*******AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******
with NEIL EVANS
Albury Racing Club
MONDAY Jan 19, 2026
TAB SUMMER RACE DAY
*Home of the Best Border Battles
Fallon St, NORTH ALBURY, NSW
PH: (02) 6025 1333
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options & hospitality packages @
@AlburyRacing
+Gates Open @ 1.00pm
+1st Race @ 2.05pm
+Track Good 4 & Rail True:
*RACE 1 @ 2.05pm ATURA ALBURY COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. C’MON WICKSY (Rob Potter/Ms Claire Ramsbotham a1.5kg; 56.5kg & barrier 6) –we start a competitive day’s racing with the maiden sprinters; and it shapes ideally for this lightly raced Canberra 4YO by Pride Of Dubai resuming for a 2nd prep & only 4th start. Showed enough in 3 mixed runs through late winter when always well in the market before spelling; and while he hasn’t officially trialled; reportedly been working well for some time. Stable has a good strike rate on the fresher side; and further boosted with the early favourite being preferred at Sunday’s Cowra meeting
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Edika; 3. *Excel Moon
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: C’MON WICKSY to WIN
*RACE 2 @ 2.40pm CUP HOSPITALITY PACKAGES ON SALE NOW MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. HELLS SPIRIT (Kym Davison/Ms Brittany Button a1.5kg; 56kg & barrier 3) -the maidens again getting out to the mile at set weights; and in a race of many chances; all aboard this honest & improving home track 3YO by Hellbent at the big value & deep into the current campaign. Finished just out of the placings here in consecutive maidens when ridden from both in front and well off the speed; both times forced to work early in the run. Then did his best work late to beat all but the winner at Corowa 3 weeks back. Overdue for that breakthrough win; but is hard fit; drawn to get lovely cover back in the pack; and will relish the extra ground and getting onto a bigger circuit. Well over the odds in an open battle
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *All Too Swift; 5. *Bravo Six; 8. **Deflector; 9. *Doppio; 13. **Miss Shiino
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: HELLS SPIRIT Each Way & First Four: 6,8,13/2,5,6,8,9,13/2,5,6,8,9,13/2,5,6,8,9,13
*RACE 3 @ 3.15pm TONKIN GROUP COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. FLASHY ICON (Rob Potter/Ms Claire Ramsbotham a1.5kg; 59.5kg & barrier 11) -staying over the trip here for the restricted milers; and in another very open & tactical affair; rating on top is this tough & still progressing Canberra 5YO by Prized Icon who drops in grade and distance 5th-up & 3 weeks between runs. Has finished well into the placings in 3 of his last last 4; including a game chasing effort when beaten just over a length in a very handy BM 65 over 2000m at home. Was ridden from further back against similar opposition in his latest outing & again hit the line hard to only miss by a long neck. Hard fit; and will relish settling back off the speed here on a big and spacious track. Looks well treated at the weights too against most of these after the jockey’s claim
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Wish You Were Here; 4. *Freud; 5. *Tycoon Artie; 7. **Star Bling; 9. **King Czar; 10. *Lovehunter
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: FLASHY ICON to WIN & First Four: 2,7,9/2,3,4,5,7,9,10/2,3,4,5,7,9,10/2,3,4,5,7,9,10
*RACE 4 @ 3.50pm NAUGHTIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP MAIDEN PLATE (1000m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. WILD ROMEO (Luke Pepper/Nick Heywood; 57.5kg & barrier 4) -we drop back to the 5 furlong sprint here for the maidens at set weights; and very keen on this 3YO gelding by Everest winner Yes Yes Yes on debut in winkers for a shrewd Canberra stable. Was given plenty of time to develop through last year & 2 sets of spaced trials. Cruised home by nearly 4 lengths at Rosehill in mid October before dropping out and given a quiet time in a subsequent hit-out. Been reportedly working strongly; and drawn to get a handy run with cover here and hit the line hard
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *Smart And Mighty; 6. *Gold Thunder; 14. *Sizzleist
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: WILD ROMEO to WIN
*RACE 5 @ 4.30pm CARLTON DRY 3.5 CLASS 1 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. GURU TWO (Peter Maher/Brendan Ward; 60kg & barrier 4) -a handy field of lower class improvers here over a sprinting trip; and settled clearly at the value aboard this consistent & genuine 4YO by Cable Bay who makes the short trip over the border 3rd-up. Ran home into a place in 3 consecutive outings this time last year up to deeper BM 64 level before being given a long break. Resumed on Xmas Eve when charging home from well back to miss narrowly at Wagga. Then wasn’t suited when ridden closer from the inside draw at Wodonga and failed to attack the line as an easing favourite. Much better placed here on the bigger track with a key gear change in play. New jockey booking is also significant; and he’s drawn to find cover around midfield
MAIN DANGERS: 8. *Wolf Island; 9. **Coco De Luxe
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: GURU TWO Each Way & Quinella: 2 and 9
*RACE 6 @ 5.10pm HABITAT PLANNING BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 11. MOONLIGHT DREAM (Brett Mallyon/Josh Richards; 60kg & barrier 19) -out to the 7 furlongs now for another wide open affair. Settled clearly on this home track & improving 4YO mare by Zoustar who can overcome a wide barrier & pounce 4th-up. Former Joe Pride-trained galloper who hit the line impressively first-up in a CL1 here when rock hard in the market before again doing her best work late at Wagga on Xmas Eve. Signalled she’s ready to win by rushing home late to miss by a nose in a CL1 at that same course; and the extra 100m now is a natural bonus. Just needs to tuck in from the wide gate & she can produce a superior closing 400m burst over this trip
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Divazou; 5. *Kotaishi; 15. *Under The Hat
Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid
My BET PLAN: MOONLIGHT DREAM to WIN
*RACE 7 @ 5.50pm HUTCHISON CIVIL BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 8. BRIDIE’S LUCK (Ron Stubbs/Ms Ella Bent a3kg; 58kg & barrier 8) -another very open battle for the restricted sprinters to finish; but keen at the value on this locally-trained & sparingly raced 6YO mare by Written Tycoon who is ready to win again deep into the prep. Stuck on well when chasing in a much deeper race here 2 starts ago; before again finishing only 2 lengths from the winner in a handy CL2 at Corowa. Has enough tactical speed & is well treated at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Tadgh; 5. *Narcissist; 13. *Shelly’s Legacy
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: BRIDIE’S LUCK to WIN
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R1 2. C’MON WICKSY** Expect: $3.00 – $3.25; My Rating: $2.05
R4 5. WILD ROMEO** Expect: $4.00 – $4.25; My Rating: $2.15
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R3 2. FLASHY ICON** Expect: $4.85 – $5.25; My Rating: $2.80
R5 2. GURU TWO** Expect: $6.50 – $7.50; My Rating: $3.90
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R3 First Four: 2,7,9/2,3,4,5,7,9,10/2,3,4,5,7,9,10/2,3,4,5,7,9,10
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Next Meeting:
Thursday FEB 05; 2026
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