Races

Michael Heaton’s Thursday Albany Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

COSMIC GEM steps to 1500m which will be his first start beyond 1230m but he still looks hard to beat. He chased home So Much Serenity (who was then beaten a neck by Swingman on a Saturday) in a Bunbury Maiden 2 starts back then gapped the third-placed horse by more than 3L when second to Buderm last week. He’s now off 7 days, drawn well and finds an easier field so this looks his best chance yet. BIT TIRED ACTUALLY heads to Albany as Brandon Fiore’s sole runner as he tries to emulate last week’s result with Buderim. She’ll find this a lot easier than recent assignments and can settle closer. HOPE TO ADMIRE looks better suited back to 1500m and was eye-catching in stronger races both 2 and 3 starts back. TASMAN JEWEL has improved under the care of Indi Weinert but didn’t look as effective leading last time out.

Numbers: 4-9-1-7

Suggested Bet – COSMIC GEM WIN

RACE 2

TRAILER TRUCK resumes off the back of 2 trials where he was ridden colder and found the line quite well. 1100m might be on the short side for him but if he can replicate either of his first two efforts last preparation when 3L 4th to Statewide and then 2L 5th to Dominatus (now stakes-placed) and beating home horses like Tahni Talk and Final Flush, he should be hard to hold out. NEXT DESTINATION flashed home first up at Pinjarra and was only plain second up but now gets the addition of blinkers and far easier opposition. Some of her efforts to date have been better than what reads on paper. AGENT REMINGTON led throughout in a recent trial win and has drawn well for his debut. He has options from his inside draw and naturally has less convictions than a lot of his rivals. GOD’S WRATH is a long-time maiden but has been solid lately and will ride the speed.

Numbers: 6-10-5-1

Suggested Bet – TRAILER TRUCK WIN

RACE 3

KAMAKAZI SHOOTER doesn’t win out of turn (2 from 27) but has placed on a further 13 occasions and looks really well placed dropping back into a C2. He’s a previous track/grade/distance winner with only 0.5kg less, has raced in higher grade at his past 4 starts (including finishing third in a Graduation at Ascot) and should land in a nice spot just off the pace for Tash Faithfull in a race with good top-end speed. REGGIO CALABRIA has really turned the corner over the past 6 weeks and looks better suited dropping back to 1000m. Hard to knock the way he’s going. BRAVE APACHE has been freshened since his last start and was fairly consistent beforehand but has drawn awkwardly here with speed inside of him. BRAZEN BID has steadily improved into his campaign and last start was his best performance for some time. He’s looking to break a long winning drought but should bounce on-speed for Lucy Fiore.

Numbers: 2-1-3-4

Suggested Bet – KAMAKAZI SHOOTER WIN

RACE 4

SIR DREAMALOT resumes without a trial but appears likely to get a nice setup first up. First up last preparation the former Listed Supremacy Stakes winner ran fifth to the progressive Immortal Bliss in the Ron Sayers Memorial Sprint, 17 of his 19 career starts have been at Saturday level and he could end up tagging the back of Oxbridge in running with a 9kg pull on him. OXBRIDGE will just about have to set a weight-carrying record with 66kg AFTER the claim but he’s also impossible to ignore at Albany. He’s a dead-set track/distance specialist, won with 64kg at his last start 8 weeks ago and should lead again. HEAD’EM was never in the hunt last week but reeled off some sharp sectionals at his previous outings and drops 4kg as well as gaining senior rider Lucy Fiore in the saddle after being ridden by claiming apprentices at his past 3 starts. ROYAL ACCOLADE brings alternate form from Esperance and is another who drops a stack in weight after some fast-finishing recent efforts.

Numbers: 2-1-6-7

Suggested Bet – SIR DREAMALOT WIN

RACE 5

Like Alan Smith’s whole stable, MAKIN PROPHETS is flying at the moment and it looks a luxury for him to be able to stay in the same grade with 58kg after winning by at least a length in similar company at his past 2 outings. Smith is striking at 24% this season and 4 of his past 5 runners have won. Wild scenes. KAMIKAZE FIGHTER was a huge winner at this track/distance 2 starts ago then had genuine excuses last time out. He concedes a 0.5kg negative weight swing to Makin Prophets for a 4L beaten margin but should have finished closer to him and now gets a senior rider aboard. WAYNE THE PAIN hit the line as well as anything in the same race and gets a 1kg swing on Makin Prophets in his favour. He hasn’t run a bad race all prep and will be finishing strongly again. CAPRICIOUS RULER backs up off 7 days (her last win was off 8 days) and she looks better suited coming back to 1500m but it looks a sticky map to overcome from the outside gate if Looks and Cocoon Bay kick up inside of her.

Numbers: 2-7-4-5

Suggested Bet – MAKIN PROPHETS WIN

RACE 6

SHAULA hasn’t set the world on fire this campaign by any means but he looks beautifully placed here. His last 7 starts have been in either metro C3 or C5 grade (beaten only 2L at Ascot last start), he now drops back into a country C2 whilst also dropping back to the more suitable 1600m and reuniting with Lucy Fiore who got the best out of him last preparation. Great race for him. WINNING SHUFFLE is 39 days between runs which isn’t ideal but his recent formlines read up well. A solid fourth to subsequent Lex Piper Stakes winner The Crimson Pirate last start and form around horses like Elegant Indi and Mangifera earlier in the campaign is more than good enough for this. He has the option to either box seat or kick up and lead from his inside draw. GINGERS SISTER has been sectionally quite good at her last 2 starts and looks much better suited dropping back into a C2 and stepping to 1600m. She should be the one finishing strongest late. GREAT DEAL copped a squeeze on jumping last start and settled a lot further back than anticipated as a result but he should be able to roll forward and ride the speed for Nottle here.

Numbers: 3-4-11-2

Suggested Bet – SHAULA WIN

RACE 7 

HEZANGELIC deserves to win one. He’s been a model of consistency all campaign, has been narrowly beaten by just some sharp types of late and now drops 1kg after the claim despite dropping from a metro 60+ to a country 58+. He should bounce straight to the top and give a big sight. GOD HAS DRIFTED backs up off 7 days after a smart win last week but all of his form is over 1230m and he now drops back to 1100m from a sticky draw. Conversely INSYDE SUCCESS comes from the same race but is better suited back to 1100m and he gets a 2kg weight swing on God Has Drifted in his favour. TOP OF THE POPS also comes from the same race when missing the start and rattling home in an eye-catching second but he’s never won below 1200m and likely gets back again.

Numbers: 2-1-6-8

Suggested Bet – HEZANGELIC WIN

Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2,5,6,7,9

2,4,5,6,7

3,4,11

1,2,6

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