Trots

Darren Clayton’s Albion Park Preview

Posted on | Posted by Darren Clayton

Race 1

RONALDO (2) was impressive last week in a mid-week event when pressing on and working through a sizzling 54.6 opening half and had the temerity to keep running and fight off the challengers. He can get to the front and extend his current record of 2 for 2 here at The Creek. ROCKIN WITH ELVIS (1) should enjoy the perfect trip on the back of his stablemate and stalking the speed will get his chance to turn over Ronaldo. CRIME WRITER (10) was unable to capitalise on what looked ideal conditions last week when running the winner to a neck after settling rearward. He faces another tough gate chasing an AP victory. OBI ONE (3) broke his duck on this deck four runs back and has since won again but might need to do it tough in the early stages.

Selections: 2-1-10-3

Suggested Bet: RONALDO (2) to win

Race 2

AMORE VITA (11) was brilliant rounding up a small field first up two starts back, her acceleration highlighted by how she put them away. Clinical in taking them all the way in the Redcliffe Oaks, she will appreciate a return to the big deck. STENO (3) resumes from a spell here off the back of a slick Menangle trial where she ran some impressive fractions. First up in such a big contest certainly poses some questions that the gate can help her answer. NOT TO BE DENIED (1) is another NSW trained filly first up in Qld and lands the perfect gate to stalk the speed and be ready to issue some closing power. COVER GIRL (9) has won two races here in Qld but also bee expected to win the other three she contested when placed. Some factors will need to be in her favour.

Selections: 11-3-1-9

Suggested Bet: AMORE VITA (11) to win

Race 3

LEAP TO FAME (3) went into the NSW Derby two starts back as a $1.70 fav and duly saluted with a dominant victory. With around the $1.50 mark still available for this Derby, it looks mighty enticing- off the back of what was a super effort in the Rising Sun for 3rd behind the star Ladies In Red. DANGERZONE (1) was good last week in a race that never suited when forced to make the move as My Ultimate Ronnie controlled it. 2 for 2 at the 2138m, he is 5 from 5 when setting the speed. He gets his chance to try to turn the favourite over. CANTFINDABETTORMAN (2) held on for a narrow victory here last week when setting the speed out in front. He might just try to look for space in the trail. TEDDY DISCO (4) was brave in a tough Redcliffe Derby effort when holding 3rd. Given a nice trial to keep up to the mark, his position will be key to his chances.

Selections: 3-1-2-4

Suggested Bet: LEAP TO FAME (3) to win

Race 4

TOUGH MONARCH (6) is a multiple G1 winner that has a brilliant record from behind the start car, winning 30 of his 35 appearances. Untried at the mobile mile on this deck, he returned with a sharp win at Menangle last week, his class a huge asset. GLOBAL FLIGHT (9) is 4 from 5 since arriving in Qld and it was only an error that prevented that from possibly being a perfect 5. Perfectly rated in front in the DJA Final last week, he looks like he can follow speed and find space at the right time. CREDIT MASTER (8) will be relying on a rub of the green at some stage form this alley where he is first up from a spell. With a pair of handy trials, he is up to it if the luck arrives. WATTS UP MAJESTIC (4) went back to Sydney for a G1 victory and heads back to Qld with some confidence after a mixed campaign. 10 of his 11 victories are from the mobile.

Selections: 6-9-8-4

Suggested Bet: TOUGH MONARCH (6) to win

Race 5

BEYOND DELIGHT (6) was huge last week in the Rising Sun, he was squeezed early, carried a flat tyre for a long way and then never got any clear space and was still making late metres in chasing. Fresh in that contest from a last start G1 Menangle win, the booking of Mark Pitt looks a big plus. BIG WHEELS (4) never found any clear space back in the pack as Ladies In Red dominated in the Rising Sun. Buried from inside the second line in the Qld Sun, he was attacking the line with power when 2nd to Kashed Up. It would be no surprise to see him first to the poles. CAPTAIN CRUSADER (9) held on for 3rd in the Redcliffe Cup behind Sebs Choice after gaining the peg run. Gate 5 put him in no-mans-land in the Rising Sun last week and he can chime in for a minor at big odds. KASHED UP (10) is putting his best forward at the right time, his effort last week in the Rising Sun full of merit when 4th. The gate gives him no favours at all.

