Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Canberra
Things went badly for the Barbara Joseph and Matt and Paull Jones-trained Phoroneus on debut but they feel he can bounce back in a big way in the Group 3 Black Opal.
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Canberra clan Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones, aim to pull off a Black Opal heist unlike any in the race’s proud history with 100 to 1 outsider Phoroneus ready to go from zero to hero in the feature.
A son of Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach, Phoroneus will need to stage a massive form reversal in the space of one start to the next after finishing well down the order in the Black Opal Preview, ten lengths behind winner and rival, Vella’s Best.
“He got knocked down in the Preview. It was a total forget run,” Paul Jones said.
“He was moving into a position to be fourth in behind the speed then he got onto heels and dipped really badly. He lost eight lengths at the 600m mark and over 1000m, you just can’t do that.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
Super Helpful finds the line in time at $23. pic.twitter.com/L6P0504c1q
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 13, 2023
“He took no harm from it. His confidence seems to be still there and he’s been eating well.
“I think 1200m is also more up his alley as well.
“If you go back to his trial, that is more of an indication of his ability.”
Given the invasion of Sydney two-year-olds in the Group 3 Black Opal (1200m), the Jones and Joseph camp stand a much better chance of winning the National Sprint (1400m) with their 2023 Big Dance placegetter, Super Helpful.
A winner of 10 of his 30 starts with three of them at Canberra, Super Helpful, could, all things being equal, be given an opportunity to emulate the deeds of the Barbara Joseph-trained Merimbula Bay.
“I have harboured some dreams of maybe getting into the Doncaster,” Jones said.
“He’ll sneak in with a very lightweight and it is a race that Mum holds dear to heart.”
It was in 1989 that Joseph combined with the late, great Ken Russell to win Randwick’s feature mile with the son of Taj Rossi.
Super Helpful cut an awesome figure when an unhurried fourth in a recent Goulburn barrier trial behind dual Kosciuszko winner, Front Page.
ðŸ†One Aye wins the Forbes Cup in a great go, booking her ticket to Royal Randwick!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 31, 2022
Congratulations to Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones and all connections! ðŸ¾
Great ride Quayde Krogh. pic.twitter.com/x3XGQRqXNY
“If I have got any reservations, it is whether he is gallop or two or short, that’s my only fear but he won’t be ridden for speed, he’ll be sitting off them and be saved for that last one hit,” Jones said.
The Canberra Cup has sadly been sliced and diced with several big names preferring to race at Royal Randwick on Guineas Day, leaving a smaller field of inferior horses which could pave the way for the Jones and Joseph stable to score their win in the race.
They’ll be represented in the $250,000 Listed race by One Aye who was a brave on-pace placegetter on the Canberra Cup Preview on February 23.
“That was her first go at 2000m and I thought she ran very well,” said Jones.
“Her work on Tuesday was probably the best work she has done for us down on the Sapphire Coast where she is stabled.”
SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 4: Secret Revolution
Is one for one at this track and distance. Has form around the likes of Our Kobison, Insurrection, Koshu and Confess Our Dreams.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 5: Super Helpful
Won 10 of 30, is three from five here at Canberra and placed in the 2023 Big Dance.
VALUE BET
Race 7 No. 5: Holmes A Court
Placed in the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude. Class colt with a winning draw.
QUADDIE
Race 7: 1, 3, 5
Race 8: 4, 7
Race 9: 1, 4
Race 10: 4, 6, 7
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Tommy Berry has some great rides including Holmes A Court in the Black Opal.
INSIDE MAIL - CANBERRA
RACE 1
Miss Bayles wasn’t great first-up given her starting price but she wasn’t bad either. Could be wrong but she looked like she might want 1200m now but stays at 1000m. Drawn wide as well but her talent might offset both of those ‘negatives’. If Super Zippi can bring that trial form to the races, she will be in the finish. Candy Women and Slinky are in the mix.
