Racing Friday 26th February 2021
****AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW****
with NEIL EVANS
Gates open at 12.00 midday
1st Race @ 1.15pm
ALL Races carry a BOBS Silver Bonus up to $9,625.00 + Race 2 has a BOBS Extra Bonus up to $5,625.00
*Track expected Good 4 & Rail out +4m from 1500m to 400m, & True the Remainder:
*RACE 1 @ 1.15pm VISION SCREENPRINTING CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) – Set Weights; 3YO’s & Up; Apprentices Can Claim:
We start with a competitive battle over the mile, and lightly-raced four-year-old Canberra gelding 7. MARK’S KINGDOM (Matthew Dale/Nick Heywood; 56.5kg) can break through fourth-up in his first real prep. Improved sharply charging home in a maiden at Wagga over this trip, and while this is a bit tougher, looks well in at the weights arriving at peak fitness.
*MAIN DANGERS: Front-running four-year-old 2. Hot Bahama is the clear threat coming back from a deeper race when he led until the last couple of strides. Up 2kg with blinkers coming off, but draws to control the race and will be tough to gun down. Expect five-year-old 3. Miqyaas to be running on strong over a longer trip after doing his best work late behind a very progressive winner here three weeks back.
Likely Tempo: Fair
My Betting Attack: MARK’S KINGDOM to WIN & Quinella: 2 & 7
*RACE 2 @ 1.50pm CHAPMAN, GOULD & MAY BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Evenly graded this for the restricted stayers, with a few wanting to go forward. Tough Wodonga four-year-old 1. DHIAGA (David O’Prey/Brodie Loy; 61kg) is screaming for more ground after working home late in stronger grade last start. Previously had swept home to win over the mile, and is a proven enough weight carrier.
*MAIN DANGERS: Wagga mare 2. Mahsinger drops back to the grade she won over two starts ago after finding that same BM 66 as Dhiaga too tough. Not convinced about her, but gets in well at the weights after a 3kg claim. Another mare from over the border 3. Shy Girl has only been out of a place once in her last five, and is ready for this longer journey; while Canberra mare 6. Same Old Scene draws the inside, and is best of the rest.
Likely Tempo: Moderate to Reasonable
My Betting Attack: DHIAGA to WIN
*RACE 3 @ 2.25pm TWIN CITY TRUCK CENTRE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Plenty of natural speed here, and that augurs well for Wangaratta three-year-old 3. BIG DAY OUT (Craig Weeding/Jake Duffy; 59.5kg) who can park right behind the pace and run over them third-up. Peaks here after hitting the line in two runs back from a spell.
*MAIN DANGERS: Local mare 4. Bellarina Magic has let punters down looming to win over this distance all prep, but failing to smash the line. Can be ridden a little quieter from the draw here, and blinkers are back on. Watch the betting on Victorian mare 1. Smokin’ Salmon who resumes with no public trials. Not normally a first-up performer, but will get a soft trail back in the field from the inside draw.
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Betting Attack: BIG DAY OUT to WIN & Quinella: 3 & 4
*RACE 4 @ 3.05pm LASER ELECTRICAL MAIDEN HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Keen on resuming three-year-old Goulburn filly 10. KARLAINA (Danny Williams/Blaike McDougall; 55kg) who hasn’t been seen at the official trials, but done plenty of work and comes to hand quickly. Drawn to get lovely cover just off the speed, and leading country rider has been booked.
*MAIN DANGERS: Keep safe Panzer Division three-year-old 2. Romero who debuts for leading Canberra stable off a handy trial, and draws the inside. Big watch on consistent four-year-old mare 1. Miss Elsie May who hasn’t started since last May, but capable of sprinting well fresh. Incredibly has run seven 2nd placings from 10 starts around the region. Victorian four-year-old 7. Cheeky Chipmunk was good at Wagga over this trip, finding the line after being caught off the track. Still yet to run a place from 10 starts, but gets his chance here dropping 4kg. Expect sharp improvement second-up from home track filly 5. Suite Boom down in weight with a gear change.
