Trainer Neil Osborne a key player in Monday’s Queanbeyan races
Trainer Neil Osborne will be a key figure in Monday’s Queanbeyan races as he unleashes a host of promising horses including one out for last-race redemption.
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Canberra trainer Neil Osborne knows Off To War should probably be unbeaten after two runs and she gets the chance to do things right and win again at Queanbeyan.
The three-year-old filly won well on debut at Albury when taking out a 900m maiden by more than two lengths before getting run down late over 1000m last start.
“It was a good run but still disastrous,” Osborne said.
“We thought we would lead but we didn’t think we’d lead by 10 lengths.
“Because she was a slow away at her first start we gave her a bit of a dig out of the gates and as soon as that happened she just went hard.”
This time things need to be different if she’s to win this time with Simon Miller back on after he got her over the line on debut.
She’s jumping from barrier 11 this time and Osborne would like her to find the back of one from there.
“Hopefully she won’t be a front runner all the time but we’ll learn that on Monday because from the gate we’re at we won’t try and rush across,” he said.
Call Me Artie is fourth-up for Osborne in a Maiden Plate (1460m) and he’s a good lightweight chance after showing plenty of promise this time in.
“He’s getting closer to a win. He’s improved with every run,” Osborne said.
“We always knew he’d get over a bit of ground and the question was do we stay at 1400m or go to a mile but staying at 1460m will probably give us an extra run this preparation.”
Osborne said Call Me Artie has made the right improvements, not only on the track, but at home in his work and from barrier five Jess Taylor should have him just off the speed and with cover.
“His coat is perfect where it hadn’t been before. It’s loosened right up now and on Monday it will be shining like a new pin,” Osborne said.
“The track will improve and a bit of sting out of it doesn’t bother him anyway.”
Ronny Rock Art is the other Osborne runner today in the fourth race and he’s second-up after running third last start and third to end his first preparation which is the run Osborne gains confidence from.
“He’s got good form behind him. Delacour has won three in a row,” he said.
“You’d think he’d have to be winning that sort of race off what he did last time in.”
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So which is his best chance of the day?
Osborne is not sure because they all have legitimate winning claims.
His confidence is as high as it could be heading into a meeting with just three runners.
Which is the amount of winners he thinks he can train today.
“They’re all three-year-old’s and there’s no real convictions against any of them. They could all get to a Highway at some point,” he said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if the three of them won. I’m looking for what can beat them and I can’t find too many.”
Originally published as Trainer Neil Osborne a key player in Monday’s Queanbeyan races