Bet: Miss Bayles to win, quinella 4, 6
RACE 2
Bledisloe was $13 into $9 on debut here back on December 20 and ran according to his specking. He was trotting along close up behind in the Front Page trial at Goulburn on March 1. Go well. Acehson, a local, runner-up at his first two then was well beaten, but still honourable, fifth of seven behind Ducasse in town. Stablemate Impending Harmony could sprint very well fresh.
Bet: Bledisloe to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 10
RACE 3
Secret Revolution has raced 17 times for three wins and nine placings, five of them are seconds. The Snowden Racing-trained gelding has some very deep form indeed having mixed and matched it to varying degrees with the likes of Our Kobison, Confess Our Dreams, Insurrection et al. On top of that, he is one for one at the track and distance. Pokerjack has been trialling the house down (here) in recent weeks. Local gelding Major Time boasts some great numbers at the track and distance.
Bet: Secret Revolution to win
RACE 4
Reet Petite is a Keith Dryden trained local who has barely put a foot wrong in her seven starts, two wins and four seconds so far. Better yet, both of her wins are here at Canberra and what’s more, she beat two Sydney-horses at her last start. Miss Lenorr ran as well as anything and better than most when placed at Gosford in a mile Bm64 last start. Kangaroo court is ‘the class’ horse in the race but has the weight to go with it.
Bet: Reet Petite to win
RACE 5
Super Helpful has won 10 races in 30 starts which is an admirable and quite rare feat in itself. Worth keeping in mind given the venue is that he is three from five here. His third win in the ACT came 18 days after he ran third in the Big Dance. Smashing trial the other day. Kinlock, he’s seven from 30, was scratched from the Newcastle Stakes to run here. Won the Sunshine Coast Cup over this trip two starts back. Team Hawkes pair Superium and Wild Planet are players.
Bet: Super Helpful to win
Xidaki takes out his maiden! @KPMcEvoy@SnowdenRacing1pic.twitter.com/Pni5PZb2lu
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 14, 2024
RACE 6
Xidaki has five starts for a win and four placings, three of them are seconds and one of those was an inch behind Ironton. Xidaki franked that form and underlined his own talent when winning a Super maiden on the Kensington. Can go on with it now. Side Show, a son of the 2017 Black Opal winner Trapeze Artist, was a close and closing third in the Ironton, Xidaki race and has won since himself. Straight Fire is on the up.
Bet: Xidaki to win, quinella 3, 9, box trifecta 1, 3, 9, 14
RACE 7
Holmes A Court was sold for $850,000 at Easter, $25,000 more than record price Robert Holmes A Court paid at Easter in 1981 for (flop) Paint The Stars. Holmes A Court, the horse, was placed in the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude and has since trialled like the good colt he is. Amazing Eagle ran well in the Opal Preview. Fully Lit is unbeaten for a reason. Odinson will be strong late.
Bet: Holmes A Court to win, quinella 3, 5
RACE 8
Almania was a narrowly beaten runner-up in the Parramatta Cup two weeks ago. That was near enough to, if not, the best run of his career so far. This race has come along at the right time for him. Lord Ardmore is well-credentialled stayer who ran well in the Parramatta Cup himself. Won’t be a fitter horse in this year’s Canberra Cup. Royal Ribbons could surprise at big odds.
Bet: Almania to win, quinella 4, 7
RACE 9
Gundy Guy is a real up and comer. The son of Capitalist was runner-up on debut then won his next two with a considerable degree of authority. Has a real future. Emancipist has only won two from 14 but we can put a few losses down to his pattern and bad luck, etc. Big win here last start; drew 11 of 11 and was last on the turn. Gerry Harvey’s Bit Of Banter has a little bit of X-Factor.
Bet: Gundy Guy to win
RACE 10
Mornington Pier is a lightly-raced Pierro gelding from the Maher camp who justified his market support with a booming last to first win at Newcastle on Feb 10. That was 1880m, this is the next logical step. Irish-bred import Vaguer was runner-up to Reet Petite here first-up so is open to improvement. Adagio will be prominent from the outset.
Bet: Mornington Pier to win
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