*******AIRBORNE ALBURY PREVIEW******
with NEIL EVANS
Albury Racing Club
SATURDAY Oct 25, 2025
COX PLATE 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
+Gates Open @ 11.30am
+1st Race @ 1.11pm
+Track Good 4 & Rail True:
*RACE 1 @ 1.11pm NAUGHTIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HCP (1500m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 1. MR MAGNIFICENCE (Todd Smart/Billy Owen; 59kg & b barrier 5) -we start with a testing maiden over a middle distance; and it sets up nicely for this very lightly raced Canberra-based 4YO son of Castelvecchio who can strike over a shade more ground at only his 2nd start. Worked home okay into a place here on debut a fortnight ago; and with that experience and extra fitness; he’s primed to go 1 better in a race that’s no harder. Further boosted by the well fancied stablemate being preferred at Friday’s Canberra meeting
MAIN DANGERS: 3. *Extra Hands; 6. *Strategic Defense
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: MR MAGNIFICENCE to WIN
*RACE 2 @ 1.47pm DUX ALBURY MAIDEN PLATE (900m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3 SMART AND MIGHTY (Ben Brisbourne/Lachlan King; 59kg & barrier 2) -right back to the short course dash here for the maidens at set weights; and very keen to back this lightly raced & emerging 4Y0 Victorian-based stallion by prolific sire I Am Invincible; resuming for only his 3rd start with a string of gear changes. Showed significant improvement at his 2nd start over the border through mid winter before being spelled; then signalled he’s ready to rock fresh by bolting in a Tatura trial by 4 lengths. Has the tactical speed to take advantage of a low draw; and can hit the ground running over this trip
MAIN DANGERS: 2. *Haz Styles; 4. *Step Quick; 9. *Lord Limerick
Likely Tempo: Good
My BET PLAN: SMART AND MIGHTY to WIN
*RACE 3 @ 2.22pm LEVEL ONE WINE BAR & CELLARS MAIDEN HCP (1175m) – Min Weight; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 10. APPLE EYES (Craig Weeding/TBA; 55kg & barrier 9) -the maidens again over further; and in an even sprint with plenty of chances; rating on top is this emerging 3YO filly by Knight Exemplar; and another one from the Victorian country base of Wangaratta. Came off a smart trial win to chase hard in an even effort behind a very handy maiden winner here a fortnight ago. Has reportedly trained on well since; and won’t need to improve much to break through in this sitting on the limit weight. Can settle just off the speed and off the fence before producing a superior burst from the 400m
MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Forte Cheval; 3. *Souk; 5. **Dunnenkate Bro; 9. *Rain Queen; 11. *Colombiano
Likely Tempo: Solid
My BET PLAN: APPLES EYES to WIN & First Four: 1,5,10/1,3,5,9,10,11/1,3,5,9,10,11/1,3,5,9,10,11
*RACE 4 @ 2.57pm JOHNSONS MME BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 3. AZEOLA (Ben Brisbourne/TBA; 59kg & barrier 4) -the restricted stayers lock horns here; and in a likely even & open affair; like this consistent & honest 5YO Victorian mare by Inference from the same stable as the on top selection in race 2, and deep into her current campaign on a 7-day back-up. Ran 3 consecutive placings up to tougher BM 64 grade when always working home okay from midfield before rubber-stamping that form with a fast-finishing win in lesser grade at Wodonga last Saturday. Debuts at this track; but has won twice from 5 over this trip; and drawn to find an ideal trail a few lengths off the speed. Hard fit and she should relish the long stretch home here. Can take her winning strike rate to 25 percent from 20 starts by winning this
MAIN DANGERS: 1. **Divine Conclusion; 4. *Najle; 5. *Pearl Trout
Likely Tempo: Reasonable
My BET PLAN: AZEOLA to WIN and Quinella: 1 & 3
*RACE 5 @ 3.31pm MLM ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. MACY MOON (Gerald Egan/Lachlan King; 59.5kg & barrier 5) -back to the mile for a competitive & higher graded battle. Confident this tough & still improving Victorian-based 5YO by Manhattan Rain can peak 3rd-up staying over the trip, with a much stronger jockey taking over. Worked home late in a deeper grade at Benalla when resuming off a 34-week break before being ridden much quieter and running home late into a place this track and grade a fortnight ago. He was backed from $4.40 into $3.30 that day; but can settle a bit closer this time from a middle draw. Bred to get further; and as long as he finds some cover off the speed; nothing will be hitting the line harder
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Star Blazer; 3. **Grey Lad; 4. *Morning Darling
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My BET PLAN: MACY MOON to WIN and Quinella: 3 & 5
*RACE 6 @ 4.06pm HUTCHINSON CIVIL COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 5. THREEFOLD (Danielle Seib/Blaike McDougall; 58.5kg & barrier 2) -competitive battle now for the lower class sprinters; and very much with this emerging 4YO mare by Everest winner Yes Yes Yes who is primed to strike 2nd-up off a near year-long break. Was in and around the money in some handy country & provincial maidens late last year before being sidelined for most of this year. Returned off an easy trial with a solid chasing effort at Moruya 3 weeks ago after being backed from $3.50 into $3.00. Naturally with that experience, better fitness and several key gear changes in play, she’s ready to recapture her best. Can utilise her superior tactical speed here from a soft draw
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Perfectly Good; 2. *Sheridan Street; 4. *Ready To Rush; 6. **Screen Spirit
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: THREEFOLD to WIN & Trifecta: 5,6/1,2,4,5,6/1,2,4,5,6
*RACE 7 @ 4.46pm ARC SPONSORS BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1175m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
TOP SELECTION: 4. BUENOS (Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden/Ms Rebecca Bronett Prag a1.5kg; 55kg & barrier 8) -we close the big day with a very open & higher-graded good quality sprint. Confident we can sail home aboard this talented 4YO Canberra mare by D’argento; coming back from a deeper Saturday CL3 Highway where she had little or no luck at a crucial stage from back in the field when solid enough in the market. Prior to that had won consecutive CL2 & BM 60 races at home in smart fashion, each time ripping home from midfield late before stepping up to 1500m in that failed bid at Rosehill. Gets in very well at the weights here after the claim despite the sharp drop back in trip; and she can settle back off a strong speed before producing a superior final 300m surge
MAIN DANGERS: 1. *Tap ’N’ Run; 2. *Toompine; 3. *Destructive Diva; 6. *With Strength
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My BET PLAN: BUENOS to WIN
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R1 1. MR MAGNIFICENCE**
R2 3. SMART AND MIGHTY**
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R4 3. AZEOLA**
R6 5. THREEFOLD**
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R4 QUINELLA: 1 & 3
R5 QUINELLA: 3 & 5
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
Next Meeting:
Friday Nov 07; 2025
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