*******AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******
with NEIL EVANS
Albury Racing Club
Tuesday Aug 18, 2026
TAB WINTER 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
+1st Race @ 1.35pm
+Track Heavy 8/9 & Rail out +6.5m from 1200m to WP & +3m the Remainder:
*RACE 1 @ 1.35pm DARO GROUP – CLASS 1 HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. XERXES (Todd Smart/Sairyn Fawke; 60.5kg & barrier 2) -we kick off the meeting with the lower class improvers on a likely heavy surface continuing to dry out; and its stacks up nicely for this sparingly raced & improving Canberra 5YO by all-conditions sire American Pharoah 2nd-up off a lengthy break. Was in and around the money in a progressive enough spring prep up to 1900m; including being beaten a head in a deeper race at Muswellbrook. Then hit the line late in a tough BM 66 when resuming over 1210m after doing early work in the run. Will relish more ground and a bigger track here; and while he has only 1 win from 14 starts; has been placed a further 8 times; often without much luck.
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *Luma Light; 3. **Siyaasi; 5. **Seasmoke
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: XERXES to WIN & Trifecta: 1,3,5/1,3,5/1,2,3,5
*RACE 2 @ 2.10pm BUR REAL ESTATE – MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. HELLFIGHTER (Matthew Kelley/TBA; 59kg & barrier 11) -out to the mile for the maidens; and rating on top in a very moderate affair is this hard-fit Canberra 4YO by Hellbent deep into the current campaign. Ran home late into a place in a deeper provincial maiden 3 starts back before boxing on to beat all but a dominant winner at Newcastle over 1400m. Then let punters down when covering ground & losing his way as a heavily backed favourite on a poor Sapphire Coast surface. Given 23 days since; is right at home on wet tracks; and being pushed out an extra furlong will also suit
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Coray’s Road; 5. *Prized Gesture
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: HELLFIGHTER to WIN
*RACE 3 @ 2.45pm POGSON CRONIN KERR – COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4. IKON PARK (Gary Colvin/Brodie Loy; 59kg & barrier 5) –the maidens again back to a sprint trip at set weights; and confident an emerging 4YO by Prized Icon can break through at just his 2nd start. Was put away and given plenty of time after two handy trials last spring. Then settled back on debut at Wagga and hit the line late into a place in a maiden with more depth than this. Looked very comfortable on heavy ground that day; and fitter now; he can settle a little closer in the run from a better draw. Leading regional rider sticks solid; and being bred to get further will naturally be strong late
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Conargo; 5. *Reds Express; 8. *Boujee Gold
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: IKON PARK to WIN
*RACE 4 @ 3.25pm KIEWA VALLEY SPRING WATER – CLASS 1 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. JUNGLE LIGHTS (Scott Collings/Jake Duffy; 55.5kg & barrier 8) -staying over the trip for the lower class improvers; and in a very competitive betting race; keen to launch into this lightly raced & progressive 4YO mare by Group 1 winner Earthlight who can go back-to-back at this track 3rd-up. Worked home okay 1st-up at big odds when not suited before relishing the heavy ground here 3 weeks ago and surging over the top from midfield to break through. Naturally taking on some tougher ones here; but she’s bred to get further; gets a significant weight drop and has plenty of upside in these conditions.
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Lord Of Valor; 2. **Pariah Flyer; 3. *Bifurcation; 4. *Flywire; 6. *La Stiava
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: JUNGLE LIGHTS to WIN & First Four: 1,2,5/1,2,3,4,5,6/1,2,3,4,5,6/1,2,3,4,5,6
*RACE 5 @ 4.05pm EBA HIRE – COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1500m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 2. DESERT OPAL (Kym Davison/Ms Brittany Button a1.5kg 57kg & barrier 9) -now the restricted middle distance gallopers lock horns; and in a race of many chances; keen at the value on this sparingly raced & still improving 5YO by D’Argento. Put in an ordinary one 3 starts back at Narrandera before being given a freshen-up; then worked home late in a deeper BM 58 there after a tough run from a tricky draw. Thrived back at home here last start when finishing best from midfield to claim a similar race on heavy ground after being well backed from an each way quote. Suitably placed in this grade after the claim; and again drawn to get to the outside
MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Hot Toddy; 3. **Perfectly Good; 5. *Seguro; 7. *Manzobeel
Likely Tempo: Fair to Reasonable
My BET PLAN: DESERT OPAL to WIN & Box Exacta: 1,2,3
*RACE 6 @ 4.40pm ALBURY DEMOLITIONS – MAIDEN HCP (900m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. WILD ROMEO (Luke Pepper/Ms Erin Ellison a4kg; 54kg & barrier 5) -back to the flying short course for the maidens; and it shapes best for this speedy & improving Canberra 4YO by The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes coming back a shade in distance 2nd-up with a gear change. Mixed his form across last campaign despite being well in the market here and at home before being spelled; then returned with a handy front-running effort on the synthetic when only fading late. Has superior tactical speed; and a big drop in weight after the jockey’s claim over a shorter journey is the recipe to break through
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *It’s A Task; 7. *Carlow Rose; 10. *Snitzel Tycoon
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: WILD ROMEO to WIN
*RACE 7 @ 5.15pm MEREDITH JOINERY + DESIGN – BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 6. COOEE (Ron Stubbs/Mitchell Aitken; 58kg & barrier 7) -we round out the meeting with a good quality and open sprint at a much higher level; and at the value all aboard this lightly raced home track 8YO by Holler returning for his 1st run in 6 months. Led for a long way at Wagga over 1200m on Australia Day in lesser grade before failing to finish off in a deeper race here when reloading off a month’s break. Has trialled quietly; but both wins so far have come when on the fresher side; and he thrives on wet tracks
MAIN DANGERS: 2. **Risky Whisky; 3. *Destructive Diva; 5. **Brial Rose; 7. *Gold Tracker; 9. *Marine Girl
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: COOEE to WIN & First Four: 2,5,6/2,3,5,6,7,9/2,3,5,6,7,9/2,3,5,6,7,9
**My EARLY BEST BETS:
R3 4. IKON PARK**
R6 6. WILD ROMEO**
**My EARLY BEST VALUE:
R2 3. HELLFIGHTER**
**My EARLY BEST EXOTICS:
R4 First Four: 1,2,5/1,2,3,4,5,6/1,2,3,4,5,6/1,2,3,4,5,6
R7 First Four: 2,5,6/2,3,5,6,7,9/2,3,5,6,7,9/2,3,5,6,7,9
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail