*******AIRBORNE
ALBURY PREVIEW******
with
NEIL EVANS
Albury
Racing Club
Thursday
Apr 17, 2025
Day
2 of the Showcase Carnival
for
the $200K Listed Commercial
Club Albury Gold Cup
meeting
*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 @
@AlburyRacing
+Gates
Open @ 12.30pm
+1st
Race @ 1.35pm
+Track
Good 4 & Rail True:
*RACE 1 @ 1.35pm
DLG ALUMINIUM & GLAZING COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 3 HCP (1500m) – Min
Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 1.
VILLASAURUS (Donna Scott/Blaike McDougall; 62.5kg & barrier 3) -we open the rescheduled & feature
Gold Cup day meeting with a competitive middle distance affair for this
class on a firm surface. Can’t go past this smart & still improving
locally-trained 4YO by Villermont peaking off a near 7 week
freshen-up from an ideal gate, with the blinkers coming off. Careered away to
win a tougher CL3 Highway at Rosehill early last November before running home
into a place against similar Highway opposition 4 weeks later on a heavy
surface. Spelled before returning via 2 easy trials up to 1200m; then finished
only a length from the winner fresh in a Country C’ship Qualifier at Wagga
in early March; and after the initial Cup day wash-out has been kept right up
to the mark with a sound trial win at Wagga. Naturally up in weight coming back
to this class, but drawn to find the right trail near the speed, he emerges as
the one to beat
MAIN
DANGERS: 2. *Future Fund; 4. **Exceedingly Hot; 5. *Just Like Liam; 6.
*Downtown’s Abbey
Likely
Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My
BET PLAN: VILLSAURUS to WIN & Trifecta: 1,4/1,2,4,5,6/1,2,4,5,6
*RACE
2 @ 2.10pm NAUGHTIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP FLAT KNACKER (900m) – Min
Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 6. RUMOURS ABOUND (Ron Stubbs/Harry Coffey; 55.5kg & barrier 5) –another exciting albeit
smaller renewal this year in the short course showdown; and nothing looks
better placed than this talented & locally-trained 5YO mare by Group 1
winner Press Statement coming back from deeper metropolitan company. Was
dominant winning a BM 82 feature at Wagga back on Australia Day before failing
to get the right run in a much tougher BM 78 field at Randwick. Again had
little or no luck from well back in a BM 70 at The Valley before being given a
5 week break; and a solid return from off the speed in a very handy BM 78
lineup at Warwick Farm. Has a 30 percent win rate from 16 starts; and surely
the best treated in the race only half kilo over the minimum wright and getting
back on dryer ground
MAIN DANGERS: 1.
*Sparring; 2. **Fangela
Likely Tempo: Good to
Strong
My BET PLAN: RUMOURS
ABOUND to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 6
*RACE
3 @ 2.50pm TONKIN GROUP SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) – Set Weights; Apprentices
Can Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 6. MONTE VEEBEE (Robert & Luke Price/Blaike McDougall; 58.5kg
& barrier 4) -back with the maidens at set weights; and settled clearly on this
provincial-based 3YO by prolific sire Snitzel peaking 2nd-up as a gelding &
with blinkers going on. Was never far away in four metropolitan runs last prep,
including a close 2nd at Warwick Farm behind the very handy El Castello.
Returned behind 2 forward trials; and missed narrowly in a handy Super Maiden
on the Kensington track at Randwick after being backed from $2.70 into $2.15.
