Form Analysis: Albion Park Jul 03

RACE TWO

Despite making his first appearance off a 7-week break between starts, EXPENSIVE EGO (7) showed his class when scoring a clinical victory over the mile here last time out. Sent forward from gate 10, he was never in danger with a comfortable 7m victory. He can defy the gate to take a 5 from 5 record on this track.

BLACKSADANCE (5) will be out to stake a claim for a start in next week’s Rising Sun and a strong performance here will aid that cause. He did plenty of work in the run last start and was fighting hard to hold 3^rd behind EXPENSIVE EGO. Runner-up in the Triad 3 starts back, he will be throwing it down.

BRIGHT ENERGY (4) returns to Qld for Team McCarthy and has been able to hit the board in 5 of 9 previous attempts on this track. Only 4m from BUNDORAN last start after doing some early work, he has podium claims here.

KEAYANG KREUZER (8) held the 1x1 trail at Redcliffe last Saturday and when presented into open space sprinted sharply to arrive for the prize. With an economical trip, he will be probing.

SELECTIONS: EXPENSIVE EGO (7), BLACKSADANCE (5), BRIGHT ENERGY (4), KEAYANG KREUZER (8)
SUGGESTED BET: EXPENSIVE EGO (7) to win

RACE THREE

WILL THE WIZARD (4) started from the six-hole last start and made a costly error. On settling he was back in the pack and under the circumstances it was a nice run behind EXPENSIVE EGO. Trialling twice to remove the ODM embargo, if he can get the manners in order, he can take this.

SMOOTH SAILOR (9) arrives back in port for another Winter holiday and brings a last start Menangle win with him. Sent to the front from the wide gate at the 2300m, he controlled it in front before ripping home a 26.1 closing panel. A five-time winner here at The Creek, he can make a play for the prize.

MISTERFREEZE (6) eased to find position from gate 4 here 2 starts back and soon ended near the rear before hitting the line strongly in the closing stages for 3^rd. Back to the big oval suits after his last start Redcliffe run.

MONTANA CHIEF (5) was charging home in the stretch here on Tuesday to grab the silver when within 2m of the winner ARMA NAUGHTY. Runner-up in 5 of his past 6 starts, look for him late.

SELECTIONS: WILL THE WIZARD (4), SMOOTH SAILOR (9), MISTERFREEZE (6), MONTANA CHIEF (5)
SUGGESTED BET:

RACE FOUR

The first of two DJA heats where the backmarkers for the series are last year’s winner MAJESTIC SIMON (13) two-time winner OUR OVERANOVA on 30m. Simon will be looking to get the Series off to a flyer and make it 3 wins on the trot. Too strong when sent forward to win from 50m last time out, he can bring up 50 starts at The Creek in fine style.

GODOFTHUNDER (1) was rewarded at The Triangle last week with a deserved win in the Redcliffe Trotters Cup. Bold front-running tactics paid dividends and had followed a head defeat here over this trip. With great manners, he is in form and while he will need to take another step up for this series, he comes into it at the right time.

ALADDIN SANE (7) has been doing plenty wrong in his races but has still managed to finish as the runner-up in 2 of 3 starts since returning from a break. Big in defeat behind ORLANDO JOLT last start, if he can keep it together, he can feature.

HUMBLE LADD (12) is the query runner in this first heat, making his first appearance since crossing the ditch and comes into this race without a public trial. An eleven-time winner back in the Shaky Isles, he stays under watch.

SELECTIONS: MAJESTIC SIMON (13), GODOFTHUNDER (1), ALADDIN SANE (7), HUMBLE LADD (12)
SUGGESTED BET: MAJESTIC SIMON (13) to win

RACE FIVE

After sitting parked outside the King last time out over the long trip of 2680m SPANKEM (5) gets back to the mile. Following the Flashing Red fiasco, he was too strong for them 2^nd up but effectively 1^st up over the 2138m when sent forward. The removal of the emergency will help in getting forward here and he can take another big step towards the upcoming Group 1s by putting this field away.

