Track a 'good' 4, with the Rail True for Cup day so should be a fairly even pattern.
Race 1 CL1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Low-grade affair, but Canberra mare 6. Marzena looks to have the best up side and will appreciate stepping up to the mile. On-speed galloper who has been close-up without winning over unsuitable shorter trips, and is well in with the rider's 2kg claim.Dangers: A few of these are capable of sudden improvement, among them locally-trained 4. Tag And Release who should also be suited stepping up in trip; while Warwick Farm-trained 3. Skaldak won a weak maiden easily on this track two starts back before failing at Goulburn, but gets a lovely soft run in behind the speed.
How to play it: Back Marzena to win
The Queanbeyan Cup is the last race on the card today.Credit:Jamila Toderas
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1460m)
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After finishing third in his last couple, local mare 1. Cook Straight gets a rolled gold chance to break through at ninth career start. Just missed two runs back at Canberra before an even effort at Moruya. Will enjoy a soft run.Dangers: Canberra-based 9. Save A Match is aiming to break the maiden at eighth career start. His two runs back from a year off have been solid enough, and although beaten as a hot favourite at Bombala last start, he's not far away. Quite like the last couple of efforts from Randwick-trained 8. One Of The Kind who is still trying to win at his 19th start, but hit the line nicely two runs back in a decent maiden at Kembla and that sort of run will be enough to go close here.
How to play it: Back Cook Straight to win & box 1-8-9 in exacta
Race 3 3YO COUNTRY PLATE (1000m)
Canberra filly 1. Reason To Smile should give you plenty of reasons to do just that. Won two straight this track both times getting home nicely from off the speed before disappointing at Nowra when stepping up to the 1200m, but trainer gave her a nice little trial sharpening, and she looks ready to bounce straight back.Dangers: Local 2. Hard Core mixes form, but this is a softish field, and he gets a softer run midfield on the inside. Should be in the finish. Big watch on the stablemate 7. Kiss My Swiss having her first start off a solid trial; and Braidwood filly 9. Run Like A Rebel who trialled okay in Canberra and is facing the starter for the first time.
How to play it: Back Reason To Smile to win and box 1-2-7-9 in trifecta
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (900m)
No loafing here especially scooting down the hill, but probably a race better suited for the exotic players, with so much hinging on barrier speed and manners. But if Canberra mare 6. Brussels steps okay from a wide gate and settles in the first third, she can finish over the top.Dangers: Big watch on 1. Attuned who was well in the market when he flopped on debut in a stronger Canberra maiden back in March, but has to lump a big weight and drawn wide; while both 7. Egyptianbear and 9. Quiano Queen can drive forward and be in the finish.
How to play it: Back Brussels to win and box 1-2-6-7-9 in trifecta
Race 5 CL3 HCP (900m)
Another dash for the better class speedsters and the likely one here is Canberra-trained 1. Olifants who led all the way to win at Gunnedah last start, and while this is a bit stronger, he's still on the rise and the one to beat!Dangers: Warwick Farm mare 5. Chiang Mai Express was collared late at Goulburn last start when a short-priced favourite, but won on debut at this track when heavily-backed and has always offered good tactical speed. Wide gate the only concern; while Kembla-trained 2. Twirling Moss has won both times first-up in four career starts and will fly across from a middle gate and be right there at the business end.
How to play it: Back Olifants to win and box 1-2-5 in exacta
Race 6 THUNDERBOLT HCP (1000m)
Feature sprint of the day. The handicapper has tried to level this out giving class runner and 8YO local 1. Coolring a huge weight to lump, but he is a Wagga Town Plate winner, was only beaten a lip in the Listed National Sprint at Canberra back in the autumn and bolted in an open trial at this track five weeks ago. Trainer gets them ready fresh so cannot tip away. Looks ready to go!Dangers: Local mare 3. Lucy Rose was very strong winning a BM 81 at Moruya two runs back before running highly-rated Esperance to 1.7 lens on a Heavy 9 at Randwick last start. Better suited this grade and on top of the ground and will be somewhere in the finish. Canberra sprinter 5. Flash In The Dark hasn't started for nearly 10 months, but has a slick first-up record and well treated on the 54kg limit. Include locally-trained 4. Beau Tirage if you are playing the wider exotics.
How to play it: Back Coolring to win and quinella with Lucy Rose
Race 7 CL3 HCP (1460m)
Very keen on locally-trained 1. Bart coming back from a taxing and much stronger Randwick Highway where he was left behind on a Heavy 9. Back on top of the ground here and having won on this track up to 2000m in BM 75 company, this looks well within his reach despite having to lump 60.5kgs.Dangers: Braidwood-trained 2. Mucker has found the line nicely in all three runs this time in and gets a nice draw and drop in weight; while Canberra mare 3. True Worth was outclassed in town last start in a stronger race, but previous form around the district very solid in similar grade.
How to play it: Back Bart to win and box 1-2-3 in exacta
Race 8 QUEANBEYAN CUP (2000m)
The feature Cup is another tricky affair because most of these are mixing both form and distances. Locally-trained 2. Cliff steps to 2000m for the first time under a big weight, but his form is rock solid, including a strong win two starts back at Warwick Farm on a Heavy 10 beating Andaz who has since run very well again in town. Will settle back in the field, but is bred to run out the trip.Dangers: Plenty of them, but Warwick Farm-trained 3. Keep Up looks the most likely. Has been well beaten in his last two in town, but they were against stronger opposition and in unsuitable soft and heavy ground. Back on firmer footing here and with less pressure around, he'll be hitting the line big time. Expect 4. Hirokin to be somewhere in the finish, he chased home Country Cups iron horse Red Knot at Coonamble valiantly last start who has since added the Coonabarabran Cup to his collection so that form reads well for this. Include 1. Dylan's Romance in the exotics, but is weighted right up to its best.
How to play it: Back Cliff to win and box 1-2-3-4 in trifecta
