************AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******
with NEIL EVANS
Albury Racing Club
Friday Jul 18, 2025
Full TAB Adrian Ledger
Memorial Race Day
*Home of the Best Border Battles
Fallon St, NORTH ALBURY, NSW
PH: (02) 6025 1333
Check out all the great race day
options & hospitality packages @
@AlburyRacing
+Gates Open @ 11.30am
+1st Race @ 12.05pm
+Track likely Heavy 8 & Rail out +5.5m from 1200m to 350m; Cut/Away Applies; +3.5m:
*RACE 1 @ 12.05pm MWS WEALTH PROFESSIONALS COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 57.5kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. JACKPOT STAR (Matthew Dale/Nick Heywood; 58kg & barrier 4) -we kick off the meeting with a lower class sprint battle on a rain-affected surface continuing to improve; and very keen to back this lightly-raced 3YO gelding by Starcraft resuming for only his 3rd start. Impressed on debut at Wagga leading all the way as a well tried favourite back in January before not far away in this class at Goulburn when not in the best ground. Reportedly been working well; and while he hasn’t publicly trialled, is bred to handle the conditions being out of a Not A Single Doubt mare. Drawn to roll forward again & either lead or sit right behind and this is an ideal starting point
MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Elastaine Miss; 3. Magic Leprechaun; 5. *Aqualina’s Star;
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: JACKPOT STAR to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 2
*RACE 2 @ 12.40pm ADRIAN LEDGER MEMORIAL BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. STRAIGHT FIRE (Todd Smart/Billy Owen; 59kg & barrier 7) -out over a staying trip now at a competitive level; and it shapes ideally for this consistent & still improving 4YO Canberra mare by Vancouver; peaking 5th-up & heading back out in distance. Finished best to win a BM 65 on the synthetic 3 runs again before hitting the line late in a BM 66 at Bathurst. Settled further back last start at home before threading through the field & looked home for all money emerging late until the winner kicked in the shadows of the post. Gear change is in play and back on the turf is a big plus at this stage of the campaign. Loves tracks with big & spacious straights and is already a heavy track winner
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Dandruff; 4. *Gift Of Oratory; 6. *Think More
Likely Tempo: Fair to Moderate
My BET PLAN: STRAIGHT FIRE to WIN
*RACE 3 @ 1.15pm HIB INSURANCE COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. DEEPWATER ARTIST (Matthew Kelley/Billy Owen; 59kg & barrier 7) -back to the sprint trip for a tricky maiden at set weights; and another Canberra raider rates clear on top having his first start. Bred to handle the going being a 3YO by multiple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist; and looked strong through then line finishing close-up in a recent Goulburn trial on heavy ground. Starts his career in blinkers and with other key gear additions; and drawn to stay off the fence
MAIN DANGERS: 3. **Reckless Behaviour; 4. *Lull Us Away; 8. *Tassy Fox; 10. *Drumcondra; 11. **Triptolemus
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: DEEPWATER ARTIST to WIN & First Four: 2,3,11/2,3,4,8,10,11/2,3,4,8,10,11/2,3,4,8,10,11
*RACE 4 @ 1.55pm GAZEBO & SHADE CENTRE BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. FIFTY FIVE MUSTANG (Luke Pepper/Ms Rebecca Bronett Prag a1.5kg; 60kg & barrier 5) -staying over the distance for another strong & tactical sprint battle; and in a race of several chances; settled on this progressive Canberra 5YO by durable wet track sire Star Witness 3rd-up over a shade more ground. Won a Class 2 at home late last year before running home okay in much deeper CL3 Highway company at Randwick in the New Year when stepping up to a mile. Had 1 more run before a break; then resumed with a poor effort in this grade when nothing went to plan. Returned to something near his best last start at Nowra; hitting the line late into a place in a handy CL3. Given 1 month between runs is the right recipe; and with a 1.5kg weight claim keeping him fairly treated; can settle back around midfield before producing a superior final 350m burst
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *Vella Magic; 3. **Three Musketeers; 4. *Shooting For Stars; 6. **Miss Cotoletta; 9. *Ghost Doctor