BALRAJ (3) has been below the level he reached in the second half of 2020. While on paper his form may be questionable for this type of race, the race might just set up for him to use this to build back into form. Forced to grind from the breeze last start in a 50.5 mile at Menangle, he can get to the pegs first here and with an economical trip be ready to make a play.

COPY THAT (8) has been given no favours from this alley and has the option of being buried or easing early to get into the running line and then try to launch from a long way back. He blew the cobwebs out in a slick trial here 8 days back and while he is a top-class animal, the barrier gods have not been kind.

TURN IT UP (11) has been slammed with another horrid gate, backing up gate 7 last start with the 11 here. Charging out to lead before taking a seat last start, he will be winding up late here.

SELECTIONS: SPANKEM (5), BALRAJ (3), COPY THAT (8), TURN IT UP (11)
SUGGESTED BET: SPANKEM (5) to win

RACE SIX

The second of the DJA Heats and another tough contest to break down, with the capacity field meaning there will be next to zero margin for error. The bonny G1 winning mare PINK GALAHS (13) is yet to win in her 4YO season, but she has had to step up against the seasoned pros in Victoria at every outing. Although limited in her standing start experience, she can arrive in style.

GOLD CHAIN (9) is a talented Kiwi mare from the stables of Bob Butt that brings solid form and a bag full of question marks. A late bloomer, she had 4 starts in her 4 & 5YO seasons and then since turning 6 has put together 20 starts for 7 wins and 5 minors. A stylish winner last start under mobile conditions at Addington, she must be respected.

MORE SHADES OF GOLD (10) heads North from the stables of Blake Fitzpatrick to join the Black and White Army of Grant Dixon, bringing placings at his past 3 starts at Menangle. 2m from MONARO MIA last time out in a strong mile, he steps up to 13 furlongs for the first time in his career.

PRINCESS FAITH (7) will need to take big strides at this grade, but is in great touch, completing a threepeat of victories last time out. 2 of those 3 wins have been from big handicaps and while the distance is a query, she comes into the Series with winning form.

SELECTIONS: PINK GALAHS (13), GOLD CHAIN (9), MORE SHADES OF GOLD (10), PRINCESS FAITH (7)
SUGGESTED BET:

 

RACE SEVEN

Like several campaigners stepping out on tonight’s card SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (8) has a much bigger target locked in his sights here next week. Generating a mountain of hype, he has been able to score effortless wins in both starts since arriving in Aus. The gate will make him earn this as he will likely pull back to go around them, but like Lindbergh, McCarthy can complete the task.

ITALIAN LAD (7) could just prove to be a smokey for the Rising Sun and a big performance here might just sneak him into calculations. Forced to retreat from gate 6 at Redcliffe last week, he was solo three-wide when making his move and the tempo was against him. The gate has stung him, but he should appreciate the big oval.

KASH US BACK (2) secured the 1x1 trail last week after easing forward from gate 5 and then squeezing wide at the 350m had the closing power to arrive for the prize. Runner-up to the flying SCARLET BABE the start prior, he can feature from this alley.

LEFT A TERROR (3) was buried in the run last time out from inside the 2^nd line and when the gap arrived, he finished hard to take the prize. Game from the death seat the start prior, he is podium hope.

SELECTIONS: SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (8), ITALIAN LAD (7), KASH US BACK (2), LEFT A TERROR (3)
SUGGESTED BET: Exotics 8 / 2-3-7

 

RACE EIGHT

RANGER BOMB (7) caught the eye when finishing runner-up to TOMMY LINCOLN here last time out. Returning from a spell in that outing, he was back in the pack as Tommy was controlling it up front before hitting the line in smart order for the silver. The gate is not ideal, but with a top-3 in 5 of his 5 here at The Creek, he can press for a ticket to the big dance next week by dominating these.

FRANCO HAMPTON (1) has been kept fresh since his last appearance when sent forward from gate 6. Finding the front at the expense of a sub 27 blitz, he was game in holding on when 3m in arrears of the winner. With the improved gate, he will ensure that anything that runs him down earns the prize.

COMMODORE JUJON (8) enjoys a cosy trip in behind the speed and from this gate looks set to enjoy those conditions. Only 3m away 2 starts back, he will be ready to take a dive up the lane in this.