Selections: 6-4-9-10

Suggested Bet: BEYOND DELIGHT (6) to win

Race 6

MAAJIDA (2) was first up from a spell in the Fleur De Lil last week, was soon in front and Nathan Jack controlled the tempo perfectly, allowed to walk a 32.4 second split. That made it near impossible for the chasing pack. Moving into gate 1 with no emergency, the winner of 24 from 42 and over $600,000 in stakes should be too slippery. JERADAS DELIGHT (11) was completely bereft of luck here last week, soon buried four back and then The Honey Queen broke in front of her. Sectionally superb, she will need to overcome the same gate she copped in this race last year to repeat. YARRAMAN BELLA (8) was game last week when allowed to sit at the wheel of Maajida and fought hard in holding on for 3rd. She will get the cold sit this week, with the pegs the perfect place behind the long odds-on favourite. MOMENTSLIKETHESE (6) tried to make some closing ground last week from the 1×1 and ran some sharp closing splits wider off the track.

Selections: 2-11-8-6

Suggested Bet: Exotics 2 / 6-8-9-11

Race 7

FIRE FOX (1) was in front and trying to repel the challengers when grabbed in the closing stages last start by Spirit Of St Louis. That followed a 4m margin behind Jilliby Kung Fu when parked in a 53.2 closing half. The gate presents all the favours. MACH DA VINCI (8) was game in the Mr Feelgood, pressing on to the front at the 1300m but running out of steam. The map provides the perfect opportunity to stalk the speed. AGS WHITE SOCKS (9) will need to deliver here to keep his Blacks A Fake aspirations alive. He followed the pegs here last week when 8m from Triple Eight and this does not look easy. ROCKIN MARTY (5) somehow misses a Sunshine Sprint berth in a race where he flashed home last year to be just a head away. A big winner off the speed here two starts back, he was again solid when runner-up to Triple Eight.

Selections: 1-8-9-5

Suggested Bet: FIRE FOX (1) to win

Race 8

MACH SHARD (9) had been going super leading into last week’s Mr Feelgood and a flip of the coin decision in the run proved the difference- he went inside and found traffic, Triple Eight went outside off his back and won the race. In a wide-open Sunshine Sprint, he looks the value play. TRIPLE EIGHT (5) exploded down the stretch last week to claim a scintillating victory. With tempo again, he can be working to the outside looking for the slingshot. BETTER ECLIPSE (4) was huge in defeat last week chasing Ladies In Red and there is a distinct chance that if the runs are reversed so, is the result. Mapping is the concern, but he did place in the Miracle Mile and Greg Sugars taking this steer must be given some credence. SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (2) was being talked as the best horse in Australasia last week, yet here he is, drifting from his opening quote from gate 2 and questions being asked if he is up to this task.

Selections: 9-5-4-2

Suggested Bet: MACH SHARD (9) each-way

Race 9

JEWEL MELODY (2) fired off the arm to take control in the Prelude and was never in danger with 14m to spare over 2nd with a further 17m back to 3rd. Meeting the same field from basically the same barriers, its hard to see how the result is any different. MY ULTIMATE JACKO (8) will strip fitter from last Friday’s warm up where he was out and chasing and picked up good closing ground for 2nd. A similar trip looks set to return a similar outcome. MAYWYNS LA NINA (1) held on for 3rd in the Prelude from this same gate and with the same trip will again be trying to hold onto some minor money. MULLUM RUBY (4) secured the Breeders Classic two runs back and will take benefit from her run last week to prepare and looks to have the most upside of the chasing pack.

Selections: 2-8-1-4

Suggested Bet: Exotics 2 / 8 / 1-3-4-7

Race 10

WINONA WRITER (9) found Triple Four too slippery two runs back but chased hard as the best of the rest. Not much was in her favour from back in the pack last time and with a smart career record will be searching for the right trip. GOOD AS IT GETS (4) chased home to grab 3rd behind One Big Shew three runs back and followed that with a gritty effort when working. The 2138m is in his favour and he can possie up near the action. HEZ DUSTY (1) may not have the speed to keep them wide and will need to take the trail on the right runner to be effective in the closing stages. If he spots the gap in time, he is up to taking this. LADY AVANA (2) darted through along the passing lane last week, running Cantfindabettorman to a neck. Mapping is the concern to utilise her closing power.

Selections: 9-4-1-2

Suggested Bet: WINONA WRITER (9) to win

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