Races

Michael Heaton’s Sunday Albany Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

COSMIC GEM has been a beaten favourite at his past 2 starts but gets another chance. He was 1230m up to 1500m for the first time last start and wasn’t able to hold off Bit Tired Actually over the final stages but he gapped the third-placed horse by 4L and can roll to the top here. BLUE LUPIN has hit the line very well at his first 2 outings for Rob Gulberti and will find this company a lot easier. GOD’LL GETYA has been solid at his first 2 runs back and looks the map horse parked just off the speed. TASMAN JEWEL has continued to improve under the care of Indi Weinert.

Numbers: 5-4-3-7

Suggested Bet – COSMIC GEM WIN

RACE 2

Tough race. LEAFICE has an awkward draw to overcome but she has been around the mark in some better races this preparation and looks better suited dropping back to 1200m. If she’s able to land outside the leader or even three-wide with cover she can play a part. HEAPS TRUE AYE was good first-up, no trial and now gets blinkers for the first time. She looks the likely leader. BRAVE DRAGON races first-up, no trial and was underwhelming last preparation but showed more than enough at his previous campaign. ETERNALLY YOURS resumes and will find this a lot easier than the hot midweek race he contested on debut last prep.

Numbers: 9-10-4-6

Suggested Bet – LEAFICE WIN

RACE 3

KNOCKONEBACK doesn’t win out of turn but this is the most suitable race he’s found for a long time. His last 11 starts have been in higher grade which includes finishing midfield when <5L off All Grunt in a Saturday Graduation and being only 4L off Outspoken Lad in an Esperance Cup. WIN TO RETIRE ran a narrow second to Lordgivemestrength at this track/grade/distance 2 starts back and gets 1kg on him for it. LORDGIVEMESTRENGTH is better suited back up to 1900m and Luke Campbell won aboard him at his second last outing. BELLA VIOLETTA is only a C1 mare but she has been racing out of her weight division lately and is better suited here.

Numbers: 3-10-6-8

Suggested Bet – KNOCKONE BACK WIN

RACE 4

HEZANGELIC has been a model of consistency all preparation and it took the in-form God Has Drifted to run him down last start. He now drops back to 1000m, looks the likely leader again and God Has Drifted isn’t in this so he’s the one they’ll have to catch. MISTER RAFFLES has always shown ability and he trialled up super for new trainer Indi Weinert last week when finishing third to BYD Quokka-bound duo Smooth Chino and Rope Them In. PRINCE resumes from a freshen up and a repeat of any of his efforts prior to his last start would see him go well. NICCY’S AFFAIR placed over 1920m last prep but bolted in over 1000m second-up last week so she’s clearly returned in career-best form.

Numbers: 2-7-1-9

Suggested Bet – HEZANGELIC WIN

RACE 5

TESTY PHAROAH has to lump 61kg first up but he looks a classy 3YO and his form jumps off the page. He won his first 2 starts (including an Ascot 3YO 0MWLY) before being beaten only 2L by King Of Light/Snitzalatte/Mardusa in a Belgravia Stakes at this distance and he now kicks off his campaign in an Albany C2. SEASTIC looks the likely leader and the danger. She’s racing well and now gets blinkers for the first time. REGGIO CALABRIA has been in great form over the past 2 months and now reunites with Jefferson Tsang who rode him to his 2 wins earlier this prep. CAPRICIOUS RULER drops in grade from her past 4 starts but has a tough map to overcome.

Numbers: 2-9-1-3

Suggested Bet – TESY PHAROAH WIN

RACE 6 

WINEALOCKSUMWHERE resumes with 61kg but he’s a beast for this region. He was simply enormous when finishing third in the Fitzpatrick Plate after getting caught off the track from barrier 15 before bolting in the Mount Barker Sprint in style. He’s won 4 of his 6 starts at Albany and has the speed to work across to the breeze. HEAD’EM can produce sharp late splits and is 2 from 2 with Lucy Fiore aboard. LITTLE SILVER is another classy type resuming and trialled up well ahead of his return. PLAYING RIO was beaten a furlong when the tongue tie went on last start but it comes straight off now. If you rule a line through the effort he’s incredibly well weighted meeting Wineaclocksumere 6kg better for finishing only 1L and 2.5L off him at their past 2 encounters.

Numbers: 2-7-1-5

Suggested Bet – WINEACLOCKSUMWHERE

RACE 7

Great edition of the 2026 Albany Cup. ROCKING SOCIETY looks extremely well placed having finished fourth in the Perth Cup (94+ with an average field rating of 93), second in the Detonator Stakes (avg. 81), 1.4L fifth in the Bunbury Cup (avg. 80) and third in the Pinjarra Cup (avg. 81). He’s now drawn barrier one in a 72+ event with an average field rating of 74 and should be hard to beat. TRUE PLAYER is coming out of easier racing but is a progressive staying type who is capable of reeling off big late figures. He’ll have admirers. RIVER RUBICON is a classy type and was only a head away from Rocking Society in the Pinjarra Cup last start. DEADLY AND FAST is the local hope who is absolutely flying and he drops 5.5kg from his last-start win.

Numbers: 2-5-1-7

Suggested Bet – ROCKING SOCIETY WIN

RACE 8

EXTREME LOVE deserves to win one. She’s finished top four at her past 6 starts, including 2 placings at Saturday Graduation level last preparation, and she should ride the speed here and fight out the finish. FIGHT IN FLIGHT flew home to miss by a head at this track/grade/distance last start and will be doing her best work late again. BEST OF THE GODS has drawn awkwardly again but he’s run some big races this prep and can win if he can land on the right back in running. LOOKS appears to have been successfully reprogrammed and is settling much better so the mile looks within reach now.

Numbers: 8-13-7-9

Suggested Bet – EXTREME LOVE

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