JUMPING JACK JIMMY (9) has been in super touch in recent weeks and last start was asked to hang tough at Redcliffe when sent to the breeze from the 2^nd line. Too strong in front the start prior, he can chime into the minors here.

SELECTIONS: RANGER BOMB (7), FRANCO HAMPTON (1), COMMODORE JUJON (8), JUMPING JACK JIMMY (9)
SUGGESTED BET: Exotics 1-7-8-9

 

RACE NINE

This race will be a good sounding board for the Rising Sun prospects of a couple of runners, none more so than last start winner TOMMY LINCOLN (9). Stepping out in Qld for the first-time last start at the mile, he took the race by the scruff of the neck in powering home in a sub 55 closing 800m from the front with an 11m margin up the sleeve. The 2^nd line stings, but he looks up to it.

ILIKEMEBETTOR (6) made a statement of his own at his first look at The Creek when sent to the front from the three-hole and dictating to a comfortable 4m victory. With a 54.5 closing 800, he torched them up the stretch in a 26.3 closer. The wide gate stings, but a win would likely earn him a crack at the big one next week.

MAKE MINE MEMPHIS (5) heads to the Sunshine for Bathurst trainer Bernie Hewitt and brings a last start Menangle 2^nd as a beaten fav. 6m from MAJOR ROLL the start prior, he can press for the podium.

NOWHERE CREEK (2) arrives with the Chantal Turpin barn and brings some super consistent numbers where he has hit the board in 17 of his past 21 outings that includes 7 wins. A gritty 2^nd last start over the 2300m at Menangle, he has place claims.

SELECTIONS: TOMMY LINCOLN (9), ILIKEMEBETTOR (6), MAKE MINE MEMPHIS (5), NOWHERE CREEK (2)
SUGGESTED BET: TOMMY LINCOLN (9) to win

RACE TEN

Returning from a Southern campaign where she scored heat wins in a pair of G1s, PELOSI (6) will start in Qld for just the 2^nd time this year. Required to work hard in the run last start in the APG Final at Melton before wilting late, she has opened the pipes with a smart trial and her class should be enough to see her home.

SWEET JEMMA (1) will strip fitter from her latest outing when 2^nd up in Aus off the back of a break. Forced to do it tough when 1^st up when facing the breeze from gate 7 over the Menangle mile, she then went to Goulburn and scored a smart win from the front. The gate avails challenging options.

JENDEN STRIKE (4) has been runner-up in 3 of her past 4 starts in these mares’ qualifiers. Leading them up last start she was collared in the closing stages, and she will be thereabouts again here.

YOHA (8) was forced to roll the sleeves to grind it out from the chair last start and could not cope over the closing stages in her first run here at Albion Park. Runner-up to THE STUNNING NUN 2 runs back, she can be sharper here.

SELECTIONS: PELOSI (6), SWEET JEMMA (1), JENDEN STRIKE (4), YOHA (8)
SUGGESTED BET: PELOSI (6) to win
 

RACE ELEVEN

A strong 3YO event to close the card where KASHED UP (1) looks set to get the cosy run in behind the speed. His run was full of merit behind KRUG in the Redcliffe Derby last week when finishing in 3^rd. Gate 7 was his undoing the start prior and he can be coiled and ready to strike here.

TALENT TO SPARE (2) resumes from a let-up after a few light weeks following her victory in the G1 Fillies Triad. Defying gate 13 to get around them early and create the winning break over the 2138m, she gets back to the mile here where she loves to roll in front. Taking control, she will take some catching.

AMERICAN DEALER (4) started from the 2^nd line at his first appearance here in Qld and not much went his way in the run as ILIKEMEBETTOR took the prize. He can be closer to the action here.

BIG WHEELS (5) started from inside the 2^nd line last time out and was buried in the run before hitting the line in smart order behind WATTS UP SUNSHINE. He faces a tricky gate but can be in the fight.

SELECTIONS: KASHED UP (1), TALENT TO SPARE (2), AMERICAN DEALER (4), BIG WHEELS (5)
SUGGESTED BET: KASHED UP (1) to win