Tips and value runners for the 2017 Albury Cup, Friday March 24
THE $850,000 Albury Gold Cup Carnival is one of Australia’s premier country racing meets, and Friday’s event is certain to bring the border town to a standstill.
The feature race of the day of the $180,000 Albury Gold Cup, which is the sixth event on the card.
There are eight races and plenty of fantastic racing to be had on the NSW and Victorian border and we have identified our best bet for each event.
The first race of the day is the Wilson Transformer Class One Handicap over the 1000m, which kicks off the card at 1.05 pm.
Race 1 – Wilson Transformer Class One Handicap (1000m)
Onemore For Mumma is a speedy customer that draws perfectly in gate four on Friday. In its last start at Queanbeyan, the mare finished fourth of ten runners, but had a luckless run in transit. A run to suit would see him take out a win from the front.
Lord Laurie is second up on Friday after a strong maiden win in Wagga in the opening week of March as an even-money favourite. There is no reason to think it cannot back up that win.
Go The Snip carries bottom weight into the contest after a maiden win at the same track as the four-year-old confronts on Friday. The gelding jumps from gate two, so any luck from the barrier could see it storm home with just 54kgs on its back.
Race 1 tip: Go The Snip to place at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Lucrf Super Flat Knacker (900m)
There can be an argument made that the Flat Knacker is the best-named race in Australian thoroughbred history, and the 900m short journey is one of the most exciting races on the Gold Cup card.
For Me Dad is a great sprinting horse that has a 74 percent place strike rate. Last time out in Canberra the mare got blocked for a run on the turn but still managed to claim second in a strong field in the nation’s capital. It looks to the clear standout.
Gentleman Charlie is another last-start winner that has great short-course swiftness. In its first attempt at the 900m in Corowa the Hard Spun gelding tracked on the speed and hit the line well to win a class 3.
Just A Bullet is a consistent type who at its best can take the Flat Knacker out. The gelding finished within a length of the winner two weeks ago at Corowa and looks to be improving after every race.
Race 2 tip: For Me Dad to win at Crownbet.com.au
Race 3 – All New Lexus RC 500 Class 3 Handicap (1200m)
I’m Peter won in eye-catching fashion last week in Albury. The five-year-old tracked on the speed and torched the field when it mattered to record a three length win. Not reason to think it cannot replicate the form on Friday.
His Spirit is the best potential chance to beat I’m Peter. The six-year-old won at Corowa by almost four lengths two weeks ago and carries 2kgs less on Friday.
Expect His Spirit and I’m Peter to fight out the third race on the card.
Race 3 tip: I’m Peter to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 4 – Adrian Ledger Memorial BM65 (2400m)
A big field of 15 confronts punters on the fourth race on Albury Gold Cup day.
Agrionius is chasing a third straight win after impressive back-to-back showings. Prior to that the horse had not finished outside the first four since November of last year. The five-year-old has a knack of getting its neck out at the right time after winning two consective photo finishes.
Robert Kingston runner Sommernachtstraum is looking to overturn two second placed finishes from its last two starts to salute on Friday. The nine-year-old has won one and placed a further four times at this distance with its last win over 2400m coming in January.
Fracking is an in-form runner. The horse has finished outside the placings just once since mid-December. Last time out at Wellington the six-year-old won by a head as a short favourite. No reason to think it cannot repeat the dose on the border.
Race 4 tip: Agrionius to win at Bet365.com.au
Race 5 – David Wallace City Handicap (1175m)
A huge field of potentially 19 runners take part in the David Wallace City Handicap, but only a handful of runners are in single figures for the race.
Lofty’s Menu is having its second run back after finishing fourth of four runners at Randwick back in late February. The six-year-old failed to negotiate the tricky conditions, but has a sensational second up record which has seen it miss the placings just once.
Lord Von Costa is first up on Friday after a five month layoff. From four first up attempts the gelding has placed in three of them. The trial at the beginning of the month was encouraging and the four-year-old should be primed.
Another talented runner that is resuming is Greipel. The five-year-old has a sensational strike rate of one win and one placing from four first up attempts. Another huge tick is the track and distance record, where the gelding has won once and claimed a second placing across three runs over course and distance.
Race 5 tip: Greipel to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – Albury Gold Cup (2000m)
An incredibly even field takes to the track for the feature of the day, and there are several big-name runners battling it out for the $180,000.
Weir runner Goldstream looks the one to beat on paper.
Across its last three straights in metropolitan Melbourne the gelding has not missed a placing, which included a powerful win at Flemington at the tail end of January. The five-year-old will benefit from the short layup and will take a world of beating.
Extra Zero is a horse that has shown its capabilities at the metro tracks but has never really found consistency across its 96 race career.
A 40 percent place record belies a poor conversion rate which has seen the Hayes and Daberning runner win just six times. However, it has raced in some top-quality races so we are not discounting it here.
Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained Cool Chap has been in sparkling form. Across the gelding’s last four starts it has finished outside the quinella placings just once.
It is also worth noting that Cool Chap has never missed a placing at this distance.
Race 6 tip: Goldstream to win at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 7 – Jayco Albury Guineas (1400m)
Kooringal Star looks to be the one to beat here in the race after the feature.
The three-year-old has never missed a placing in its racing career and is coming off a strong six length victory in class two company at the beginning of the month. Hard to see the gelding missing a placing here.
Drachenfels looks to be a progressive type. The lightly-raced three-year-old is fresh off an impressive third placing at Warwick Farm back on March 8. Has placed before at this distance so the 1400m should not worry it.
Ubatuba is looking to make it a hattrick of wins on Friday. The colt won strongly at Scone mid-February before taking out a class three at Kemba Grange two weeks ago. The Bjorn Baker runner is capable of making it three from three.
Race 7 tip: Kooringal Star to win at Crownbet.com.au
Race 8 – VisitNSW.com Albury Challenge Class Two (1175m)
Last race of the Albury Gold Cup day is a class two race over 1175m.
Cha Cha King is resuming after a four month break. Prior to its failure at Wodonga October the four-year-old had recorded a strong victory first up at Wagga. The horse has a 50 percent winning strike rate first up.
Daisy Doutes is aiming to win a third straight race after breaking the maiden tag at the beginning of the year. The horse backed it up just under two months later by taking out a benchmark 58 race in Towong. The mare should be a major player as the post looms.
First Order is a consistent type which has won two of its five race starts. Last time out at Goulburn the mare won a class two race comfortably back in February. A similar performance on Friday will see it feature in the finish.
Race 8 tip: Cha Cha King to win at Bet365.com