Likely Tempo: Good
My Betting Attack: KARLAINA to WIN
*RACE 5 @ 3.40pm DLG ALUMINIUM & GLAZING MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Moderate speed in what is a maiden of little depth. Victorian three-year-old filly 11. MISS VENEZUELA (Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes/Blaike McDougall; 56.5kg) has been disappointing in two runs this prep, especially the latest when hard in the market. That said, this is easier, and for one that raced in group company as a two-year-old, she should take care of this field.
*MAIN DANGERS: Watch the betting on three-year-old Wagga debutant 4. Jack’s All Magic who has trialled okay. Include in exotics improving local three-year-old 3. Albert’s Melody returning home for his third start; while Wangaratta five-year-old 1. Cool Artie hit the line good enough here first-up, although not well treated at the weights.
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My Betting Attack: MISS VENEZUELA to WIN
*RACE 6 @ 4.20pm NAUGHTIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Good strong sprint with plenty of chances. Home track five-year-old mare 5. PRINCESS CORDELIA (Mitchell Beer/Nick Souquet; 58.5kg) is ready to strike third-up dropping significantly in weight, and with leading regional rider booked. Has worked home okay in two runs back, and while this is a bit tougher, she peaks here in fitness with the blinkers back on.
*MAIN DANGERS: Got a lot of time for Wagga five-year-old 8. Kaipaki who had little or no luck when it counted in the stronger Country C’ship Preview a fortnight back. That was his first run in five weeks, and even better suited here from a soft draw with senior and more stronger jockey aboard. Victorian filly 2. Divine Caprice is yearning for more ground after finishing on late in her last two either side of the border. Include in exotics honest eight-year-old 3. Newtown Is Coming, and consistent Canberra mare 4. On That Take who wasn’t far away in a strong Federal second-up.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: PRINCESS CORDELIA to WIN & Box Exacta: 2,5,8
*RACE 7 @ 4.55pm PURJEN COURIERS CLASS 2 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Another open sprint over the same trip. Talented three-year-old filly 4. ZOULY (James Ponsonby/Ms Winona Costin; 57.5kg) has had a quick stable switch, and comes back sharply in distance 20 days between runs. Won her maiden in dominant fashion at Nowra three starts back before finishing off okay in her last two with the Joe Pride yard. Will settle back off a good speed and can round them up.
*MAIN DANGERS: Progressive Melbourne three-year-old 3. Roppongi came all the way here for a successful hit-and-run mission three weeks back. Smart stable out to repeat the dose in tougher company, drawn the inside and down in weight, with winkers replacing blinkers. Must include improving Victorian mare 6. Charm Wing who swept home for a dominant maiden win fourth-up, and looks ready for this deeper challenge carrying her lightest weight in a while. Victorian five-year-old 2. Snitway broke a long run without a win surging home in a BM 58 at Bendigo at double figure odds. Bit tougher here from a trickier gate, but might finally be ready to go on with it.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: ZOULY to Win & Trifecta: 3,4,6/2,3,4,6/2,3,4,6
*RACE 8 @ 5.30pm HI TECH ANTENNAS BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
We close a terrific card with an even contest, and many hopes. Tough local five-year-old 5. SWAGGER (Mitchell Beer/Jordan Mallyon; 59.5kg) has been very good in two runs back, both from well back on sitting on-speed. Has to overcome a wide draw, but if he can slot in for some cover, will be motoring home.
*MAIN DANGERS: Resuming Victorian filly 7. Miss Madec is a big market watch. Competed in metro Group and Listed company before spelling, and while she hasn’t officially trialled, did win first-up in the country last prep sweeping home from near last. Canberra mare 4. Kathaire also draws out, and was very disappointing in a tough race at home when flat to the line after travelling okay. Previous form, though, was strong all on good tracks, so back to a firmer rating here is crucial. Include in exotics Canberra six-year-old 3. Flight Commander who will roll forward from a middle gate.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: SWAGGER to WIN & Box Exacta: 4,5,7
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R2 1. DHIAGA
R4 10. KARLAINA
R6 5. PRINCESS CORDELIA
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R7 4. ZOULY
**TRAINERS TO FOLLOW:
Mitchell Beer*
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes*
**JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW:
Blaike McDougall**
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
ALBURY RACING
#BESTBORDERBATTLES