By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 4m from 1300m to WP.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1175m)
With dry weather and the heat on, we are likely to start nearer a Good 3. There was plenty to like about the debut run of home-track Headwater three-year-old 2. Royston Head closing hard to miss narrowly. Had previously trialled well here, and back on a bigger circuit over more ground is a further plus. The one to beat.
Dangers: Rival local 3. Your Not The Boss has trialled OK, and debuts as a gelding with winkers applied. Another first starter, Pierro mare 4. Cab Perrio, heads the rest.
How to play it: Roysten Head to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Racing returns to Albury on Tuesday.
Race 2 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m)
Two runners will likely fight for favouritism here. Leaning very much to the locally trained one 2. Tullaghan, who is hard fit for this journey and draws to get a soft run. Has been in and around the money against deeper opposition in the last few, and only needs a clear crack at them from the 400m to finish over the top.
Dangers: Honest 4. Bubbler has hit the line in his last three, winning a weaker CL1 three weeks ago. His form belies a poor strike rate from 32 starts. Watch for any market move aboard 1. Madison Point on a four-day back-up; while 6. Fleur De Rose continues sneaking down in the weights, and can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Tullaghan to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Still over the mile for a maiden with very modest depth, and that augurs well for improving four-year-old 2. Spitfire who almost has this at his mercy dropping back from three runs in much deeper provincial company. Twice finished well from midfield before taken to the front at Wyong as a well-backed favourite and only edged out in the last few strides. Draws to do less work, and blinkers come off.
Dangers: Doubt there are any if the top selection gets a fair crack at them, but 4. Andros can improve enough at only his second start to run the quinella; while expecting Victorian mare 8. Miss Athena to be hitting the line third-up.
How to play it: Spitfire to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
Slightly more open sprint on snow here for the maidens, and it shapes nicely for border-hopping four-year-old 2. Conspiracist who peaks third-up first go at the track. Was well backed from a big price last start at home when making up good ground into a place, and back a touch in trip from a softer draw, he can be saved up for a superior closing sectional on a more favourable spacious track.
Dangers: Improving 3. Galbalan just missed closing off well in a modest country maiden 13 days ago in first run for the new home-track stable. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Alembee who is some value first-up from a handy trailing draw; while Victorians 6. Turbo Toronado and 10. Benalta Rain with multiple gear changes; can add value to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Conspiracist to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES CLASS 1 HCP (1175m)
Not much between a few of these, but confident home-track four-year-old 2. Bianco Vilano can bounce back third-up after a disappointing effort in Canberra over a bit further. Drops back to his pet trip from the inside gate against weaker opposition, significantly blinkers replace winkers for the first time and he rarely puts in a bad one here.
Dangers: Improving 1. Gulf Of Aden gets a nice trailing draw third-up, with some key gear changes. Keep safe improving last-start maiden winner 7. Gold Tracker who is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Bianco Vilano to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 FILLIES & MARES CLASS 1 HCP (1175m)
The girls’ edition is a more open affair, with lightly raced Victorian country filly 3. Toronto Rain looming as the one to beat. Claimed all bar the winner in two runs either side of the border before breaking through at third start when sweeping over the top from midfield at Corowa as a hot favourite. Should relish the long run home here, and is bred to be a pure dry tracker.
Dangers: Another one from over the border, 4. Graphite Mist has been given eight weeks since finishing close-up in his first Victorian run after switching from Qld. Must include hard-fit local mare 2. Improper who won her maiden here four starts ago; while improving home filly 5. Shalook fourth-up; and 8. Communication sneaking down in the weights; both go in wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Toronto Rain to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m)
A stack of chances in this one, but keen on lightly raced Victorian four-year-old 1. Smart Poppy who peaks third-up back on the bigger track. Made late ground two starts back before again finishing hard in slightly stronger company last time, and the big weight is offset with a 2kg allowance.
Dangers: Another visiting filly 3. Turnaquid shoots for three wins from her last five after fighting on hard to win a CL1, but more depth in this. Keep safe home tracker 8. Idle Fancy who is over the odds second-up, with a senior rider back aboard and winkers added. Included in exotics Wodonga stablemates 2. Bring A Dame third-up and drawn inside; and 9. Tori Marguerite, who gets winkers back on fifth-up.
How to play it: Smart Poppy to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m)
Similarly graded field over the sprint trip to close the card, and it’s hard to see Victorian four-year-old 2. Don’t Hesitate getting rolled resuming as a gelding with significant gear changes. Was a dominant odds-on winner when debuting in April, and returns for only his third start here off two fitting and forward trials either side of the border.
Dangers: Last start BM 66 winner 1. Crimosa is fit, and has enough tactical speed to offset the drop back in distance. Both underrated mare 4. Eastern Breeze third-up; and local mare 6. Prophet’s Daughter second-up off a handy maiden; are well in the each-way mix.
How to play it: Don’t Hesitate to winOdds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
Race 2: (2) TULLAGHAN
Race 8: (2) DON’T HESITATE
BEST VALUE
Race 5: (2) BIANCO VILANO
