Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
The maidens get us rolling over the mile on a track that should remain firm despite a chance of late showers. Tough Albury on-speed mare 6. Emmjay is hard fit and has been in and around the placings since early December. Just needs to get across from the wider gate, and she'll take plenty of stopping with the rail out a significant distance.
Dangers: Big watch on ex Chris Waller-trained filly and likely short-priced favourite 10. Chouilly having first run for the new local stable third-up and dropping back from much deeper provincial and metro opposition. Both Canberra-based stablemates 4. Peak Contributer with blinkers going on; and honest 7. Les Goh fifth-up; can fight out the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Emmjay to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1300m):
Not much depth here, and that augurs well for Canberra three-year-old 1. Sebastian's Flyer who progresses into his third start over 100m further. Attacked the line late from midfield behind a handy winner at the Sapphire Coast 12 days ago, and will relish getting on to a bigger track.
Dangers: Another improver at his third outing is 2. Stand In Line who also finished well last time from off the speed, and is bred to get much further. Watch the betting on 5. Dolce Bella who chased okay on debut at Goulburn as a $2.60 favourite; while 3. Norris with winkers added; and 8. Aunt Bridge second-up; both go through trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Sebastian's Flyer to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Love the big value here about Rich Enuff filly 11. Swift Enuff who debuts for a leading home track stable off a smart trial win here in soft ground. Gets in on the limit weight after the rider's claim, and the breed has a habit of coming to hand quickly.
Dangers: Lightly raced mare 5. Magnolia Belle resumes for a second prep behind a dominant trial win at this track by more than six lengths and draws well; but still threatens to go around under the odds. The market will tell a story with improving Flemington-based filly 8. Hear Me Out who makes the long journey over the border for her third start four weeks between runs. Included in exotics, home tracker 1. Century Fox resuming; and two-year-old 7. Griffinstown Girl at her second start from a softer draw.
How to play it: Swift Enuff each way
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1800m):
Not much between many of these over this trip in a Heat of the Rising Star, but it shapes nicely for Albury five-year-old 7. Costaway who has been bangiong on the door this prep for a second career win. Has charged home to only miss narrowly in his last two at this track, and again settling off speed, he's never been better weighted dropping down sharply to the 55kg limit.
Dangers: Expect four-year-old 1. King Charles to be working into the finish fifth-up with an important 3kg weight allowance. Respect too for 4. Jack The Brumby who can peak over a suitable journey third-up and carrying the limit weight after the claim; while 5. Bring A Dame fifth-up with blinkers coming off; and 8. Military Manoeuver at bigger odds deep into the prep; are on the next line.
How to play it: Costaway to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 OPEN HCP (1400m):
Tricky affair, but can't go past tough seven-year-old 5. Ruban Bleu fifth-up and dropping significantly in weight. Swept home for a dominant BM 70 win at Canberra two starts back in what quickly proved a strong form reference before tackling a BM 74 here under a big weight when wasn't suited by the inside draw and subsequent traffic. Drawn further out this time, and as long as he gets a clear run from the turn; has the superior final 400m burst.
Dangers: Canberra mare 6. Milamoo can be hard to catch and hasn't won for a while, but likes firm ground, and has been placed in four from six runs here. Local five-year-old 2. Mr Gee reloads off a six week break, with a key gear change; while Victorian visitors 3. Tully's Gold resuming off a 48-day break and quiet trial; and 7. This Skilled Cat down sharply in weight; head the rest.
How to play it: Ruban Bleu to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
Back in trip now for the restricted sprinters, and confident debut-winning Star Turn filly 9. Namid can make it two straight 12 days between runs. Bred for speed on both sides, and draws to get a nice trail right behind the leader.
Dangers: Speedy three-year-old 3. Royston Head jumped to the front here at his third start and gave nothing else a chance, but more closing depth here, and likely will jump under the odds. Keep safe capable local 6. Gold Tracker who has been okay in deeper fields since easily winning his maiden six weeks back. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Namid to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW CLASS 4 HCP (1300m):
Feature and one of the more open races on the card to close, with several chances. Like tough and lightly raced five-year-old 10. Unique Prince second-up off a six month spell. Kept chasing on a soft and shifty track first-up behind a smart all-the-way winner, and back on firm footing is a serious plus.
Dangers: Smart local mare 8. Kappy's Angel shoots for a hat trick of wins deep into her prep and stepping up in grade. Has impressed, settling off speed and sweeping home with ease, and while she gets a big drop in weight here, she's under the mark in a race of more depth and class. Big watch at the value around 5. Jack's All Magic who also guns for a third straight win rising in class and off a six week freshen-up via a trial here. Progressive five-year-old 3. Our Last Cash tracked up in the trail and won comfortably third-up, but he drew wider here in a much deeper race. Keep safe too 7. Brothers Of Antrim who gets hefty weight relief third-up in naturally tougher company.
How to play it: Unique Prince each way
Odds and Evens: Split