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: FIFTY FIVE MUSTANG to WIN & Box Exacta: 1,3,6
*RACE 5 @ 2.35pm PLUS FITNESS THURGOONA MAIDEN PLATE (900m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 8. MACHETE (Rob Wellington/Pierre Boudvillain; 57kg & barrier 1) -dropping to the flying short course here for the maidens at set weights; and it shapes nicely for this improving & locally-trained 3YO filly by Hellbent reloading off a 10-week break via a steady soft track trial over the border. Closed off okay in 2 runs against tougher Victoriasn opposition through autumn to start her career before the spell; and looks to have strengthened up a little since then. Bred to thrive in the going & also drawn to get an economical run along the inside around midfield. Over the odds
MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Lunar Mojo; 3. *Too Darn Cold; 4. *With Strength; 6. *Fitzalan; 9. *Palais Du Rhin
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My BET PLAN: MACHETE Each Way & First Four: 1,8/1,3,4,6,8,9/1,3,4,6,8,9/1,3,4,6,8,9
*RACE 6 @ 3.10pm JINDERA TYRE SERVICE MAIDEN HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 56kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4. ELLIS BEACH (Craig Widdison/Brendan Ward; 57.5kg & barrier 9) -testing and moderate maiden here over the 7 furlongs; with all but 1 runner coming from over the border. Like this resuming Wodonga-based 3YO by Omaha Beach resuming off a nice soft track trial. Mixed his form through last prep up to 1700m in deeper races than this; twice in the placings when coming from just off the speed. This looks a nice starting trip for the new campaign; bred to handle rain-affected ground & he can settle back off the speed before being taken to the middle of the track at the top of the straight
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Mr Breakdance; 6. *Mahra
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: ELLIS BEACH to WIN
*RACE 7 @ 3.45pm WELLO’S PLUMBING CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. BLAZING SWORD (Toby Lake/Pierre Boudvillain; 57.5kg & barrier 4) -we step out a further furlong to the mile for the improvers; and keen to back this progressive Bendigo-based 3YO by Too Darn Hot who can go back-to-back at this track 4th-up over a shade more ground. Finished well to be beaten only a neck in a handy Swan Hill maiden 2 starts ago before crossing the border and charging home in heavy going here to break through after being ridden much quieter. That win augurs well for this; right at peak fitness now with a 1.5kg weight drop; and crucially he’s drawn to get cover in the early part.
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Goofinator; 3. **Sturty; 6. **Flutterby; 8. *Think I’m Irish
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: BLAZING SWORD to WIN & Trifecta: 3,5,6/1,3,5,6,8/1,3,5,6,8
*RACE 8 @ 4.25pm KIEWA VALLEY SPRING WATER BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. SORRY SUNSHINE (Doug Gore/John Kissick; 63kg & barrier 3) -tough & open mile battle to close the meeting; but love the value here about this still progressing 5YO by little known sire Apologia who is gunning for a 3rd win from his last 4 stepping back up in distance. Swept home impressively late to win a BM 58 at Corowa 3 starts ago before having problems in a tougher BM 66 when up sharply in trip to 2000m. Dropped in grade & significantly back to 1400m when charging home to claim a BM 58 on a very heavy track at Wagga last start; and the 11 day back-up is a sure sign he’s done well since. Naturally loves the ground, with 4 of his 6 career wins coming in either soft or heavy; and he can settle back here with cover early before being taken wider & surging home over the final 350m
MAIN DANGERS: 4. *Great Week; 5. **Bellman; 6. *Just Like Liam; 7. *Boy From Tennessee; 9. *Newyork Missile; 10. *Freddy’s Shock
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: SORRY SUNSHINE Each Way & First Four: 3,5,10/3,4,5,6,7,9,10/3,4,5,6,7,9,10/3,4,5,6,7,9,10
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R1 2. JACKPOT STAR**
R2 3. STRAIGHT FIRE**
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R8 3. SORRY SUNSHINE*
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R3 First Four: 2,3,11/2,3,4,8,10,11/2,3,4,8,10,11/2,3,4,8,10,11
R4 Box Exacta: 1,3,6
R7 Trifecta: 3,5,6/1,3,5,6,8/1,3,5,6,8
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Next Meeting:
Tuesday Aug 19; 2025
#AirborneAlburyRacing