The Canberra Carnival concludes on Monday with an eight race card, headlined by the Canberra Cup (2000m). The weather is fine, the track is soft (5) and the rail is out six metres from the 1000m-380m; Out three metres for the remainder.
Canberra Cup 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Canberra Cup
Race 1. (13:08) Turfcare Australia Mdn Hcp 1400m
5 Captain Vladmir (Bet Now: $5.00) on top for me in the opener. Bit surprised he opened double figures given he was a hard $2.40 favourite on debut at Wyong where I’m not sure he got around the tight track. Freshened up, moved well in a tick over trial and gets the Blinkers on, plus finds a very thin maiden.
4 Reateros (Bet Now: $1.80) is getting close to a maiden win. Richard Litt trained three year old that was solid on debut at Goulburn before going to Newcastle where he tried hard but was no match late for Endorsement. Tricky draw to overcome, but has talent and the right form.
12 Geminids (Bet Now: $11.00) is a first four contender. Was a few weeks between runs when racing over this trip at Wagga. She got back off the speed but was trucking nicely and presented to threaten but couldn’t quite finish it off when fourth. Not sure she wins, but a first four threat.
Race 2. (13:43) Ncg Services (bm65) 1000m
3 Fangela (Bet Now: $3.10) has done little wrong in a six start career for Keith Dryden. Ran over 1000m at Nowra last time out when getting the suck run behind the speed before angling into clear air under Collett and liked the way he surged the last few strides to get up and win. More depth here, but in well after the claim and maps nicely.
8 Italian Informant (Bet Now: $3.50) is an Ed Cummings trained galloper that resumes. Hasn’t raced since Jan 8 when a strong maiden winner at Wyong in a race where the depth wasn’t overly strong. Liked his recent trial and stable finds Tommy Berry to steer. He’ll take beating.
1 Brothers Of Antrim (Bet Now: $12.00) is much better suited at 1000m. Throw at the stumps last start in the Country Championships Qualifier at Nowra but he bungled the start and that sealed his fate. He is a 1000m horse so gets back to his preferred trip and his best is clearly good enough.
Race 3. (14:18) Senpos Hcp (c2) 1200m
I want to give 3 Mascherata (Bet Now: $4.00) another chance. Market didn’t want a bar of her when she resumed at Goulburn and it was proven correct. She got back in the run and was never really a factor. She’ll come on from that you would assume and hopefully gets a firmed deck.
6 Devils Triangle (Bet Now: $1.95) should be odds on if you trust the Shelby Sixtysix form. That horse beat Nature Strip last Saturday and he beat Devils Triangle the week prior in a Highway, just handling the bottomless track best. Maps super from the gate and just has to hold her form to be around the mark.
1 Adamas Prince (Bet Now: $10.00) is knocking on the door to win a race. Looked like he would get the job done at Gosford last time out but had to settle for a close up second to Tinka’s Lad. Drawn wide, but has come back in good order. If he gets luck from the gate, he’ll be around the mark.
Race 4. (14:53) Tab Lickety Split Mdn Plate 1000m
Happy to speck 1 Keep Wealthy (Bet Now: $14.00) each way on debut. Gary Moore trains this gelding, who I thought moved pretty well in a recent Rosehill trial. Sat on speed and wasn’t really asked for an effort when third. I’d much rather $15+ each way this guy than potentially $1.50 for the favourite.
9 I Am Me (Bet Now: $1.55) is indeed the favourite I am talking about and really, she could win this by six lengths under a hold given the way she has been trialling and the fact she was far from disgraced behind Fangirl in the Spring. Clearly she can win, but I’d rather watch than back at the odds.
3 Roccaforte (Bet Now: $12.00) is a Richard Litt trained three year old that resumes and returns to racing as a gelding. Form around him from last prep doesn’t read too bad for a race like this and he has trialled well leading in, plus has gate one, so I think he is a must for wider multiples.
