Black Opal Day at Canberra is fast becoming one of the better racedays in Australia outside metro tracks and the 2017 edition rolls around this Sunday. The weather is fine, the track is soft (6) and the rail is out three metres for the entire circuit.
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Race One (13:25) : Sky Racing Maiden Handicap 1200m:
Back Me: 1 Smart Amelia (Best Odds: $2.60) is a classy filly for James Cummings who just about earns as the title as the best maiden in Australia. Performed very well during the Spring in quality races without winning. Resumed on a bottomless Warwick Farm surface and ran third. Firmer footing here for her and all things being equal, she should be too good.
Big Danger: 2 Sleek (Best Odds: $7.00) is a Godolphin filly who is bursting to win the Maiden but strikes a very hot race here. She comes here off the back of a last start third to Oakfield Richie at Beaumont-Newcastle where she tried hard but couldn’t quite get the job done. Should get every chance and is a definite threat.
Long Shot: 9 It’s A Guy Thing (Best Odds: $15.00) trialled well on her home track at Goulburn prior to debuting there a tick over two weeks back where she sat near the speed and did a really good job I thought when third to Myristica. That maiden looked strong on paper, and while this is much tougher, she has room to improve and I like that Jay Ford sticks.
Race Two (14:00) : CanPrint Communications Handicap (65) 1400m:
Back Me: 4 Submissive (Best Odds: $3.00) is a progressive filly for Godolphin and John O’Shea who looks well placed here to bounce back into the winners list. Comes here off the back of a last start fourth on a bog track at Canterbury when fourth to the well performed Il Mio Destino. Firmer footing here looks ideal and this is a drop in depth.
Big Danger: 7 Chloe’s Comet (Best Odds: $5.50) is a Waterhouse/Bott trained galloper who is a major contender here. Resumed on the Beaumont-Newcastle where she sat on speed and tried hard but was no match late for the above average Mega Mall. Maps well here, and now with the run under the belt, she will take some beating.
Long Shot: 17 Singled Out (Best Odds: $51.00)is a handy local mare for the Joseph/Jones stable who can definitely threaten here with the right trip. Ran over 1300m at Goulburn last time out where she got back to near last in the run and worked home with real purpose behind Immy. Extra 100m looks ideal and she will be strong late.
Race Three (14:35) : Singapore Airlines Camarena Quality 1000m:
Back Me: 1 Plateau Gold (Best Odds: $12.00) is a talented sprinter that comes here for Jim Jarvis. Hasn’t raced since late January at Grafton when lumping 64.5kg and tiring late behind Hide The Moon. He did work on his home track recently and held out Cogliere, who of course came out to win the Taree Country Championship qualifier, so that’s a good guide.
Long Shot: 7 Hill Spy (Best Odds: $8.00) is the clear watch horse. Enigmatic sprinter for Luke Pepper who is loaded with ability and potential but just doesn’t produce it consistently. Hasn’t raced since late September when finishing midfield behind Sir Plush at Rosehill. Trial win here was sharp, pace will be good and he goes well fresh.
Big Danger: 9 Miss Liffey (Best Odds: $21.00) is a handy sprinter trained on the track by Trevor Mcllrick who comes through the Whirlwind at Wagga where she seemingly had a sweet sit just off the pace and tried hard but couldn’t quite reel in For Me Dad. Start prior she ran second to Hermosa Beach here, so that reads well for this.
Race Four (15:10) : Casino Canberra National Sprint 1400m:
Back Me: Convinced that 5 Got The Goss (Best Odds: $16.00) is flying, and he is a major player. Sat back and couldn’t get into the race first up at Randwick behind Deploy before going to the Nat King Cu race where he got a mile back and came with a brilliant finishing burst out wide but just failed to pick up the winner. Looks ideally suited up to 1400m and gets really good weight relief.
Big Danger: I think you have to forgive 11 Hermosa Beach (Best Odds: $13.00) for her failure behind Nat King Cu. She had a decent weight on her back and just got into a bit of a bumping duel early on in the straight and that perhaps took the stuffing out of her. That, and she was second up off a brilliant fresh win, so second up syndrome perhaps. Much better than that and I can see her bouncing back hard third up.
Long Shot: 4 Just A Blur (Best Odds: $14.00) is a talented mare that resumes for the Joseph/Jones stable. Overall, it was a disappointing Spring/Summer but keep in mind she contested some really strong events, with the best effort being a fourth in the Goulburn Cup behind Circular. Okay fresh record but most importantly, she loves racing on her home track.
