8/3/2026 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Canberra, Canberra Cup day

A bumper nine event card has been set down for Canberra on 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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This just screams of a set up when it comes to 2 Pure Octane (Bet Now:  $SP.00), who is on debut for Luke Pepper. He had three trials for Bjorn Baker without setting the world on fire and has been sent to Pepper. No public trials for the new camp and debuting on a feature day, leading rider booked…he must have shown something at home.

3 Trooper (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a very interesting runner. Natalie Jarvis trained gelding that is having his first run for the new stable after formerly being with Team Hawkes. He brings with him some solid enough form lines and looks to have trialled well, so watch betting.

6 Passing Through (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1000m after resuming over 1200m at Queanbeyan. He got into a decent spot in transit and I thought was there to threaten but first up, condition just gave way late in the piece. Fitter and back in trip, he’s in the mix.

5 Oneforian (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is flying for Nick Olive and it is hard to get away from him. 2/2 this time in, the latest coming at the Sapphire Coast when giving them a start and a beating. Good test here but think he can measure up.

10 Brazen Crime (Bet Now:  $SP.00) was pretty good at this track/distance a couple of weeks back, sitting off speed and closed pretty well when second. Maps to get a sweet run in transit and strikes a race where the overall depth is thin.

7 Samurai (Bet Now:  $SP.00) should be better for the first up run, which came over 1300m at Goulburn when ridden with intent to sit on speed and just tired late behind Rileycat. Better with a bunny to chase, he’s dangerous at odds.

7 Panic (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1000m after racing over 1200m at the Sapphire Coast when off speed and while he was never a winning threat, he kept chasing and was pretty good in defeat I thought. Maps to stalk One Destiny and will be strong late.

2 One Destiny (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks the likely leader and I think will give plenty of cheek. He resumed with a win over 900m at Newcastle when on speed throughout and credit to him, he was there to be beaten but he found under pressure to fend them off and score. Last bit will test but becomes very dangerous if this track is playing up/in.

8 Major Time (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has a great record in this race and despite being ten years of age, I say he’s in the mix as a contender. He attempted to lead throughout at Nowra last time but just felt the pinch late behind Tai Lung. Good racing style, Tommy Berry aboard, he appeals.

I am a bit surprised that 7 Your Chilli (Bet Now:  $SP.00) isn’t closer to favourite. I thought he did a super job on debut at Canterbury given he was wide no cover, a poor ride by Sexton, and while the horse was never threatening, he kept chasing and was quite good in defeat. Better map this time around and gets a big rider upgrade.

9 Rach (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been runner up in all three runs this prep and is knocking on the door. She ran second in the race mentioned above, which was won by Farindra. She seemingly had her chance but was gallant given the winner had complete front end control. 1300m is a slight query but with the right run in transit, she can take this out.

10 Angel City (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is dangerous for Matty Smith. She ran over 1350m at Wyong last time out when just off speed and did try hard but just couldn’t quite get there when third to Serpico. Hard fit, kind map, she’s in the mix for sure.

The yard is crucial here because if you get the tick that 10 Transcend (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is calm and behaving, she’s the one to beat. Former Kiwi that has had two runs down under and each time, she has been a mess in the yard and hasn’t run up to what she did back home in New Zealand. If she brings her best, she is top seed.

3 Watson (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been freshened up since the Eskimo Prince where he attempted to lead throughout and gave a decent sight from the front but just lacked the class to go with Tempted. That is A1 form for this, he finds the front and takes running down.

11 Cando Attitude (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is 4/4 to start her career and is in the mix. Big win at Nowra last start, giving them a start and a beating. Dare say she head to the CC Wildcard but think she is talented.

1 Welwal (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to the main land after resuming in the Thomas Lyons at Hobart when off speed and held up. He did get clear but had no answers for the finale of the very much in form Steparty. Better for the run, he will take beating against these.

4 Cool Jakey (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is on the quick back up after racing last Saturday in the Liverpool City Cup. He sat near the speed and ran his usual honest race but had no answers for the finale of King Of Roseau. Fitter, 1400m, presses forward, leading chance.

12 Another One (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a Gary Colvin trained gelding that resumes. His better days are behind him, but he still maintains a zest for racing, as seen I think by his recent trial win at Wagga where he moved very well in winning and running time. One for exotics.

15 Artaneous (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks one of a handful that are here to play IMO. Bjorn Baker trained colt that resumes, his last run being on debut in the Breeders Plate when far from disgraced behind Incognito. Loved his recent trial win at Rosehill, I say he’s here to play.

9 Pearl Of Dubai (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been freshened up since the Widden on Jan 31 when placing over the Rosehill 1100m behind Chilly Girl. Tick over trial was encouraging and this race has thinned out after scratchings. Key threat.

7 Threads (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a knockout hope. He debuted in the Lonhro Plate when far from disgraced in defeat behind Agrarian Girl. Tick over trial was a solid piece of work and once again draws well. Good upside, not dismissing.

I want to give 7 Sam Hawkens (Bet Now:  $SP.00) another look. To the eye, he was just fair when resuming in the Parramatta Cup but he does look a horse with eyes on one race, the Sydney Cup. That said, he kept chasing and was pretty good late. Better set up here, he’ll take beating.

I am a big fan of 8 Flying Bandit (Bet Now:  $SP.00) for Kerry Parker. 1400m straight to 2000m I find interesting but he was good late when resuming at Rosehill. He is a good horse, promising stayer, will be very strong late…just depends what start he concedes.

I would assume 12 Geemes (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has eyes on a race like the Albury Cup but I think she has returned super and wouldn’t be shocked if she pinched first four. She resumed in the Midway and was quite good late without threatening behind Starphistocated. I’d include her in exotics.

15 Hazel Jean (Bet Now:  $SP.00) for me in the get out. Richard Litt trained mare that looked as if she broke down last time at Hawkesbury when Schofield eased her down but the vet looked at her and found her to be 1/5 lame. Prior efforts were sound and if she’s taken no harm from last time, she’s top seed for me.

5 Starboard (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is knocking on the door for Team Freedman. He placed at Canterbury last time out when near the speed and presented to win but just couldn’t quite get there when third to Monte Kate. Ideal map in his corner, he appeals.

4 King Nic (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a son of Nicconi that resumes for the Beer/Carpenter camp. He is first up, having not raced since Oct 25 when far from disgraced over 1500m at Kembla. Looks to have trialled well for the return, watch betting.

BEST BET: Race Five Number 10 Transcend

NEXT BEST: Race One Number 2 Pure Octane

LONG SHOT: Race Three Number 7 Panic

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 4, 6, 12

Leg Two: 3, 4, 7, 15

Leg Three: 1, 7, 8, 9, 12

Leg Four: 4, 5, 9, 10, 15

$50 Investment = 12.50% of the dividend if successful

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