Race 5. (15:30) Opc It Hcp (c1) 1400m
5 Fourmadec (Bet Now: $3.00) has come back in really good order for Matty Dale. Two runs back from a break and she’s had no luck each time, sitting wide no cover in both runs. Gets a significant jockey upgrade IMO and although drawn wide, you’d like to think she will get cover this time around.
1 Champions League (Bet Now: $4.40) is a promising animal. John O’Shea trains this guy, who was given a peach by Avdulla to win fresh at Kembla in a maiden, beating a quality horse in Stalking, so despite it being a maiden, it’s a strong form reference and he gets J Mac to steer now.
13 Clever Choice (Bet Now: $16.00) has home track advantage and is a first four threat. On the quick back up after racing last Monday at Wagga on the Riverside track when a closing third to Flying Sultan after getting back in the run. If the inside gate is used to advantage, I think he can be dangerous.
Race 6. (16:10) Canberra Guineas 1400m
I want to give 14 Von Trapp (Bet Now: $13.00) another look. Thought she was good in defeat fresh in the Light Fingers behind Fangirl. She then went to the Angus Armanasco where they rode to the track pattern, but it just worked against her. She’s better when ridden quiet and launching late, so hoping that eventuates here.
1 Silent Impact (Bet Now: $3.70) gets away from the big boys so I think he’s suited here. Game second to Maotai two back at Randwick before going to the Hobartville where he just found them a bit sharp but far from disgraced in defeat behind Anamoe. That has to be A1 form for this.
5 Construct (Bet Now: $23.00) doesn’t win out of turn but I think he’s silly odds. He didn’t get the rub of the green on the Kenso track last time out and should have been right in the finish behind Cape Breton. He doesn’t want the track to have too much juice in it, so if it’s dry, he’s a serious winning threat.
Race 7. (16:55) Canberra Cup 2000m
11 Mr Gee (Bet Now: $8.50) has returned in pretty good order. Lovely patient steer from Jone saw this horse won under the lights at Canterbury in what pretty much became survival of the fittest. He was only second up, so he’s got upside to come and has a touch of class.
6 Toomuchtobear (Bet Now: $4.00) has done little wrong this time in. He tried hard in the Parramatta Cup last time out but was clearly no match for stablemate Mightybeel. He does seem a real one batter so anticipating a positive steer from the outset and to get rolling on the turn to have full momentum by the time they straighten.
16 The Guru (Bet Now: $67.00) has been in work a while but continues to race at a pretty strong level. Just nabbed late two back in the Bega Cup by Room Number before going to the Midway at Rosehill and again running an honest race, just proving no match for the class of Military Expert. Holds his form, he’ll be around the mark.
Race 8. (17:35) Longpark Meat Co (bm75) 1600m
17 I’m Divine (Bet Now: $3.90) is really good odds IMO and is a bet for sure in the last. She made an absolute mess of them fresh at Hawkesbury. Then was thrown in the deep end deluxe in the Surround and just forget she went around behind Hinged. Back to this level, I think she’s the one.
It was Pike in the last yesterday. Could it be Pike again in the last, this time via 3 Girls Are Ready (Bet Now: $3.90). She tried her guts out last start on her home track at Queanbeyan but couldn’t quite get to Island Bay Boy, a solid horse in this area. Drawn to get a suck run and should be better for the 1600m run under the belt from last time.
I reckon this run will tell Gary Portelli whether to press onto a Derby with 14 Clyde (Bet Now: $13.00) or is he just a provincial plodder. I thought he was excellent in defeat fresh in a Midway, not helped by an ordinary steer. Then at Warwick Farm he was just too bad to be true. Near side Blinker goes on and his tick over trial was good. 2000m+ is his sweet spot but his best can be dangerous.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Eight Number 17 I’m Divine
NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 5 Fourmadec
LONG SHOT: Race Four Number 1 Keep Wealthy
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 3, 5, 13
Leg Two: 1, 2, 3, 5, 14
Leg Three: 3, 6, 11, 14, 16
Leg Four: 3, 11, 14, 17
$50 Investment = 12.50% of the dividend if successful
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