RACE 1 @ 12.55pm SCHULZ FAMILY MAIDEN HCP (900m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim
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We start a good meeting on a rain-affected track over the short course, although there's not a lot of natural pace about. Like the value around three-year-old Wangaratta filly 2. ALI'S CHOICE (Andrew Dale/Nick Heywood; 57kg) resuming for her second start. Worked home strongly behind a promising youngster on debut last spring, and despite no public trials, is sure to be forward enough. Bred to handle the conditions, and the Casino Prince stock is flying at the moment.
MAIN DANGERS: Improving three-year-old 1. King Kong Cod is the logical threat after powering home from well back on debut in a handy maiden at Wagga. That was on a Soft 5, but bred to handle wetter conditions, and just needs to tuck in from a wider draw. Watch the betting on debutant local five-year-old mare 4. Miss Shadowlake who has trialled okay; while three-year-old filly and stablemate to top selection 11. Mathrin has plenty of race experience and draws the inside.
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My Betting Attack: ALI'S CHOICE Each Way and Box Exacta 1,2,4
*RACE 2 @ 1.35pm THE UIVER OPEN HCP (1600m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices can Claim
Out to the mile for a competitive affair. Tough six-year-old gelding 3. BLACK WAND (Kurt Goldman/Blaike McDougall; 58kg) is primed here back up to the mile. Made up a lot of ground in a good BM 74 at Wagga after being slow to begin, and returns to the distance he won over impressively three starts back. Leading country rider is back on.
MAIN DANGERS: Honest five-year-old 2. Howlowcanyougo wasn't far behind the top selection in that same race, and will also relish getting back out to this trip. Draws well, and winkers have been applied. Home track six-year-old mare 4. Necessary has had three runs for the new local yard in deeper metropolitan opposition, but this is the first on home track since transferring from Victoria. Well treated at the weights, but some query in the going. Corowa six-year-old 9. Boogie Woogie finished hard after coming back sharply in distance at Wagga. Another one getting back out to his pet trip, and half his six career wins have come at this track.
Likely Tempo: Fair
My Betting Attack: BLACK WAND to Win
RACE 3 @ 2.10pm TEAM THOROUGHBRED NEW MAIDEN PLATE (1175m) - Set Weights;
Tricky sprint for the maidens, with decent speed on. Keen on improving local five-year-old 2. COIN DROP (Rob Wellington/Nick Souquet; 59kg) at set weights and with key gear changes. Was heavily backed when fighting on well at Wagga, finishing in front of King Kong Cod who goes around in the opener so the form reference might be there. Bred to handle heavy tracks.
*MAIN DANGERS: Consistent home track four-year-old 5. Gallant Run resumed with a solid effort here, and trainer has tinkered heavily with the gear, significantly winkers replacing blinkers. Been placed in eight of his 15 starts.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: COIN DROP to Win
RACE 4 @ 2.45pm PETER DEMPSEY PLUMBING MAIDEN HCP (1500m) - Min Weight 57kg;
Open race with plenty of chances. Canberra two-year-old 6. ENCYCLOPEDIA (Todd Smart/Blaike McDougall; 57kg) is well placed to break through after a string of consistent runs. Worked home nicely at Wagga last start, and is bursting for the rise in distance in ground he should handle.
*MAIN DANGERS: Wangaratta filly 5. Dress Code battled away when resuming in a handy maiden at Wodonga, and this looks a shade easier with more experienced jockey aboard. The record of four-year-old mare 9. La Valkyrie is ordinary, unplaced from nine starts, but her first-up run in a better maiden at Wagga when well backed was good, and she will appreciate more ground. Keep safe Victorian three-year-old 4. Ameripark who is hard fit and gets the addition of blinkers.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: ENCYCLOPEDIA to Win & Box Exacta: 5,6,9
RACE 5 @ 3.20pm ALBURY DEMOLITIONS PTY LTD CLASS 3 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg;
Back to the sprint trip in a good quality field. Lightly raced and progressive Benalla four-year-old 4. FLYING FINCH (Russell Osborne/Nick Heywood; 58.5kg) is the one to beat third-up. Charged home for a smart maiden win under 60kg at Scone, and trainer has made important gear changes. Bred to fire on heavy ground.
*MAIN DANGERS: Tough and honest Wangaratta three-year-old 1. Big Day Out has only missed a place once in his last five. Has been freshened since a strong effort in a tougher race here a month ago, and has a sound heavy track record. Another Wang visitor 2. Northernero got too far back in a thinner race at Wagga before making late ground. That came seven weeks between runs and dropping back significantly in trip so bound to improve here with a significant jockey change. Resuming home track mare 6. Chap's Dream has a good record on rain-affected ground, and draws to get a handy trail.
Likely Tempo: Good
My Betting Attack: FLYING FINCH to Win and Trifecta: 1,4/1,2,4,6/1,2,4,6
RACE 6 @ 3.55pm THE NEWMARKET HOTEL BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m) - Min Weight 55kg;
Testing sprint this one with a few chances, and solid speed on. Keen on lightly raced Wangaratta mare 7. VAMPISH (Ben Brisbourne/Blaike McDougall; 58.5kg) who resumes for her first run in NSW. Charged home from a mile back to win on debut last spring on a Soft 7 rating, and leading rider has been booked. Sire was right at home on wet tracks.
MAIN DANGERS: Smart home track filly 8. Sunrise Ruby also resumes in a suitable race off a controlled trial. Hasn't raced for more than nine months but beat a good maiden field on debut here in heavy ground. Improving Wagga five-year-old 2. Certain Shaft is ready to peak after two runs back. Found the line well in weaker class last start, and while the handicapper hasn't missed him with 59kg, he bolted in his only previous start on a heavy track. Keep safe lightly raced Victorian four-year-old 3. Sunshine Moshe who worked home well in a weaker race here three weeks back; while include both four-year-old mare 9. Pay The Deeler and three-year-old filly 10. Vinnie's Girl in wider exotics.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: VAMPISH Each Way and First Four: 2,7,8/2,3,7,8,9,10/2,3,7,8,9,10/2,3,7,8,9,10
RACE 7 @ 4.35pm ALBURY WODONGA PLASTERING SERVICES CLASS 1 HCP (1400m)
We finish with seemingly one of the shorter-priced and best bets of the day in Wangaratta three-year-old 3. HELLOVA NIGHT (Adrian Corboy/Blaike McDougall; 60kg) deep into his initial prep. Has hit the line hard from off the speed in consecutive BM 64s, and will find this easier. Bred to thrive on rain-affected ground.
MAIN DANGERS: Improving local filly 8. Allez Brew swept home to claim her maiden here second-up, and she's ideally placed to run the quinella; while consistent Canberra three-year-old 1. Dubai Centre deep into the prep; and improving three-year-old 2. Electric Storm at his fourth start; are the next best.
Likely Tempo: Fair
My Betting Attack: HELLOVA NIGHT to Win & Quinella: 3 & 8
My BEST EARLY BETS
R2 3. BLACK WAND** Expect: $2.85 - $3.10; My Early Rating: $2.10
R4 6. ENCYCLOPEDIA* Expect: $3.25 - $3.75; My Early Rating: $2.32
My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R6 7. VAMPISH (E/W)** Expect: $6.50 - $7.00; My Early Rating: $4.05
My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R5: TRIFECTA: 1,4/1,2,4,6/1,2,4,6
R7: QUINELLA: 3 & 8
TRAINERS TO FOLLOW
Ben Brisbourne
JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW
Blaike McDougall, Nick Heywood