelding behind three forward trials. Showed good tactical speed to win the last couple up to 1000m, and draws nicely here with an option to stay out towards the middle or slide through & use the cut/away from the 350m mark. Stable loves to strike fresh and new, and this looks a nice starting point.
Dangers: Progressive 5. Mo Cent can run the quinella, peaking third-up in his first full prep from a sound trailing draw; while another first starter 1. Better Sun sporting blinkers; and 6. Kurokaren third-up; can fight for the minor money.
How to play it: Cooee to win and quinella 3 and 5
| Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (900m): |
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Back to the short course. Honest Victorian mare 2. Dakota Elegance has placed in three of her last four over the border, and finds a winnable race 10 days between runs. Led until the final few strides two runs back over further before close-up in a deeper race at Cranbourne on Soft 7 ground. Less depth here, with one of the main market rivals likely to come out, on a suitable distance drop, and couldn’t be fitter
Dangers: Watch the betting on 1. Capital Rock having her first start for the local Ron Stubbs stable seven weeks after failing when very fresh at Ballarat. Keep safe too improving filly 7. Miss gabbiano who resumes with gear changes off a handy forward trial.
How to play it: Dakota Elegance to win
| Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1400m): |
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Confident provincial-based three-year-old 4. Canny Kick can launch at his fourth start, crucially with blinkers being added. Failed to fire in his first two runs in Soft 6 going when things didn’t go to plan, but on a firmer surface, charged home from the back at Moruya to finish right on the placegetters’ heels 24 days ago. Hits peak fitness now, and will love settling back here with a trail on a bigger track with a far longer run home.
Dangers: Big watch on Wodonga-based 3. Tycoon Artie, resuming with gear changes for his second prep, and having trialled behind the on top selection from the first race; while second-up runners 7. Kerma Art on a big weight drop; and 10. Teneca Reign with a much stronger jockey taking over; are both capable of running into a place.
How to play it: Canny Kick to win
| Race 4 CLASS 2 HCP (1500m): |
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Not much between the leading contenders here. Tough-as-teak 4. Country Kilkenny fought hard to win over a mile here two starts ago before finishing close-up in deeper company at Wagga.
Dangers: Canberra visitor 2. Imasuperstar is right in the mix after hitting the line well second-up in a deeper CL2 18 days ago. Must include improving 3. Tizso Fab dropping in weight fourth-up; and 5. Bobotov deep into his prep; in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: County Kilkenny to win
| Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m): |
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Back in class, and it augurs well for locally-trained mare 9. Wanaloan again from the Stubbs stable. Didn’t get much luck or room at vital stages when resuming, yet still finished well into a place beaten just over a length. That was her first run in more than eight months since transferring across from SA, and staying at the limit weight, she can pounce here at good odds behind a solid tempo on a quick 10 day back-up.
Dangers: Naturally lightly raced and emerging 2. Hulm looks well suited off an all-the-way first-up Super Maiden win. Keep very safe Victorian filly 4. Brenlyn’s Daisy who is over the odds mapping well down in weight and 13 days between runs; while 1. Jukebox Flyer can peak fourth-up on a significant class drop, despite rising in weight.
How to play it: Wanaloan to win
| Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m): |
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Plenty of value here with tough three-year-old 4. Future Fund second-up off a freshening in what is now a weakened race. Was given a short break after charging home to win his maiden at Wagga when backed from $3.10 into $2.80 before doing his best work late in a handy CL1 17 days ago. Drawn to get plenty of cover back in the field, and be saved up for one big surge from the 350m.
Dangers: Plenty of respect too for 5. Vegas Dream resuming, although best efforts so far have been on heavy tracks; while 8. Saint Loft is fit and knocking on the door fifth-up.
How to play it: Future Fund each way
| Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (900m): |
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The closer stacks up nicely for progressive mare 5. Swift Enuff coming back 100m in distance third-up. Finished best to win resuming in heavy ground when solid in the market before just even to the line in much deeper CL3 company 17 days ago. Better suited back at this level, and she can work across to sit just off the speed before dashing quickly over the final 300m
Dangers: Naturally, talented local 3. Rumours Abound will be hard to hold out if she gets across from the wide draw okay. Let punters down when swamped late, resuming in a CL2, but still lightly raced and destined to win deeper assignments than this. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Hurricane Thunder freshened back from city grade over the border, and having his first start for the new provincial yard with blinkers removed.
How to play it: Swift Enuff to win
BEST BETS:
R1 3. COOEE
R7 5. SWIFT ENUFF
BEST VALUE:
R5 9. WANALOAN
All the fields, form and replays for Monday’s Albury meeting
