Canberra best bets & quaddie selections | February 24, 2023
| What | Canberra Mile Race Day |
| Where | Thoroughbred Park – 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham ACT 2602 |
| When | Friday, February 24, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:35pm AEDT |
Friday marks the annual Canberra Mile Day Race Day – the traditional lead-up to Black Opal Stakes Race Day, which is set to be run on March 12. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with warm and dry weather forecast for Thursday and Friday, we should be racing on a perfect surface. The rail will go back into the true position, when racing gets underway at 1:35pm AEDT.
Best Bet at Canberra: Love Tap
Our best bet of the day at Canberra will be the Richard & Will Freedman-trained Love Tap, who will be going into the Canberra Mile third-up after running third last start behind Banju at Randwick over 1600m on February 4. After leading for the majority of the 1600m event when second-up, this five-year-old gelding should be at peak fitness and ready to win, dropping back from metropolitan grade to country grade on Friday. This son of Tapit has raced in very good company at his last four starts. Brad Rawiller will have his first ride on this gelding, and from barrier eight we should see him cross the field and take up the lead or sit outside the leader before kicking clear to give them something to chase in the home straight.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#2 Love Tap (8)
5yo Gelding | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Brad Rawiller (60kg)
Next Best at Canberra: Super Helpful
The last race of the day will feature the Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones-trained Super Helpful, who will be first-up after having a three-month spell. This four-year-old gelding has only had the two fresh runs throughout his career, with the second of those resulting in a win at this track and trip on September 16. This son of Super One was given one trial over 800m at Goulburn before going to the races on Friday, where he settled in the back half of the field before working home very nicely under no riding at all. Quayde Krogh has ridden this gelding at 11 of his 18 career starts, recording four wins from those rides. From barrier 10 we expect to see Krogh settle in the back half of the field and look to run on in the home straight. If he gets even luck and clear air with 300m to go, we should see him record his seventh career victory.
Next Best
Race 9 – 
#2 Super Helpful (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | J: Quayde Krogh (59kg)
Best Value at Canberra: Love Shuck
The Black Opal Preview will feature the Todd Smart-trained Love Shuck, who will be on debut after having three trials for three wins over the past three months. The most recent trial at Goulburn over 800m was the most impressive of the three, defeating Super Helpful by just under a length. With only seven runners in this event having race-day experience, there should be a lot of speed, which will set it up for this gelding to settle in behind the speed and run over the top of them late. If he shows any of the speed and will to win that he has at the trials, Love Shuck will be hard to hold out on debut.
Best Value
Race 7 – 
#4 Love Shuck (9)
2yo Gelding | T: Todd Smart | J: Damon Budler (56.5kg)
Friday quaddie tips for Canberra Mile Race Day
Canberra quadrella selections
Friday, February 24, 2023
- 2-3-4
- 2-3-4-7
- 1-2-3-6
- 1-2-6-10
Investment: $192 for 100%