Drawn to find a handy trail just off the speed; and the little drop back in
trip is more than off-set getting onto a bigger track with plenty of time to
balance up in the straight & run over them
MAIN
DANGERS: 4. *Barrelling; 12. *Dubai Darling
Likely
Tempo: Solid
My
BET PLAN: MONTEE VEEBEE to WIN
*RACE
4 @ 3.25pm ALLURE LASH & BEAUTY CLASS 2 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight
55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 5. ONE HARD LADY (Donna Scott/Blaike McDougall; 57kg & barrier
3) –an
improving class of sprinter locks horns here; but this unbeaten 3YO home track
filly by Group 1 winner All Too Hard rates clear on top aiming to make it 3
from 3. Came off a dominant trial win to thrash her opposition in a handy
maiden at this track 4 weeks ago; then took the next step at Gundagai sweeping
home to win a CL1 with plenty in hand. Hasn’t put a foot wrong yet; and this
looks right in her zone from a draw where she can again stalk the speed with
cover. Headed for much bigger targets
MAIN
DANGERS: 2. *Runranirun; 4. *Brial Rose
Likely
Tempo: Good to Strong
My
BET PLAN: ONE HARD LADY to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 5
*RACE
5 @ 4.05pm LEXUS OF WODONGA BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1400m) – Min Weight
55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 8. DAZE OFF (Donna Scott/Alysha Collett; 57kg & barrier 9) -the higher graded
gallopers now; and keen
to back a locally-trained & sparingly raced 4YO mare by Starcraft
despite climbing back up in grade 3rd-up. Was in the money in similar class
fields here last spring before dropping out late in a tougher Saturday CL3
Highway at Kembla. Given an easy trial 2 months back; she returned with a solid
closing effort in a smarter BM 82 over 1200m at Wagga run in good time before
dropping back for an easy kill at short odds in BM 58 company 18 days ago.
Naturally this is tougher; but she’s at the peak of her power; and loves the
long stretch here where she can get to the outside at the top of the lane
MAIN
DANGERS: 4. *Champions League; 5. **Myrtle Myrtle; 6. *Persian Dancer; 7. *Nats
Enough
Likely
Tempo: Solid
My
BET PLAN: DAZE OFF to WIN & First Four: 5,8/4,5,6,7,8/4,5,6,7,8/4,5,6,7,8
*RACE
6 @ 4.40pm COMMERCIAL CLUB ALBURY – ‘BIg Dance Eligibility’ – LISTED
ALBURY GOLD CUP (2000m) – Quality; Min Weight 54kg; Apprentices Cannot Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 6. MATUSALEM (Chris Waller/Reece Jones; 55kg & barrier 14) -now for the feature
& non-claiming Gold Cup at Listed Level with a spot in the rich ‘Big Dance’
at Randwick in spring up for grabs. Naturally, very little separates the
leading contenders in a wide race; but very content to back this tough &
fit 4YO by Group 1 superstar The Autumn Sun who is primed to peak back on
a track he will relish. Kept improving from well off speed in a string of runs
at BM 88 level in Sydney before being ridden quieter in the Listed Canberra Cup
over this distance & powering home against the pattern to be only beaten a
head. Then got home well after doing plenty of early work from the gate
in the Group 3 Easter Cup at Caulfield; and the 12 day back-up is a positive
sign from the leading stable. Well treated under the Quality conditions
here only 1kg over the minimum weight; and only needs to find some cover
from the tricky draw
MAIN
DANGERS: 4. *Redstone Well; 9. *Medatsu; 13. *My Brother’s Keeper; 14. *Bianco
Villano
Likely
Tempo: Reasonable
My
BET PLAN: MATUSALEM Each Way
*RACE
7 @ 5.20pm CARLTON DRAUGHT BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg;
Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP
SELECTION: 6. HOLLERLOUD (David O’Prey/Brendan Ward; 60kg & barrier 6) -very testing closer
for the restricted sprinters; but settled on this progressive & lightly
raced 4YO by Holler who can claim a 2nd consecutive win at only his 5th start.
Led for a long way when resuming off a near 5 month spell at Corowa in what quickly
proved a handy form race before a dominant win over 1200m at Wagga, running
solid splits from barrier to box. The dry ground is a big key; and the trip is
right up his alley too.
MAIN
DANGERS: 2. **Prophet’s Daughter; 4. *Schimmelbusch; 7. **Magic Leprechaun
Likely
Tempo: Solid
My
BET PLAN: HOLLERLOUD to WIN & Box Exacta: 2,6,7
**My
BEST EARLY BETS:
R3 6.
MONTEE VEEBEE** Approx Market: $1.85 – $1.95; My Rating: $1.50
R5 8. DAZE
OFF** Approx Market: $3.25 – $3.40; My Ratings: $2.05
**My
BEST EARLY VALUE:
R7 6.
HOLLERLOUD** Approx Market: $7.00 – $8.00; My Ratings Band: $3.85
**My
BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R2
Quinella: 2 & 6
R4
Quinella: 2 & 5
GOOD
LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Next
Meeting:
Thursday
Apr 24; 2025
#AirborneAlbury