Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Preview Canberra Cup Edition — 8 March 2021

The rail remains 3m the entire for the second day of the club’s feature carnival and should remain in the Good range.  

 

The Canberra Cup promises to be very competitive with Melbourne and Sydney gallopers heading the early betting. Equation has come up favourite for the Canberra Guineas and there are a number capable of threatening.

 

Race 1 (1000m) BM65

 

Nobody's Puppet can lead from Delacour. WASHINGTON TOWERS (3) missed a lip resuming and then had a very tough run at Randwick beaten 2L. Gets a low gate today (which he will use) and can be winning third-up with McDougall aboard first time. NOBODY'S PUPPET (4) led and was back to her best winning at Queanbeyan. She will likely control the race and get every chance to make it a double. DELACOUR (1) is better than the formline suggests. Raced in Open grade the latest and gets the rail. In a canny local yard and keep safe. SNITZINNATI (6) has switched from a Sydney barn on a 30 day return. Berry's booking suggests she's pleasing and she'd be very competitive if she found her best form. BET: Backing Washington Towers.

 

Race 2 (1600m) BM75

 

A number of on-pacers engaged and the tempo should be okay. EXOTIC DEEL (4) improved again missing a whisker at Canterbury in the 72 and then disappointed at Goulburn in the country championship qualifier. Expect a quick return to form on her home track and Berry is reunited. PROPOSE TO ME (7) was plain in the same race but had won 2/3 prior heavily-backed. Gets Collett first time and should go close first time at the mile reaching peak fitness. SILENT AGENDA (3) races handy and comes back in trip off the comfortable and well deserved Canterbury win. Will run it right out and looks a genuine contender with Bayliss sticking. ROCKAROSA (2) missed 1L in Open grade and then didn't have the best of it in town with the big weight. Draws for a soft run and a stable favourite Rawiller goes on. She's also a hope in a good contest. BET: Going with Exotic Deel.

 

Race 3 (1400m) MDN

 

ZOUFLU (6) has placed both runs back for a leading national yard with the latest at this track. Will be well positioned by King off the handy gate and fitter can take the race out. NOT A CHOICE (5) has been heavily backed the last two in better provincial Maidens and the blinkers are applied first time. Has the speed to manage the wide gate and expect her to go close for the Sydney yard. PHEARSON (1) is an improver from a sharp local yard and has just been nudged out here both race runs. Gets a soft gate and Berry first time and can't be ruled out. ROCKOVER (3) was on-speed and was sharply better at Bathurst. He won't have to improve much to make the finish. BET: Backing Zouflu in a good contest.

 

Race 4 (1200m) CL2

 

Genuine pace with Hezredhot crossing from the outside gate and Blazing Mac close at hand. UNDERGROUND MUSIC (6) rates strongly off the CL1 win here 17 days ago. She's on the improve and no surprise a leading Sydney hoop goes on. Fitter he's the one to beat. HASTY DUCHESS (4) has the figures to win first-up has to manage a sticky gate. The recent Canterbury trial was sharp and she's capable of finishing over them. SHENANDOAH (2) is in the leading local yard and was in need of the first-up run over shorter. He's 2/2 second-up and has plenty up the sleeve. McDougall sticks and expect a much improved effort. STAR DYNASTY (5) has won 2/3 this preparation and is on an upward spiral. O'Hara will position the mare handy and give her every chance to make the double. BET: Leaning to Underground Music.

 

Race 5 (1000m) MDN

 

Fell's Hero, Destiny's Republic and Grand Lusitano can push forward and a few others won't be far away. Tricky. FORMEINAWAY (3) debuted on the Newcastle heavy and was just beaten as an equal favourite. Looked the part at the trials prior and is likely to be better on a dry deck. Gets the low gate and Rachel King and fitter is sure to take beating for the in-form Newnham stable. COSMIC SERENADE (14) debuts off a low gate for Matt Dale in will sharper than the trial finish suggests. Draws the rail and McDougall's booking suggests the barn means business. ASSERTING (8) was well-supported on debut and pulled up with an issue. Placed in a Canterbury trial since and is on the 20 day return. The Baker yard is going well and expect sharp improvement with Clark going on. MR PLUCKA (5) draws well and debuts off a strong trial on the same day. Sherry sticks from that and a bold run is on the cards. BET: Going with Formeinaway with the race fitness and experience.

 

Race 6 (1400m) Canberra Guineas

 

Never Never River has good early speed and can set a decent tempo. A good contest. EQUATION (2) improved sharply again winning the Canterbury 72 and making the hat-trick. Will be fitter again and the promising colt will be backed again and take beating with Berry using the low gate. NEVER NEVER RIVER (6) rates equally off the 3L all the way win in the Warwick Farm 68. He's threatened heavily-bet prior and is a serious winning chance with Clark controlling the race from the handy gate. HIGH SUPREMACY (3) didn't have the best of it resuming in the Group 2. Had come off a near-miss at that level over the mile. He's up to this and expect sharp improvement. KERMANDING (4) resumes off a trial win seeking the hat-trick and McDonald sticks from that. He's been gelded and has more to offer. The draw is against but keep very safe. MOLLY NAILS (11) is a promising local who will push forward but may have to find too much. BET: Equation should get all the favours.

 

Race 7 (2000m) Canberra Cup

 

Despite the wide draw He's A Given can cross over and Entente is likely to do the same and Hush Writer will kick up. AUSSIE NUGGET (9) won at Caulfield and then was beaten 1.8L there at Listed level when nothing went right for him. Think he has more to offer at middle distances and looks a decent each-way chance with 3x winning rider McNeil reunited. ENTENTE (3) was a betting drifter but fought on well here 17 days ago at the mile behind Outback Diva. Had come off the Geelong Cup and will be primed now for the 2000m. His figures are compelling and Clark just needs to efficiently manage the wide gate to go close. DADOOZDART (7) will be better for the three runs back the latest in the Listed Parramatta Cup. Still to find his best form and Berry will give him a soft run from the low gate. OUTBACK DIVA (5) ran easily here best race winning the Open here easily at the mile. Is ready for her first go at 200m and has to be considered. BET: Backing Aussie Nugget each way.

 

Race 8 (1400m) CL1

 

Off the low draw the speedy Cracking Mo should lead at a genuine tempo. IMPRESSIVE LASS (1) will push forward and deserved the 2L Maiden win at Wyong building on the near-miss at Warwick Farm. Ran even-money in that and with Collett pushing forward can repeat the dose. FOURMADEC (7) is a promising local and is feared. Won a trial here and then ran favourite and was too good for the Maidens at Wagga. She will have come on and Berry will give here every chance from the low gate. SISSECK (4) draws wide but is another local with claims. Switched yards and won the Maiden first up and has more to give. The gate is sticky but Rawiller stays to ride and expect the gelding to improve again. Stablemate MANILA THRILLER (8) has the ability and the lift to the 1400m third-up shouldn't bother. Needs a good McDougall ride but a win wouldn't totally surprise. BET: Leaning to Impressive Lass.