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Albany Preview, 8th Feb
West Australian Racing
PerthTurfTalk
3,054 posts
R1. Ladies Day Sat 7th March Black & White Maiden - Perth Turf Talk
A super competitive meeting gets under way with a tricky maiden where over half the field have a chance of winning. Esperance trainer Helen Harding is bringing a team of horses across to Albany today and we think she can get off to a perfect start with (5) JUNGLE JAGUAR, who caught the eye when finishing off well first-up over 1100m at Esperance 24/01. Should enjoy a lovely run in transit from an inner barrier draw and jockey Daniel Staeck is really starting to hit form in his comeback to race riding. (12) AQUA TORIO comes out next best due to her inside barrier draw and her adjusted weight of 54kg. Squeezed out at a crucial stage when resuming from a spell at Albany 29/01, but shouldn't encounter the same problem with the cutaway rail in play here. (1) THE EXPRESS was given every possible chance in a similar assignment to this at Albany 29/01, but couldn't quite get the job done. The wide barrier draw hinders his winning chances here, and we have thrown first starter (9) TEN GRAND WALKING into the mix after an encouraging Albany 29/01 trial. Look out for him running on well in the straight.
5. JUNGLE JAGUAR - 12. AQUA TORIO - 1. THE EXPRESS
SUGGESTED BET - 5. JUNGLE JAGUAR $25 x $25
A super competitive meeting gets under way with a tricky maiden where over half the field have a chance of winning. Esperance trainer Helen Harding is bringing a team of horses across to Albany today and we think she can get off to a perfect start with (5) JUNGLE JAGUAR, who caught the eye when finishing off well first-up over 1100m at Esperance 24/01. Should enjoy a lovely run in transit from an inner barrier draw and jockey Daniel Staeck is really starting to hit form in his comeback to race riding. (12) AQUA TORIO comes out next best due to her inside barrier draw and her adjusted weight of 54kg. Squeezed out at a crucial stage when resuming from a spell at Albany 29/01, but shouldn't encounter the same problem with the cutaway rail in play here. (1) THE EXPRESS was given every possible chance in a similar assignment to this at Albany 29/01, but couldn't quite get the job done. The wide barrier draw hinders his winning chances here, and we have thrown first starter (9) TEN GRAND WALKING into the mix after an encouraging Albany 29/01 trial. Look out for him running on well in the straight.
5. JUNGLE JAGUAR - 12. AQUA TORIO - 1. THE EXPRESS
SUGGESTED BET - 5. JUNGLE JAGUAR $25 x $25
Comments
Another maiden with a handful of winning chances here but we think today could be the day for the Steve Wolfe-trained (1) ENCOSTA LAS VEGAS, who was desperately unlucky when unable to secure clear running in the straight second-up over 1400m at Esperance 24/01. Gives us the impression he will relish stepping up to the mile and jockey Peter Hall was in top form when riding a double here 10 days ago. (2) LIGHTNING POINT is on the quick turnaround when an even third stepping up in distance at his second start at Albany 29/01. He is bred to appreciate the mile and Daniel Staeck will be wiser for having ridden him last start. Esperance-based (6) CAROB hasn't done a lot wrong in the Bay of Isles of late and has to warrant consideration from the handy barrier draw. (8) TOPPED UP GIRL has been thereabouts in similar assignments to this in recent weeks and we expect her to feature prominently again.
1. ENCOSTA LAS VEGAS - 2. LIGHTNING POINT (NZ) - 6. CAROB
SUGGESTED BET - 1. ENCOSTA LAS VEGAS $25 x $25
On weights and measures this looks set up for (4) BACKHOUSE STREET to turn the tables on (1) INSURGENCY, having chased the home the evergreen 10-year-old at his past two outings. 31 days between runs is a slight concern for (4) BACKHOUSE STREET, but he has a substantial weight turnaround on the topweight and jockey Shaun McGruddy can ride him to his usual pattern with noted pacemaker (3) ALVARES engaged. (1) INSURGENCY won three straight races in the Great Southern prior to finishing second in a feature 2000m event at Mt Barker 18/01. Has to concede a fair bit of weight to his main rivals but we still expect him to stretch their necks. (3) ALVARES looks better placed here dropping 3.5kg after leading and fading late at Ascot last Saturday. Is rock-hard fit and will give his backers a run for their money, and we're expecting an improved showing from (6) JETSON EXPRESS, who drops a significant 6.5kg on his latest Albany 29/01 outing.
