Race-by-Race preview with Neil Evans

*******AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******

with NEIL EVANS

 

Albury Racing Club

Saturday Dec 14, 2024

Christmas Party Race Day

 

*Home of the Very Best Border Battles

 

Fallon St, NORTH ALBURY, NSW

PH: (02) 6025 1333

 

Check out all the great race day

options & hospitality packages @

www.alburyracing.com.au

E: info@alburyracing.com.au

@AlburyRacing

 

+Gates Open @ 11.45am

+1st Race @ 1.51pm

+Track Good 4 & Rail True:

 

*RACE 1 @ 1.51pm PLUS FITNESS THURGOONA COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 5. COLOMBIANO (Rob Wellington/Jason Lyon; 55.5kg & barrier 3)we start another festive flavoured meeting with a tricky sprint for the maidens on a firming track; and like this locally-trained 3YO filly by speed sire Harry Angel on debut. Has been given plenty of time since a nice forward trial just over the border back in mid October. Bred for sprinting power being out of a mare by 1994 Golden Slipper winner Danzero, and reportedly has worked well since that trial. Importantly drawn to get cover, and the drying track is a further plus

 

MAIN DANGERS: 4. *Gypsic; 6. *Divron; 7. *Luna Jet; 11. **Master Of Disguise; 12. *Santolini

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My BET PLAN: COLOMBIANO to WIN & FIRST FOUR: 5,11/4,5,6,7,11,12/4,5,6,7,11,12/4,5,6,7,11,12

 

*RACE 2 @ 2.26pm BOOS BETTER LIVING SYSTEMS COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 4. CHECK SIDE (Kym Davison/Brendan Ward; 56.5kg & barrier 1) now over a bit more ground for the lower class improvers; and in a race of many chances; it shapes well for this talented if very inconsistent home track 4YO by Scissor Kick who is overdue this prep; but looks better placed than ever coming back a furlong in distance & 5 weeks between runs. Had a mountain of excuses 2 starts back at Wagga over the mile when caught off the track & a long way back with no cover in a horror ride before again having little or no luck from the draw here last time after being backed from $4.40 into $3.70. This time draws the fence, with an important jockey change; and as long as he gets clear air somewhere early in the straight; can let rip with a dominant final 350m sectional

 

MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Fifty Five Mustang; 2. **Battle Fleet; 3. *Hookham; 5. *Two Aye; 6. **Swinging High

 

Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid

My BET PLAN: CHECK SIDE to WIn & Box Exacta: 2,4,6

 

*RACE 3 @ 3.01pm WODONGA SPRING WORKS MAIDEN PLATE (900m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 12. MOGAO (Kevin Hanley/Ms Amy O’Driscoll a2kg; 53.5kg & barrier 2) back with the maidens over the flying short course at set weights; and in a wide affair; settled on this debutant home track 3YO filly by renowned sprint sire Sooboog who hasn’t been publicly seen since a solid trial at Randwick back in the autumn. In good hands; and importantly draws low first time out; and gets in light after the jockey’s 2kg claim. Reportedly has her fair share of ability; and can make an instant home statement here at good odds

 

MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Ditterich; 2. *I’m Unique; 6. **Balmoral; 13. *Penrose; 14. *Witch Of November

 

Likely Tempo: Good to Strong

My BET PLAN: MOGAO Each Way & FIRST FOUR: 1,6,12/1,2,6,12,13,14/1,2,6,12,13,14/1,2,6,12,13,14

 

*RACE 4 @ 3.40pm NORTH ALBURY TYREPOWER MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 8. SACRED MISTRESS (Luke Pepper/Quayde Krogh; 57kg & barrier 1)again the maidens lock horns over significantly further; and keen to back this progressive & lightly raced 5YO Canberra mare by dual Doncaster Hcp winner Sacred Falls who is primed to strike 3rd-up from the inside draw; with winkers replacing blinkers for the first time. Hit the line well to place twice in consecutive handy maidens back in autumn before being spelled. Returned on Melbourne Cup day at Moruya and was beaten a whisker as a rock solid favorite before stepping up to this trip and just even through the line into a place after covering ground early. Drawn to get a more economical run here with cover just off the speed; and only needs a clear crack at them over the final 350m. Was scratched from Friday’s Canberra meeting to be saved for this

