By Ray Hickson
Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 – 12:55PM ALLURE LASH & BEAUTY BAR SHOWCASE MAIDEN PLATE (1175 METRES)
7. Aqualina’s Star blew the start on debut at Wagga and did quite a good job to finish as close as she did, not giving up the chase. Was supported there too and didn’t disappoint from a performance perspective. If she gets away with them she should be hard to beat.
Racing returns to Albury on Sunday.
Dangers: 6. Majestic Affair is a model of consistency of late and he tried hard when runner-up at Wagga on Australia Day. She’ll be somewhere near the speed and should run well again. 3. Check Side failed on debut at Leeton back in September which is a concern but he has blinkers on and trialled nicely behind Aqualina’s Star recently. Worth keeping safe. 1. News At Five is another honest type and while he’s yet to finish in the placings after 10 starts he’s not been too far away. This could be the day.
How to play it: Aqualina’s Star WIN; Trifecta 7/1,3,6/1,3,6.
Race 2 – 1:35PM STEWART GOULD REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE BM58 HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
4. Overrun didn’t look to settle all that well in front so she fought on pretty well to hold second. Impressive winner from off the speed here back in December at 2000m and she looks ready to peak up again up in trip.
Dangers: 3. Written Advice won at Wangaratta and Echuca before a fair effort as a drifter at Benalla in a BM64. Has won here and inclined to give another chance back in class. 2. Princess Nefertiti drops in class after a string of attempts in Melbourne with a Moonee Valley placing her best result. Up in weight and needs to run a strong 2000m but must include. 1. Agrimony was placed in a stronger race over this trip two starts back then just fair in the same race as Overrun. Could show up here.
How to play it: Overrun WIN; Trifecta 4/1,2,3/1,2,3.
Race 3 – 2:10PM MARTINS TRAVEL ALBURY SUPER MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
11. Starsheena showed plenty of speed in her first two starts on wet tracks back in the winter and weakened. She’s trialling in outstanding fashion at present and perhaps getting back onto a dry track will be the key. Could take catching.
Dangers: 2. Telephone is another whose trials have looked impressive, and he makes his debut after a runaway win at Echuca in a trial, in slower time than Starsheena. Keep safe. 5. Faithful Champion showed a lot of speed over 1175m here a couple of weeks ago but was run down by a stablemate. Back in trip probably suits and must be considered a chance. 9. Supido Storm comes through same set of Echuca trials, winning hers comfortably enough in moderate time. Drawn well and any market moves significant.
How to play it:Starsheena EACH-WAY.
Race 4 – 2:45PM HUTCHINSON CIVIL SHOWCASE BM82 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
4. Oh No Mikki is racing well and followed a nice win here in December with seconds at Wangaratta and Wagga. Gets a weight turnaround for his last start and should be in the finish somewhere.
Dangers: 1. Sparring won that race and is unbeaten in two starts at Albury. Was far from disgraced at Moonee Valley last week. Has a big weight but not a good idea to dismiss him. 5. Solvere hasn’t done a lot wrong of late, and had 63.5kg when narrowly beaten at Corowa before a freshen-up. Down 9kg into this and drawn nicely. Can show up. 6. Mojo Music also gets a nice weight relief on his close second at Tumut last week. Honest customer who usually runs well here and has some claims.
How to play it: Oh No Mikki WIN.
Race 5 – 3:25PM PETSTOCK ALBURY SHOWCASE CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1175 METRES)
10. Positive Smile is straight out of a maiden but it was a dominant win over this course two weeks ago and he was only second-up. Can only be fitter and if he can get a similar run just off the speed he should be strong again.
Dangers: 2. I Am Sugoi won his first two starts in good style then in the market fresh at Wagga and failed inexplicably. Been back to the trials and comes up with gate one so if you can forgive that first-up run he’s a good chance. 5. Bold Triumph romped in at Wagga two starts ago then seemed to have his chance at Wangaratta from outside the speed. Drawn out but goes forward and can give a good account. 11. Yam hasn’t raced since October and was placed here at his second start at 1400m. One to keep an eye on fresh from a favourable draw.
How to play it: Positive Smile EACH-WAY.
Race 6 – 4:05PM COROWA WHISKY & CHOCOLATE SHOWCASE BM58 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
9. Prophet’s Daughter runs here instead of the Championships race and she looks very hard to beat on the back of an eye-catching first-up effort at 1200m at Wagga last month. Didn’t have a lot of luck there off a wide gate, draws better here and up in trip. Hard to beat.
Dangers: 4. Villasaurus started $1.22 and ran right up to it with a runaway maiden win at Wagga. Lightly raced and up in grade but not by a lot and looms as the logical threat. 11. Deep Core finished off pretty well at the end of this trip last time out and this isn’t a lot harder. Probably goes back again and sure to be running on. 1. Daly Heads started favourite in the Tumut Cup and ran on without threatening into third. Weight rise offset a bit by a claim and has to be considered in this class.
How to play it: Prophet’s Daughter WIN; Trifecta 9/1,4,11/1,4,11.
Race 7 – 4:45PM NEWHAVEN PARK SDRA COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (1400 METRES)
12. Asgarda is a real up and comer and she’s crept through the grades building a nice record. Dominant at this track and trip before a break then up in class and was too good again at Wagga just over a week ago. Drawn ideally and she should be right in the finish.
Dangers: 1. Bianco Vilano is the benchmark here having won this race last year. Was seven weeks between runs when beaten under four lengths at Moonee Valley a few weeks ago. Great record at this track and is hard to ignore. 2. Cliff House resumes and has a handy fresh record on his side. Was a Highway winner back in June in a strong race and will be strong at the finish of 1400m. Definite chance. 3. Salute Again could be dangerous here off a soft gate and with the benefit of one run back. Had no chance the way the race was run so not being hard on that effort at Kensington behind Whinchat. Keep safe. 4. Baledon ran fourth in this race last year and has similar form to 12 months ago. Can show up too.
How to play it: Asgarda WIN; Trifecta 1,12/1,2,3,4,12/1,2,3,4,12.
Race 8 – 5:25PM TWIN CITY TRUCK CENTRE BM66 HANDICAP (1175 METRES)
11. Subliminal on top in a wide open race. Fitter for two runs back and the effort at Wangaratta wasn’t bad over a similar trip in a strangely run race. Soft draw, top rider and back to a good track are all pluses. Go well.
Dangers: 2. Guess is an interesting import with Tim Donnelly and he had an easy trial at Wagga a couple of weeks ago. Probably wants 1400m or so but one to keep a close eye on in a winnable race. 3. Epaullo Creed is in a purple patch at the moment with wins at Nowra, Moruya and Sapphire Coast all from the front. Imagine he’ll do his best to add Albury to that list by taking plenty of running down. 12. Shooting For Stars is another big watch at her first run for a new stable. Had solid enough South Australian form and comes up with gate one. Watch betting.
How to play it: Subliminal WIN.
Best Bets: Race 1 (7) Aqualina’s Star; Race 6 (9) Prophet’s Daughter
Best value: Race 7 (12) Asgarda
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