Race Five (15:45) : XXXX Gold Canberra Guineas 1400m:
Back Me: 2 Eusebio (Best Odds: $3.60) is a talented gelding that steps up to blacktype for Godolphin and John O’Shea. Two from two this time in, the latest coming at Beaumont-Newcastle when bolting up with the big weight and beat a handy field. Big test here, but he looks a likely type and has a stack of upside.
Big Danger: 11 Sedanzer (Best Odds: $9.00) is a talented filly that resumes for the Waterhouse/Bott stable. Ran three times during the Spring, starting off at Rosehill when finishing down the track behind Spright before putting together a couple of impressive wins. Trials leading up to this have been sharp, most notably the latest one.
Long Shot: 8 Catch The Culprit (Best Odds: $101.00) pulled off a decent plunge first up at the Sapphire Coast under Noel Callow before going to the Jack Thomas here where he sat off the pace and couldn’t come on behind Super Star Bob. Second up syndrome perhaps, or perhaps outclassed. Not sure, but the stable should always be respected on this day.
Race Six (16:22) : Tab.com.au Canberra Cup 2000m:
Back Me: 3 Dark Eyes (Best Odds: $4.40) is on the back up for the Waterhouse/Bott yard after running over this trip on that very heavy track last Saturday at Randwick where he was pretty much handed the lead on the platter and rightfully spanked them. All depends how he recovers from that run on a testing track. If he bounces off that, he’ll take some beating here.
Big Danger: 4 Cool Chap (Best Odds: $4.20) hasn’t won for a long time but he is racing well despite the fact he hasn’t been greeting the judge. Comes back to the mainland after running in the Hobart Cup where he was heavily backed late but couldn’t see it out when running fifth. That form of course was franked in the Launceston Cup. Back to 2000m suits and the stable loves to target this race.
Long Shot: He might lack the class of some of these, but it’s hard to ignore what 6 Coolcat Dancer (Best Odds: $17.00) has done in recent times. Won the Moruya Cup, then backed up to win the Bega Cup before racing in the Canberra Cup Prelude here where he lumped 61kg and fought on so strongly to win. He just cannot be left out of the equation given how well he is racing.
Race Seven (17:05) : Mercedes Benz Canberra Black Opal Stakes 1200m:
Back Me: I think 5 Trekking (Best Odds: $4.40) will win the Golden Slipper, and I am very pleased he makes his return. Debuted late last year at Rosehill where he was heavily backed late and despite doing plenty wrong, he just spanked them and won like a very good horse. That form has stacked up because Goodfella came out and won before running a ripping fourth at the Gold Coast in the Magic Millions. If you want confidence in Trekking, just watch his trial last week…he’s come back ready to give this and the Slipper an almighty shake.
Big Danger: 7 Muraaqeb (Best Odds: $5.00) is a high quality colt for the all conquering Hayes/Dabernig team who comes here off the back of such an impressive debut win at the Valley where he got a mile back in the run, and was forced wide on the turn, but came with a brilliant finale to round them up and in the end score a soft win. Lot to like about him and I am confident he can measure up here.
Long Shot: 8 Reflectivity (Best Odds: $10.00) is a Vinery colt that resumes for the Hawkes camp. Debuted in the Golden Gift in November where he really should have won the race but his waywardness cost him victory as he had to settle for second to Serena Bay. Trialled up well recently and with better racing manners, he can certainly threaten here.
Race Eight (17:40) : Affinity Constructions Australia P/L Handicap (65) 1200m:
Back Me: 11 Pecans (Best Odds: $3.00) is a talented filly that resumes for Godolphin and John O’Shea. Performed well during the Spring in strong races, including Stakes company. Was a late nom here so it could be a guide the stable thinks they can win here, and trials have been okay. Prepared to be with her.
Big Danger: 4 Lyric (Best Odds: $21.00) hasn’t won for a long time but he is racing quite well at the moment and is knocking on the door to get that win on the board. Last couple of efforts at Beaumont-Newcastle have been really good, the latest over 1150m on Feb 7 when just missing out on picking up O’Reilly Cyrus. Draws to get a lovely run, has run well on a soft track previously and Tommy Berry steers.
Long Shot: 14 Simply Striking (Best Odds: $101.00) is a gelding in really good form at the moment for the Osborne camp. The four year old ran over this track/distance a fortnight back where he was given a charmed run behind the speed and got the split at the right time but was nabbed late by Mr Fox. Much more depth here, but good record at the track and rates highly.
BEST BET: Race Six Number 3 Dark Eyes
NEXT BEST: Race One Number 1 Smart Amelia
VALUE: Race Three Number 1 Plateau Gold
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11
Leg Two: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg Three: 2, 5, 7, 8, 15
Leg Four: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 14
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