*******AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******
with NEIL EVANS
Albury Racing Club
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Spring Race Day
*Home of the Very Best Border Battles
Fallon St, NORTH ALBURY, NSW
PH: (02) 6025 1333
Check out all the race day options @
@AlburyRacing
+Gates Open @ 1.00pm
+1st Race @ 2.10pm
+Track Good 4 & Rail out +3m from 1200m to WP & True the Remainder:
*RACE 1 @ 2.10pm SOUTHERN ASSET SERVICES COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. NOTLEANORMEAN (Donna Scott/Blaike McDougall; 58kg & barrier 7) -we kick off the meeting with the restricted milers; and confident of hitting the ground running aboard this locally-trained & ultra honest 4YO mare by Lean Mean Machine who is hard fit; and banging on the door to finally crack it for a 2nd career win. Stuck on okay into a place in a deeper BM 66 affair over the same trip here 2 starts ago before dropping in grade & running home well to be beaten under a length at Wagga after being backed from $3.70 into $3.20. This is a bit tougher, but a senior and stronger rider gets back on; and the firming track is right up her alley. Can settle off the fence and a few lengths back before unleashing over the final 450m
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Keith; 3. **Downtown’s Abbey; 4. *Soul Taker; 7. *Mayfair Hotel
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: NOTLEANORMEAN to WIN & Trifecta: 2,3/1,2,3,4,7/1,2,3,4,7
*RACE 2 @ 2.45pm ACE RADIO 2AY COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55.5kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 8. RITA RED (Doug Gorrel/Jason Lyon; 55.5kg & barrier 7) -back to the 5 furlong sprint for the maidens; and very keen to back this improving & lightly raced 3YO filly by underrated sprint sire Cosmic Force peaking at the distance 2nd-up on a quick 5-day turnaround. Was given plenty of time after a disappointing debut mid year before returning with a late closing effort from the back in a handy maiden at Gundagai. Much fitter now, with a stronger jockey taking over; and she’ll relish getting on to the bigger track where she can settle back and be given plenty of time to run over them. Looks well treated only half kilo over the minimum weight in a race lacking depth
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *The Unique Star; 4. *Golden Racer; 9. *Sail By
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: RITA RED to WIN
*RACE 3 @ 3.25pm DUX ALBURY MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 7. DESERT OPAL (Kym Davison/Nick Souquet; 57.5kg & barrier 10) -the maidens again at set weights over 400m further; and in an open race with a few strong chances; clear on top is this lightly raced & progressive home track 3YO by staying sire D’argento who is primed at his 4th start, significantly with blinkers being added. Charged home to miss narrowly as a rock solid favourite here 2 starts back before being ridden too close at Corowa as a clear cut fancy and just failing to run down the winner. Will settle further back here on the bigger track from a wider gate; and be given plenty of time to unleash from the 450m. Given 17 days between runs to off-set the drop back in trip; and naturally is bred to get further
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *Brilliant Badger; 3. *Canny Defense; 5. **The Cuban; 10. **Hot One
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: DESERT OPAL to WIN & Box Exacta: 5,7,10
*RACE 4 @ 4.05pm REDI2HIRE MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 13. BESSIE LA BELLE (Donna Scott/Blaike McDougall; 55.5kg & barrier 5) -testing & competitive maiden sprint at set weights, with most of the field coming from over the border. Rating clear on top, though, is this lightly raced & very progressive home track 3YO filly by Group 1 Doncaster Hcp winner Kermadec who is set to peak at her 3rd start. Worked home okay just behind the placegetters in heavy ground on debut before settling midfield here and hitting the line late over this distance behind a handy winner. That run augurs well for this from a better trailing draw; and with a much stronger jockey taking over. Naturally bred to get further; and can position up off the fence and a few lengths back with cover before unleashing a superior final 350m sectional
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Riverbend Unicorn; 9. *Bella Akeed; 12. *Tribal Lands
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: BESSIE LA BELLE to WIN
*RACE 5 @ 4.40pm ATURA ALBURY BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 7. DUPRIDE STAR (Gary Colvin/Blaike McDougall; 58.5kg & barrier 8) -another absorbing & competitive sprint battle for this grade; and naturally in a race where little separates the leading contenders; like this tough & improving 6YO mare by Pride Of Dubai staying at the trip 2nd-up off a lengthy break. Was good for much of her last prep, including a close 2nd at this level before finishing best to claim a Country C’ship CL4 Preview here. Hit the line late from last when resuming at this track against similar opposition; and with better fitness and carrying a half kilo less, she can be given her head from back in the field on the point of the turn. Boasts a 20 percent win rate from 20 starts; and more significantly twice a winner from only 4 2nd-up runs
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *Showie’s Best Shot; 3. **Brenlyn’s Trooper; 4. *Native Leaf; 6. *Brenlyn’s Daisy; 8. *Pretty Penguin
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: DUPRIDE STAR to WIN & First Four: 3,7/2,3,4,6,7,8/2,3,4,6,7,8/2,3,4,6,7,8
*RACE 6 @ 5.20pm ALBURY PLUMBING SERVICE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. STUBBYHOLLER (Dan McCarthy/John Kissick; 62.5kg & barrier 4) -staying at the distance here for another open contest; and settled on this Wangaratta-based 5YO by Holler resuming off a 16 week spell and behind a smart trial win. Was game and always in and around the money last prep up to superior BM 64 level; and has a reliable record around this sort of trip. Comes to hand early in the campaign; and importantly blinkers go on for the first time. Can settle a few lengths off the speed with cover; and just needs to find clear air from the 350m. Only missed a place 3 times from 13 career starts
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Star Blazer; 3. *Mentalia; 5. *Hells Son; 6. *Apple Cider; 9. *Khaleej
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: STUBBYHOLLER to WIN
*RACE 7 @ 5.55pm THE ESSENTIAL UTENSIL CLASS 1 HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. FIFTY FIVE MUSTANG (Luke Pepper/TBA & barrier 13) -we close another terrific meeting with the lower class improvers; and in another wide battle; it shapes best for this very capable Canberra-based 5YO by Star Witness peaking 2nd-up over further, with winkers replacing blinkers. Was right in the money last prep, including a dominant maiden win at Muswellbrook; then missing narrowly in a strong BM 58 at Dubbo before spelling. Returned off a 22 week break with a fast-finishing narrow defeat in a CL1 here 13 days ago as a heavily backed favorite. Will need to slot in from a wider gate; but is tailor made for the long run home at this course
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *I’m Airborne; 4. *Mr Marrakech; 6. **Fire Your Guns; 7. **Pearl Trout; 8. *Via Vegas; 9. *Hoff To Sea; 10. *Soo Kiss Me; 14. *Lockadente
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: FIFTY FIVE MUSTANG to WIN & First Four: 2,6,7/2,3,4,6,7,8,9/2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,14/2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,14
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R2 8. RITA RED**
R4 13. BESSIE LA BELLE**
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R6 2. STUBBYHOLLER**
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R3 Box EXACTA: 5,7,10
R5 First Four: 3,7/2,3,4,6,7,8/2,3,4,6,7,8/2,3,4,6,7,8
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Next Meeting:
SAT Dec 07; 2024
#AirborneAlbury