Cranbourne night racing form and free tips, Friday March 3
CRANBOURNE hosts a premier night of racing this Friday where the $150,000 Cranbourne Cup and $80,000 Apache Cat Classic are the headline races.
The Cup has attracted a full field of 12 runners which features city-performed Duke Of Brunswick and High Church. The rest of the field is packed full of quality and it promises to be a popular race with punters.
An even field lines up in the Apache Cat Classic where last start winner Stellar Collision is expected to be heavily-backed in the market.
The eight-race card kicks off with the Isuzu Maiden Plate at 6.10pm where some handy debutantes look to make a winning start.
Race 1 – Isuzu Maiden Plate (1000m)
Carterista is a four-year-old mare which has looked good in a limited career. The Greg Eurell-trained mare finished 1.5 lengths behind Ocean Embers at Caulfield on debut and it only narrowly got beaten last time out. Craig Williams takes the ride which is only a positive and despite drawing awkwardly in barrier eight, we’re expecting a top effort.
Tepee is on debut for Lindsay Park which usually means a good run will come. The three-year-old filly by Exceed And Excel is expected to run well fresh up and it looks a big danger down in the weights. Regan Bayliss takes the ride down at 56kg and it will pay to follow any money coming for it.
Dezuri has gone close at its last two starts and a win won’t be far away. The Stuart Webb-trained filly went close at Ballarat before running second by a half-length at Werribee last start. It has drawn nicely in barrier five and it should be considered as an each way chance.
Race 1 tip: Carterista to win at Bet365.com
Race 2 – Hertz Maiden Plate (1300m)
Zimzala is on debut for Mick Price and expected to run well. The well-bred son of Redoute’s Choice hasn’t had any public trial form which is usually a good sign on debut and Oliver is a key booking. We’re expecting bookmakers to open it short in the market.
Jamieson didn’t win during its first campaign, but it did finish third at Pakenham. The Robbie Laing-trained gelding was then thrown in the deep end in the Geelong Classic where it failed to impress and it could show some cheek fresh up.
Zooba Man ran well for fourth on debut and it looks an each way chance here. The Peter Gelagotis-trained four-year-old was nicely backed at $4.80 at Moe and we’re expecting bookmakers to set a similar price. Chris Symons rides this track well so consider.
Race 2 tip: Zimzala to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – De Bortoli Wines Maiden (1200m)
Creativity showed its class on debut when running third in the Festival Stakes and although it hasn’t shown much since, it still has ability. The Ellerton/Zahra-trained filly only battled in maiden grade last start, but it has drawn well for this and should be considered.
Simply Heaven hasn’t been far away in two starts to date and another good run looks likely. The David Brideoake-trained filly ran a nose behind Windbern on debut before running fourth last start. The barrier draw of 10 makes it tricky, but consider in this.
Jubilee Blue should be improved with two runs under its belt and it shouldn’t be too far behind them. The John Sadler-trained filly gets in with the same weight here and a nice draw so we wouldn’t be leaving it out.
Race 3 tip: Creativity to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 4 – Cranbourne Hyundai R64 (1000m)
Murphy’s Reward will be forced to carry the top weight of 60kg, but it ran a quick time when winning two starts back at Werribee. The Lindsay Park-trained gelding ran 57.24 seconds for the 1000m distance and it has subsequently run well for third.
Waterford Sound is a last start winner which scored a handy two-length victory. The six-year-old only won against a moderate field at Yarra Valley, but winning form should be good form for this and it has great stats on this track. Goes into the mix.
Bite This has had five starts for one win and two placings. The Lisa Enright-trained gelding placed in its only start on this track and it all five career starts have come at this distance. It gets the inside draw to work with it should be competitive.
Race 4 tip: Murphy’s Reward to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Procon Developments Apache Cat Classic (1200m)
Olivier is a seven-time winner which has won twice at this distance. The Weir-trained gelding scored an impressive 1.3-length win two starts back and it was beaten by a nice type last start. It can handle all track conditions and it is weighted to perfection.
Stellar Collision turned around some poor form to win by two lengths last start. The Weir-trained gelding sat near the rear of the field before producing a big sprint to defeat its stablemate. This is its first start on this track, but it handles Moonee Valley well so Cranbourne should suit.
Pay Up Bro doesn’t typically run well in a fresh state and over this distance, but it could come into calculations with some luck. The John Moloney-trained gelding gets in with a nice weight and if they go hard in front, it could sling shot them late.
Race 5 tip: Stellar Collision to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – Cranbourne Cup (1600m)
High Church is a consistent type for Darren Weir which closed off nicely at Eagle Farm last start. The six-year-old ran a length behind Col’n’Lil which has plenty of talent and it was a stylish winner prior to that effort. It won by two lengths at Werribee in a $100,000 race and another good run should come here.
Duke Of Brunswick is a classy runner which couldn’t handle being three wide last start. The Price-trained gelding scored a good win at Caulfield when beating Smart Dart and it should find this much easier than its most recent effort. Oliver rides and we’re expecting bookmakers to open it as a short favourite.
Master Reset must be respected here after running well last start. The Matt Laurie-trained gelding is a three-time winner at this distance and it has past experience at this track. It looked good late last year when winning at Moonee Valley and Mornington and it should be included in selections.
Race 6 tip: Duke Of Brunswick to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – Browns Sawdust & Shavings Handicap (2060m)
Hot Power is an eight-time winner from 62 starts which has won twice on this track. The nine-year-old is getting older by the minute, but it’s still running good competitive races and it won’t need to improve too much to feature in the finish.
Comic Miss didn’t find the line well last start at Pakenham, but its form prior included a win and it needs to be considered on that. The Weir-trained mare has placed in its only start on this track and it will appreciate running with a light weight of 55.5kg.
Stablemate Rakti Roulette finished a nose behind the winner last start at Echuca and it’s a course specialist. The six-year-old has had three starts for two wins and one placing, which holds it in good stead for this. It gets Brad Rawiller in the saddle so consider for the win.
Race 7 tip: Rakti Roulette to win at Bet365.com
Race 8 – Tab R64 Handicap (1200m)
The Centaurian capped off some consistent form with a win last start and it will get all favours from the inside barrier. The Barry Fox-trained gelding won well at Moe last start and we’re expecting it to be competitive again in an even field.
Sheriff John Stone has been close to the mark in every start to date which included a win three starts back. The Maher-trained colt needed the resuming run last start and it will be fitter for the effort here. It will likely get a nice drag into the race and be tough to beat.
Pop Queen scored a decisive seven-length win last preparation and that talent must be respected. The daughter of Stryker has placed in all three starts at this track and although it prefers longer distances, it has placed over the sprinting trip.
Race 8 tip: Sheriff John Stone to win at Sportsbet.com.au