Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 6 and rail out 6m from 1200m to 350m into a cut/away & True the remainder:

The maiden sprinters get us underway on a track that should continue to slowly improve, and the market will have a big say. Lightly raced home track seven-year-old 1. Akka's Meteor is primed to break through fourth-up this prep, and 24 days between runs. Has more than enough tactical speed, and with an edge in race fitness, is suited under the set weight scale on soft ground.

Dangers: Watch the betting on stablemate 2. Apollo Mission who resumes with a claim for only his second start. Has trialled okay, and bred to thrive in soft ground. Keep safe 7. Where Is Ken who improved sharply at his second start, and drew to get good cover. Home tracker Magic Albert-sired 5. Just Like Liam is another first starter bred to handle the going, and won a recent trial.

How to play it: Akka's Meteor to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Back a little in distance, and it shapes nicely for progressive Victorian three-year-old 1. Commands Success who returns for a second prep behind a handy trial win, and winkers going on. Finds a modest affair, with the early favourite coming out, and he did win easily on debut over the border nearly six months ago. Looks well treated under 58kg after the jockey's claim.

Dangers: Home tracker 3. Enveeo at his third start and 25 days between runs; and improving three-year-old 6. Tablet second-up; can battle it out for the quinella spot.

How to play it: Commands Success to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tricky dash over the short course, with a few first starters on show, but settled on one deep into the current prep. Honest mare 6. Gray's Reward was well backed here 10 days before doing next to nothing, but previous form is sound enough for this moderate affair, and blinkers back on is key.

Dangers: Debutant 1. Projeto by Master Of Design is the naturally big threat making the short trip from Wodonga. Has been taken along very quietly since destroying his rivals in a trial over the border last December, although has drawn wide. Include 7. Miss Helmut third-up; 9. Snipperty Vixen after a fair debut here; and Winning Rupert filly 10. Winnie on debut behind a quiet trial; in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Gray's Reward each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Keen on progressive three-year-old 3. Chicane who has placed in his last two here, both times roaring home from well back. Steps up in trip at the right time, and can settle a bit closer in the run from a softer draw.

Dangers: Improving local 1. Felix Pereon was very good from the back first-up here off a long break when charging home under a big weight. Will likely have to go a long way back again from the draw, but with improved fitness and the extra trip, he's a serious threat. Keep safe 2. Ready For Impact at big odds whose debut run in a handy maiden was okay; while home tracker 7. Bundy Chaser is also well in the mix third-up off a long break.

How to play it: Chicane to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Good quality and depth in this middle distance affair. No reason promising local four-year-old 2. Sacred Oath can't go back-to-back after sweeping home for an impressive first-up win off a 23-week break. Steps up a level here over 100m further from a soft draw, and bred to eat up rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Keep safe stablemate of the top selection 1. Silverdale Chief who has found the line in four runs this prep through some strong formlines, finishing only two lengths from Sister Moon who won the Highway at Rosehill on Saturday. Capable four-year-old 4. Star Buyer is another one who likes to settle back and attack the line, and comes through that same race behind Sister Moon; while local mare 5. Rapid Ruby deep into her prep; and 6. Region Time from a softer draw; are both knock-out chances.

How to play it: Sacred Oath to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Back to the short course, and this stacks up beautifully for underrated mare 5. Miss Elsie May third-up. Struggled late resuming in heavy ground against tougher opposition before sticking on well in a mucher deeper CL3 17 days ago. Up sharply in weight, but this is weak.

Dangers: Back in trip, local 6. Keith will also find this a lot easier than a CL3 here 10 days ago when dropping right out of play. Another one trained on the track, 7. Galbalan finds a thinner race four weeks between runs; while 1. Crimosa heads the rest.

How to play it: Miss Elsie May to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The restricted sprinters bring us home, and honest Wodonga five-year-old 3. Defence Force can strike first-up. Normally comes to hand early in the prep, draws to get a trail, and loves wet ground.

Dangers: Improving 2. Crimson Rock can peak third-up over more ground at huge odds coming through that same Wagga race as the previous on top selection. Watch the betting on resuming local 1. Swagger, who hasn't publicly trialled, but won two from six when fresh and big weight has been off-set by the booking of a 4kg claimer; while 7. Ima Guru fifth-up; 8. Nats Enough third-up; and 9. Zooming Zebra deep into her prep; can all figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Defence Force each way
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R1 1. AKKA'S METEOR
R6 5. MISS ELSIE MAY

BEST VALUE:
R4 3. CHICANE

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