*******AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******
with NEIL EVANS
Albury Racing Club
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Full TAB Autumn meeting
*Home of the Best Border Battles
Fallon St, NORTH ALBURY, NSW
PH: (02) 6025 1333
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+Gates Open @ 12.15am
+1st Race @ 12.55pm
+Track likely Soft 7 & Rail out +3.5m from 1200m to 350m into a Cut/Away & True the Remainder:
*RACE 1 @ 12.55pm BORDER BANDAG COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. REED ROAD (Kerry Weir/Nick Heywood; 59kg & barrier 4) -we kick off with the maiden sprinters at set weights on a rain-affected surface in what is a moderate affair. Very keen on this improving 3YO by Pierro who is ready to win at his 5th start on a 11 day back-up, with the blinkers going on. Held his ground okay 3 starts ago before again just fairly to the line in a much deeper maiden at Wagga over 1400m. Then further improved running home late here into a place behind a dominant winner. That form certainly reads well for this, and he’s drawn to stay off the fence around midfield and be taken out to the centre past the 400m. Like most, unproven in these conditions, but is bred to thrive
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Savahay; 5. **Iconic Rose; 7. *Santolini
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: REEF ROAD to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 5
*RACE 2 @ 1.35pm ALBURY PLUMBING SERVICE MAIDEN PLATE (900m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 8. MAGNOLIA STAR (Donna Scott/Blaike McDougall; 57kg & barrier 10) -still with the maidens at set weights in a testing battle back over the flying short course; and it’s the right fresh recipe for a resuming home track 4YO mare by Denman. Kept running home in a spaced last prep from late winter through to mid spring, her final 2 efforts here made up plenty of late ground from a long way back in deeper races than this. Handles all surfaces, and has been tuned up for a big return with consecutive trial wins, the latest at this track by more than 3 lengths. Will naturally drift back from a wider draw, but look for her charging down the middle late
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Barbecue Sauce; 2. **Donegal Bay; 3. *Final Crack; 5. *Stairway; 10. *Majestic Maremma
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: MAGNOLIA STAR to WIN & First Four: 2,8/1,2,3,5,8,10/1,2,3,5,8,10/1,2,3,5,8,10
*RACE 3 @ 2.10pm SOUTHERN ASSET SERVICES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. OKESUTORA (Nick Ryan/Blaike McDougall; 61.5kg & barrier 12) -we push out a long way in distance here for the restricted staying types; and confident this honest & fit Flemington-based 4YO by Japanese sire Tosen Stardom can make it 2 wins from his last 3 hopping the border into a slightly thinner race. Led for a long way 3 starts back before dominating from the front in similar company at Seymour. Kept chasing from just behind the placegetters in a stronger line-up at Geelong 18 days ago; but less depth here, and a drop back in distance is a further plus. Has to get over from a wide draw, but has handy tactical speed, and shown enough on soft tracks to suggest he’ll be comfortable in the ground
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Dandruff; 4. *Just Like Liam; 5. **Region Time; 6. *Think More; 8. **Grinzinger Fashion
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: OKESUTORA to WIN & Box Exacta: 2,5,8
*RACE 4 @ 2.45pm STUART GORDON LANDSCAPING COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. MAGNA MAK (Wayne Carroll/Ms Ella McGuirk a3kg;56.5kg & barrier 8) -right back to the sprint journey for the lower class improvers; and super keen to back this consistent & progressive ex-Victorian 3YO filly by Magna Grecia who can strike 1st-up in suitable going for the new Wagga stable. Never missed a place in 5 runs last prep, including 4 times close-up in the placings before surging late to score a much deserved breakthrough win in a handy maiden at Cranbourne over this trip. No recent public trials, but reportedly has been working well; and looks very well placed at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim. Bred to handle wet tracks
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Santasia; 4. *Magic Forest; 7. *Serial Offender
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: MAGNA MAK to WIN
*RACE 5 @ 3.25pm ATM HERE MAIDEN HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. DESERT OPAL (Kym Davison/Nick Souquet; 58.5kg & barrier 10) -a competitive maiden battle here; but love this locally-trained and fit 3YO by D’argento who is bursting to break through deep into the prep, and staying over the distance. Disappointed at Wodonga 2 starts ago, although forced to come through much inferior inside ground before improving sharply to only miss by a neck in a handy maiden here 11 days ago. Winkers replacing blinkers is an important gear change, and although unproven in this going, he’s bred to handle it being out of a Sebring mare. Has a 50 percent place rate from 10 starts, and can settle back off the speed from a wider draw and come with a late rush
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Blazing Sword; 9. *Broken Image; 13. *Stormy Malice
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: DESERT OPAL to WIN
*RACE 6 @ 4.05pm BUR BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55.5kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. NATS ENOUGH (Wayne Carroll/Brendan Ward; 61kg & barrier 3) –up to a very competitive grade over the mile; and it shapes nicely for this tough 7YO by Bullet Train who is ready to peak 5th-up staying over the trip, and significantly in ideal rain-affected ground. Did his best work late in tougher grade here 3 starts back before a flat effort at Wagga when not in the best ground late. Again made up late ground when tackling the deeper Parkes Cup only 9 days ago, but much better suited back on a wider and bigger track. Up in weight for the drop in class; but hard fit from a handy cover draw and he’s the superior wet tracker, with 6 of his 7 career wins from 49 starts coming in either soft or heavy going
MAIN DANGERS: 3. **Exceedingly Hot; 6. *Cosmic Coco; 7. **Jato; 8. *Rushford
Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid
My BET PLAN: NATS ENOUGH to WIN & Trifecta: 3,5,7/3,5,6,7,8/3,5,6,7,8
*RACE 7 @ 4.40pm REDI2HIRE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. YAM (Craig Weeding/Jake Duffy; 61.5kg & barrier 3) –we cap the meeting with the restricted sprinters & in a race of several chances; like this Wangaratta-based 4YO raider by wet track sire Pluck hopping the border 5th-up and coming back in distance. Has beaten all bar the winner in his last 2 either side of the border; charging home late to miss by a long neck at Wagga before again finishing hard at home to miss by whisker in similar company. Couldn’t be fitter on a suitable circuit, and significantly has a very sound record on soft and heavy tracks. Drawn to get cover and only needs clear air and room from the 400m
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Star Blazer; 2. *Brenlyn’s Trooper; 4. **Amber Star; 7. *Cassimir
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: YAM to WIN & Trifecta: 3,4/1,2,3,4,7/1,2,3,4,7
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R4 2. MAGNA MAK**
R5 3. DESERT OPAL**
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R6 5. NATS ENOUGH*
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R2 First Four: 2,8/1,2,3,5,8,10/1,2,3,5,8,10/1,2,3,5,8,10
R3 Box Exacta: 2,5,8
R6 Trifecta: 3,5,7/3,5,6,7,8/3,5,6,7,8
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Next Meeting:
Monday Jun 16; 2025
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