Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track likely Good 4 and rail True

We start feature Gold Cup day with the maiden sprinters, and keen at the value on provincial five-year-old 3. Reckless Intention on debut. Has been given plenty of time since narrowly winning a home track trial last month when cruising through the line under a strong hold. Should be suited by the spacious track here.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by progressive filly 14. Smarter Than You who has hit the line well in two runs back, and winkers have been added. lightly raced and progressive home track filly 10. Lots Of Fiddees who attacked the line impressively second-up at Corowa when supported in the market, and a stronger rider takes over. Scone four-year old 1. Burdekin makes the long trip south off a solid closing return at home. Watch the betting closely on local three-year-old 5. Chowdah who debuts in blinkers behind two improving trials. Metro filly 11. Miss Hoff is a big watch resuming from the inside draw behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Reckless Intention each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Good betting race again, with plenty of chances. Victorian three-year-old 3. Mojo Music can strike third-up from an ideal trailing draw. Like the way he has found the line in two runs back either side of the border bridge, and gets a handy 2kg weight drop.

Dangers: Keep safe honest Victorian filly 5. Controversial Miss resuming behind a quiet trial. Will likely need the speed on over this journey, but only previous start at this track careered away to win her maiden by nearly eight lengths. Local five-year-old 1. Deep Space has been up for a long time; but given a little freshen after dropping out in deeper grade at Wagga. Gear changes have been made, although he likely needs it wetter. Included in exotics last-start BM 58 winner 8. Openhimup who is well in at the weights but drawn off the track; and 10. Mathrin who is fresh from a low draw.

How to play it: Mojo Music to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

The three-year-olds lock horns for one of the main support races, and it shapes nicely for smart and improving 6. Two Ya Got who tracked the speed and went home best in a strong CL1 second-up at only her third start. Form from that race is strong, with the third placegetter winning his next two impressively up to BM 66 level, and he drops to the limit weight.

Dangers: Canberra-trained 1. Kelvedon Road likes to settle back and charge home. Got going late in the Canberra Guineas 10 days ago, and is reasonably well treated carrying 2kg more. Victorian improver 3. Riddlero hit the line hard first-up carrying 60kg, and while this is significantly tougher, he drops 4.5kg, and won his only previous start at this track.

How to play it: Two Ya Got to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Keen on 4. Lord Tropicana off a career best win from well back at Dubbo after the rider cut loose a long way from home. Tougher here, but full of confidence now and loves firm ground.

Dangers: Honest seven-year-old 5. Outahand is well into his most consistent prep yet in 25 starts. Swept home for a dominant win at this track two runs back before fair to the line in deeper provincial company. Ex-chaser 2. Riding High crosses the border with two fair closing flat runs under his belt, and jumps up sharply here from the mile.

How to play it: Lord Tropicana to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Confident exciting four-year-old 2. Toretto is nowhere near the ceiling this prep, and can make it three wins from four. Produced a stunning finish from the back to unluckily just miss two runs back before again finishing on from well back to arrive in time at Goulburn. This journey is ideal, and she can settle a little bit closer here from a soft draw. Headed for Highway company, and is the one to beat.

Dangers: Canberra three-year-old 5. Manderboss makes his Albury debut after a stunning CL2 win at home when he charged down the middle late despite missing the start. Draws to get cover back in the field again, and will be running home again; while last-start maiden winner 10. Honour The Legend can run a cheeky race at big odds.

How to play it: Toretto to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in this restricted sprint headed by another Canberra visitor 1. Eurosay suited coming back a little in distance. Hasn't won for a while, but comes through superior formlines, and led for a long way at Goulburn before collared right on the line by the well fancied top selection in the previous race.

Dangers: Victorian 3. Chairman's Choice just missed third-up, but is better when ridden off the speed. Honest 6. Gironde; improving Victorian mare 9. Miss Verbier and local mare 15. The Wyvern are both capable of running into the placings.

How to play it: Eurosay each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

The big one of the day fits nicely for high class Canberra seven-year-old 5. Five Kingdom third-up. Hit the line impressively in the Canberra Mile nine weeks between runs before boxing on strong in the deeper Canberra Cup. Hits peak fitness now staying at this distance, and drawn to get a nice trail just off the speed.

Dangers: Underrated Randwick mare 3. Harmony Rose will enjoy getting back on firm footing third-up after dropping out in Group 3 company on a Heavy 9. Much better than that, and can be ridden a little quieter here. No bigger class drop than with Northern Hemisphere-bred three-year-old 6. Maurice's Medad who worked home in consecutive Group races before a fair effort in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington. Looking for this journey now, and on the limit weight. Still lightly raced five-year-old and defending champion 1. Entente will also relish a return to dry ground after campaigning on wetter tracks in much tougher grades. Backs up in five days after dropping out alarmingly in the Group 1 Ranvet.

How to play it: Five Kingdom to win and quinella 3 and 5
Odds and Evens: Odds

The traditional short-course dash crowns the carnival. Smart local mare 7. Boss Lady Rocks will be hard to beat, kept nice and fresh since a fighting close-up effort in BM 70 grade at The Valley. Has never finished further back than second here from four starts, and last time when on the fresh side bolted in by more than three lengths.

Dangers: Include Victorian four-year-old 2. Lunar Hero who has been a consistently good weight carrier in tougher grades. Big watch on smart provincial mare 6. Nicci's Song who resumes off a quiet trial, but has a strong fresh record; while 3. Proud Mia has early tactical speed, and drops sharply in weight.

How to play it: Boss Lady Rocks to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 6. TWO YA GOT
R5 2. TORETTO

BEST VALUE:
R6 1. EUROSAY