4. BACKHOUSE STREET - 1. INSURGENCY - 3. ALVARES (NZ)
SUGGESTED BET - 4. BACKHOUSE STREET $30
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These ratings 70-plus sprints are tough to wrap your head around and this is no exception. We eventually decided to go with the in-form, race-fit (5) CATZILLA who won in this company at Albany 29/01 and should enjoy the run of the race with only 55.5kg on her back. Has taken some time to hit her straps this campaign but she tends to hold form well, and the Neil Lee-trained mare may be sent out over the odds in this competitive event. We got a good squiz at (2) GALILETTO at the Albany 29/01 trials and he looked in good nick, but he has had his share of issues over the years and he may be a little susceptible first-up with 61kg here. (3) TIGER PETE has been racing below his best but clocked a pretty sharp last 600m time against some fair horses at Ascot last Saturday, and he did win in this region with 62kg on his back four starts ago. (4) CATLANTIC is always a chance in these races, but he hasn't raced for 44 days and we have rated a few others slightly above him.
5. CATZILLA - 2. GALILETTO - 3. TIGER PETE
SUGGESTED BET - 5. CATZILLA $20 x $20
One win in 16 starts isn't usually a profile that fills you with a great deal of confidence, but surely today is the day for the Steve Wolfe-trained (7) PINS PERHAPS after placing in similar events to this at her past two outings. Drawn well and meets (3) CANNA LILY 1.5kg better after being beaten a nose at Albany 29/01, with jockey Ryan Hill eager to make amends after dropping the whip 100m from the finish line last start. It's hard tipping against smart mare (3) CANNA LILY, but she gets up to 57kg here and will have to push forward early from the awkward barrier. (4) STAR OF CASSY has been a costly mare to follow this campaign but she turned in her best effort yet at Albany 29/01, flashing late for third in this grade. An inner barrier draw should see her ridden a bit closer to the leaders here, and (2) TEE PEE CAT has to rate highly but her winning chances appears to be hindered stepping up to the mile having not raced in 43 days.
7. PINS PERHAPS (NZ) - 3. CANNA LILY - 4. STAR OF CASSY
SUGGESTED BET - 7. PINS PERHAPS (NZ) $20 x $20
We are big fans of stylish chestnut (1) OUR ROYAL DEMON and he looks ready to return to winning form after running on well for fourth behind Bindaree Lady here 10 days ago. That was his first run in 63 days and that hit-out will have topped him off nicely for this. (7) SCAMPIN ticks a lot of boxes, especially with a 4kg pull in the weights on the topweight, but she is not going to get it all her own way from the awkward barrier draw and will need a slice of luck in running. (11) EMPRESS OF IRELAND looked like causing a major upset at Albany 29/01 but was collared late by quality filly Bindaree Lady. Jason Whiting should have her well positioned in running, and the Neil Less stable is in such good form that it would be foolish to leave out (12) BIG BOTH WAYS, who turned in her best run for a while last start and gets in with only 52.5kg.
1. OUR ROYAL DEMON - 7. SCAMPIN - 11. EMPRESS OF IRELAND
SUGGESTED BET - 1. OUR ROYAL DEMON $40
Another horse doesn't fit the perfect profile for an on-top selection is (7) SLOANNES PONY, but we're going to do it anyway. Hard to ignore his fast-finishing second behind Korolenko in this grade here 10 days ago, when putting in the big strides late to close within a 3/4-length of the winner, and he won't have to waste any petrol in running from an inside barrier draw. (5) ANCIENT SPELL looks really well positioned in this company with only 57.5kg and his two runs back from a spell have been a bit better than they read on paper. He looks just about ready to hit his straps. (11) PRISONER OF WAR produced a big effort to finish third at Narrogin 26/01 after racing three and four-deep without cover throughout. If he can hit that rating again here he will take some beating, and (4) WEEVILS MENS smoked his rivals to win his maiden at Albany 29/01 and the way he hit the line on that occasion suggests he must be thrown into the mix.
7. SLOANNES PONY - 5. ANCIENT SPELL - 11. PRISONER OF WAR
SUGGESTED BET - 7. SLOANNES PONY $25 x $25
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