Latest News

By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday's Albury meeting. Selections based on a soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

7. Too Sharp wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape last start at Moruya, but he ran well into third. Further, he clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting, and there was a big gap to fourth to confirm the race quality. The three-year-old receives a more positive race setup here where he can settle closer and the big track suits. Additionally, he has a strong ratings profile relative to his rivals and expect him to be savaging the line.

Dangers: 4. Indian Soldier can improve with a more economical map and add Nutbush Ambush, who is a real trier. Market watch on debutante 11. Shall We Play, who has trialled well enough and receives a senior rider for race day.

How to play it: Too Sharp WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Too Sharp runs third at Moruya on March 5

5. Festivus has improved each run this preparation and was brave in defeat last start at Bendigo. The four-year-old was rising sharply in distance and was 34 days between runs. Further, he led at a fast tempo, fought on gallantly to hold second, and beat the rest easily. That effort will have him at optimal fitness, and he maps to have complete control of the pace in this event. Expect him to take some catching.

Dangers: 1. Never Again had factors against last start at Pakenham and was 41 days between runs in a stronger grade. He must carry a hefty weight but brings string form lines to this assignment and can rate to win. 4. Perfect Illusion, who is rock-hard fit, will benefit from racing at his home track and revels in testing conditions. 8. Foxtrot Bravo is ticking over ok and was honest last start. The six-year-old will be thereabouts again.

How to play it: Festivus WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

1. Bundeena has improved this prep and went to a new level last start at Hawkesbury producing a career peak figure. The three-year-old was well fancied late in the trade $2.9-$2.5 and bolted in by 4.5 lengths. Moreover, he ran a slick overall time, clocked one of the fastest final 600m splits of the meeting and went through the line full of energy. His ratings/sectional profile suggests he can step off that performance again, and he brings the best last-start figure. He must contend with a tricky draw but looks well placed here.

Dangers: 4. Tapa Capall lost momentum at a key stage when first-up and Sandown Lakeside, but to his credit, he picked himself up and closed off well. He ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting, and key indicators suggest he can peak next start off that performance. The gelding has a tactical map advantage over his main rival and receives a senior rider in Beau Mertens. Additionally, he is proven on the rain-affected ground with a strong win on heavy ground last campaign. 7. Diesel returns as a gelding, and although he needs to improve from a ratings perspective, he is a real trier and will be hitting the line. 2. Altrove has a solid record and will roll forward.

How to play it: Bundeena WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Bundeena wins last start at Hawkesbury on March 4

2. Sungblue got too far back first-up at Newcastle over an unsuitable distance but ran on well, and his final few bounds were strong. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and the winner has since placed at the metropolitan level. He receives a significant barrier change, allowing him to settle closer up in distance. Additionally, all his peak figures have come on rain-affected ground and expect him to run boldly.

Dangers: 10. Rapid Ruby is a knockout chance who ran hidden closing sectionals last start at Wagga after having too much to do. She will relish the rise in distance and is set to peak third-up. 4. Cliff House resumed 18 days ago at Wagga, and he powered home from the rear of the field. He is up and grade and has a tricky map but undoubtedly can overcome those factors. Forget 7. Sizzling Cat's last start and add 6. Enjolras to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Sungblue WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Sungblue's last start at Newcastle on March 9

3. Wondereach started a well-fancied $1.70 favourite on debut at Newcastle, and although racing greenly, he kept finding to score. He resumes here after two solid trials, and drawing barrier one is a plus allowing him to follow the rail. Further, he has natural gate speed and will take some catching.

Dangers: Market watch on 5. Imasuperstar who has solid form lines and will be suited back to the specialist distance. Add 7. Teetotal and 10. Galbalan to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Wondereach WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Wondereach wins a trial at Kembla Grange on March 6

11. Kaurava had factors against first-up at Benella and wasn't suited to the tight turning track. The four-year-old got too far back in the run but built through her gears late and went through the line full of energy running the fastest closing splits of the meeting. She will be fitter for that effort; the rise in distance onto a bigger track is ideal, and she receives a senior rider. The Craig Weeding galloper represents value and is a knockout chance. Each-way.

Dangers: Market watch 13. Bluegrass Bijoux who can be forgiven for her last start and has trialled well between runs. 12. Zoe Shark will roll forward and can give a sight. 5. Catalina Black Cat will be fitter and can improve second-up.

How to play it: Kaurava E/W ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

1. Mankayan profiles well for this event, and his ratings/sectional profile suggests he's ready to peak. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace trained galloper started the $3 favourite in the Wangaratta Cup (2000m) last start, and he hit the line hard to run a place. The clock backed up his late visual strength, and third-up last campaign, he produced one of his career peak figures that aligns well for this assignment. The gelding drops 2.5kg, is proven on the rain-affected ground, and the big track will allow him to build through his gears.

Dangers: 8. Summerbeel has been racing well this prep and was honest six days ago at Moonee Valley. The mare maps to have the perfect run throughout transit, and she brings a strong record to this event. 4. Beltoro will have to step out to 2000m for the first time, but he is rock-hard fit, brings competitive ratings, and gets his chance from the kind draw. 13. The Guru is a knockout chance who ran well last start at Warwick Farm. He got too far back and had to make a long-wide sustained run but ran on strongly in a high-rating race. 7. Riverina Cyclone has been ticking over well, and Blake Shinn rides for the first time.

How to play it: Mankayan WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

2. Magnetic is in career-best form and did it on both ends last start running a career peak figure. The gelding showed early speed and ran his rival's ragged running, sustained sectionals. He has a fantastic record, is proven at the track and relishes rain-affected ground. Additionally, he is undefeated with apprentice Jett Stanley riding, who will roll forward and expect him to be hard to run down. Each-way.

Dangers: Forgive 8. Sparring's last start at Moonee Valley, where he was wide without cover, always working out on a limb. He won well before that effort and repeating that performance will make him hard to beat. He has the perfect map and can sprint. Market watch 3. Way To The Stars resumes without an official public trial and is undefeated first-up. Add 12. Super Thief and 1. Southern Lad to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Magnetic E/W ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Magnetic wins at Albury on February 25

Best Bet: Race 3 # 1 - Bundeena

Next Best: Race 7 # 1 - Mankayan

Best Value: Race 6 # 11 - Kaurava

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Albury meeting