Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - AL FLORES (7) has been narrowly beaten twice this preparation on soft tracks and was heavily backed again at Wagga the latest. In a sharp local barn and Heywood is reunited. Just has to manage the heavy conditions. Ditto HARDLY FORTUNATE (10), who is also in good hands and has a similar profile. Didn't have the best of it at Wagga behind the above and she may sit closer today. TIPPYTAY (12) gave away a big start in the same race and was fair through the line. She's hard fit for a slog and keeps Penza. PICK A SYMPHONY (5) resumed with a solid effort at Queanbeyan and the longer sprint will suit. Unknown on wet tracks.
RACE 2 - OCTA DE LAGO (6) won here on a heavy track on debut and then was slow to recover in town before bouncing back with a narrow defeat at Gosford ($2.8F). Still a work in progress but Sherry sticks aboard and he's well placed to be winning. LOCH ERIN (8) won her Maiden here four starts back on a heavy track and first-up she was too good for the 58 graders at Wagga on the slow. Morgan rides today and he's likely to take a sit. In a sharp local barn and fitter is capable of going back to back. TONKATSU GODDESS (9) led and was narrowly beaten at Newcastle on a heavy track and will have taken improvement. Has the inside barrier again and will likely jump and run. By a top wet track sire and is sure to give a big sight. CALGARY KING (1) was plain at Albury but just missed at Kembla Grange prior. Peaks and a senior rider takes over. Goes in at a price.
RACE 3 - MAIRE DE PARIS (8) will present at peak fitness and is ready to win for a leading Sydney stable. She's been going well in provincial company and should relish the step-up to the middle distance. Expect her to manage the heavy conditions. Ditto MR CONSPIRACY (5), who is a threat. Improved at Gosford over this distance and then spiked his numbers narrowly beaten at Hawkesbury. Will run it right out. KHANT FAIL (6) races forward and is well seasoned for the slog on a deep track. Respect the stable. CHEBICI (3) went back-to-back and hasn't had the best of it in her two starts since. Maps well and she should be around the mark.
RACE 4 - Belted by scratchings. Waterhouse-Bott-trained GRAPHIC SIGHT (3) is left the one to beat. Found a place in a Canberra Open 2 on debut and resumes with two Randwick trials under the saddle. The colt will be naturally improved and is likely to jump and run. SHREDDED (6) won a Randwick trial and was well supported at Kembla Grange on debut but didn't finish it off. Fitter and maps well. He's also in a strong Sydney barn and sharp improvement is likely. TERNINI (11) is running out of chances but was better at Queanbeyan and can get into the money. AVALON LADY (8) resumed in the same contest with a solid effort and showed enough early doors to suggest improvement.
RACE 5 - The local WEXFORD MISS (3) went to Hawkesbury ready to win and disappointed. Placed on a heavy track here prior off a narrow defeat at Wagga - all in stronger. Carries more weight but will be tough to beat. SANTOLINI (11) followed a Wagga Maiden with a 2.5L defeat there in a CL1. Went well on the heavy at Albury three back and is a chance to bounce. EPAULLO CREED (1) is a leader in good hands and is knocking on the door. Likes it wet and the 4kg claim brings him right into it. EAST HARLEM (7) made good improvement beaten 1.5L behind Loch Erin at Wagga on a slow track. He'd be in the finish holding that form.
RACE 6 - ARDUOUS (7) can skip over to the speed and will be better for the Kembla Grange placing over this trip. JVO is a positive jockey engagement and the filly should go close for a top Sydney barn. AUDENZIA (8) also has early speed and is busting to win. Missed a whisker two back at Kembla Grange on a heavy track over this distance and that stacks right up. She is a threat. NAMBI GHIMA (11) resumed over 1400m at Kembla Grange last start and finished sixth. Fitter and she is worth consideration in this. EROTAS (10) peaks and is showing enough to suggest she will be around the mark. FARRAIGE (18) best of the rest.
RACE 7 - Competitive. ACE OF LACE (5) deserved the heavy track with this grade at Albury starting favourite. Richards has been with her all along and comes to ride. Races forward and is a decent chance to repeat. SCULPTOR (4) resumes and he just missed at this track his only go on a heavy surface. Has trialled well at Canterbury and can come back further improved. THOUGHTFUL (3) looked a run short first up and is proven second up. Keeps Heywood and the blinkers are on for the first time. Prefers it wet and keep very safe. GREYGENTA (6) is Sculptor's stablemate and resumes with two trials under the saddle. Will have come on and she just missed here on debut on a heavy track. CLIMATE CHANGE (1) is a former Victorian switched to Canberra's premier stable on a 61-day return. She just missed a Werribee two back in this grade, and that's good form for this contest. Jury out a wet track, but they have kept her in so you'd presume she'll manage.