 

MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Jannik; 4. *Kensington City; 6. *The Cuban; 10. *The Third Wish

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My BET PLAN: SACRED MISTRESS to WIN

 

*RACE 5 @ 4.15pm STEWART GOULD REAL ESTATE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 8. MAYFAIR HOTEL (Wayne Carroll/Ms Ella McGuirk a3kg; 54kg & barrier 8 -a stack of chances in this one too over the mile; headed at the value by this underrated 5YO mare by 2014 Cox Plate winner Adelaide who is well placed to go back-to-back 4th-up & 23 days between runs. Worked home nicely in two runs back from a spell to finish right on the heels of the placegetters at Wagga before sweeping home for a dominant win this track & trip last time. Was scratched from last Saturday’s meeting here to be saved for this; and with a light weight settling back off a solid tempo; she can be taken to the outside at the top of the lane & let rip with a dominant closing burst

 

MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Bellman; 4. *Gijima Gal; 7. **Downtown’s Abbey

 

Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid

My BET PLAN: MAYFAIR HOTEL to WIN & Quinella: 7 & 8

 

*RACE 6 @ 4.55pm ARM HERE BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 5. OUTBACK ANGEL (Allan McRae/TBA; 59.5kg & barrier 10) -up in grade for a very competitive sprint; and confident this tough & sparingly raced 4YO mare by Super One can strike again 3rd-up in the prep off a 5 week freshen-up. Came off a lengthy spell to hit the line late here in weaker grade before tracking the speed in another BM 58 & careering away late to win by nearly 4 lengths; running a slick final 600m. This is tougher; but she’s right up to this level & always performs when on the fresher side. Can roll across from a wider draw & park just off the speed & off the fence before cutting loose over the final 300m. Boasts a 33 percent win rate from 9 starts; and the drying track is an added boost

 

MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Mojo Music; 2. *Solvere; 6. *Shooting For Stars; 8. **Super Sunny Seeya; 10. *Bridie’s Luck

 

Likely Tempo: Solid to Good

My BET PLAN: OUTBACK ANGEL to WIN & FIRST FOUR: 1,5,8/1,2,5,6,8,10/1,2,5,6,8,10/1,2,5,6,8,10

 

*RACE 7 @ 5.35pm VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT FINANCE CLASS 1 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

 

TOP SELECTION: 5. QUEUE JUMPER (Scott McIntosh/Josh Richards; 56.5kg & barrier 8) -we close the big day with an even & strong sprint battle for this class. Settled on this lightly raced & emerging Victorian 3YO by 2012 Cox Plate winner Ocean Park who can go back-to-back dropping in distance off a 5-week freshen at only his 3rd start. Hit the line hard from well back on debut at Wodonga before going right on with the job at Wangaratta cruising over the top as a well backed & hot favourite. Looks well placed over this trip off the break & carrying 1.5kg less; and gear changes have been made. Drawn to sit a few lengths back & off the fence before being given his head down the middle over the final 400m

 

MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Mr Marrakech; 2. *Rollo; 4. *Pick The Seam; 6. **The Unique Star; 8. *Loch Erin

 

Likely Tempo: Solid

My BET PLAN: QUEUE JUMPER to WIN & Box Exacta: 1,5,6

 

**My BEST EARLY  BETS:

 

R4 8. SACRED MISTRESS**

R6 5. OUTBACK ANGEL**

 

**My BEST EARLY VALUE:

 

R2 4. CHECK SIDE**

R5 8. MAYFAIR HOTEL**

 

**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:

 

R1 FIRST FOUR: 5,11/4,5,6,7,11,12/4,5,6,7,11,12/4,5,6,7,11,12

 

GOOD LUCK

& #HoHoH0

@NeilEvansmail

 

Next Meeting:

MON Jan 20; 2025

#AirborneAlbury