Queanbeyan preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, May 11, 2025

Like a fine wine, the Rob Potter-trained Almost Persuaded is getting better with age and is looking to keep her immaculate Queanbeyan track and distance in tact.

Adam Sherry previews Queabeyan on Sunday.

Canberra trainer Rob Potter is just in awe of bonny mare Almost Persuaded.

The seven-year-old continues to race with great zest including victories at two of her last four starts.

Almost Persuaded took her record to eight wins from 40 starts when she stormed home under 60.5kg to win by two-and-a-half lengths from More Voltage at Queanbeyan 19 days ago.

“She is unbelievable. She is rising eight but I don’t think she has ever gone as good as she is at the moment,” said Potter.

“Even in her trackwork she has got better and that Queanbeyan track, she just loves it.”

Among those eight wins are four at Queanbeyan including a perfect three from three over the 1460m – the same distance that she tackles when she lines up in the Benchmark 82 Handicap with 52kg after the claim of Cailtin Sinclair.

Almost Persuaded is looking to maintain her perfect record at the track and distance. Picture: Bradley Photos

“To be honest, she excels on wet tracks and it’s a dry track this weekend. That’s my only concern,” he said.

“But the way she is going and having barrier one is going to be massive for her because she can put herself in a spot.

“I have put a set of concussion plates on her just as a precaution.

“She drops eight and a half kilos on that win because she is going from a (benchmark) 58 to an 82 but she won in open company in the Tumut Cup four runs back against some pretty nice horses.

“I feel she is really well placed. If it was wet, I would declare her.”

In the same race, Potter also saddles up Blow In who was a multiple city winner in Melbourne earlier in his career.

“I’ve only had him for this preparation,” Potter said.

“He started off in Melbourne and won a couple races at Sandown but lost his form and went to Adelaide for a little while before coming here.

“We pushed him out to a mile and he just go beat at Kembla but I believe that stretches him.

“I bought him back to 1200m at Dubbo last Sunday and he went tremendous.”

The son of Fighting Sun settled midfield and worked home well to finish a length-and-a-quarter third behind The Dramatist and Crop Duster.

“I changed his work routine around. I stopped galloping him and started swimming him more and putting him on the treadmill,” he said.

Blow In gets to his best distance at Queanbeyan. Picture: Bradley Photos

“It really freshened him right up and changed his attitude.

“Kody Nestor rode him last week and said he is ready to win.

“Unfortunately, they are in the same race.

“My question mark with him is the track. He is more of a big track horse because of his racing pattern.

“In saying that, he is fresh and I expect he will be really competitive.

“He is the best credentialed horse in this race by a long way.

“Hopefully they can run one-two.”

Potter is looking forward to Midnight Luna making her debut for the stable in the Class 1 Handicap (1460m).

The four-year-old screed a nice win before close second both at Queanbeyan for former trainer Len Hodgson late last year.

“A good mare of mine, Mick Miladinovic, owns her.

“She had a few feet issues so her brought her here so she can do a bit of swimming.

“I get the feeling she could be a Highway horse. I just want to build her rating up to get into them.

“If she drew a good gate, I would be very confident but it’s a bit tricky from out there.

“She is working very well and I have her ready to go first-up.

“If she doesn’t win this weekend, she will be winning shortly.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 2: ALL ASTERN

Nice win over this trip last start and can go back-to-back.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 2: ANA CAROLINA

Racing in consistent form and can land a second career win.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 2: MIDNIGHT LUNA

Showed good ability in her first campaign including a win this track and distance.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 4, 10, 11

Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 5

Race 6: 2, 5, 9

Race 7: 1, 2, 4

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jess Taylor looks a good chance the TAB Jockey Challenge.

Jess Taylor looks set for a good day at Queanbeyan. Picture: Bradley Photos

INSIDE MAIL – QUEANBEYAN

RACE 1: Navy Country Boosted Mdn Hcp 1460m

IN THE NIC OF TIME (1) battled away when fourth to Group Chat over 1200m at Wagga second-up then dropped back to 1000m when fourth to Callenem Thru at Canberra. Up to 1460m. ZEEDANCE (8) is improving with each run. Made ground along the fence from last when fifth to Malinga Missile at Goulburn two runs back. Settled behind the leader and battled away for third to Chebici over this track and distance last start. CLOSETHEDOORDARCY (4) led early before finishing a nose second to Chebici in that same race.

Bet: In The Nic Of Time to win

RACE 2: Air Force Plate (C1) 2000m

ANA CAROLINA (2) was beaten a nose by Format in a Class 1 over 2110m on the Beaumont and followed with a third to Fernao in record time at Goulburn on Feb 28. Resumed from a let-up for a new stable with a handy maiden win in a Class 1 at Gundagai before a third to Aethelflaed at Canberra. JUAN PABLO (8) ground away when third behind Casablanca Express over 1500m at Hawkesbury before stepping up to 1800m and coming from back in the field when fourth to Amplify at Bathurst. CHEVAL GRIS (7) has claims on her second at Newcastle two starts back.

Bet: Ana Carolina to win

RACE 3: Mars Road Services Army Hcp (C3) 1600m

JULIETTE’S JOY (7) ended last campaign with a handy win from Hardazhell over 2000m here on Boxing Day under 58.5kg. Resumed with a closing second to Crucial Witness over 1200m before a third to Almost Persuaded over 1460m, both here. Step up to 1600m suits. EXCEEDINGLY HOT (1) led when runner-up behind Villasaurus at Albury before a half-length fourth to Dark Vador at Wagga on May 1. Drunken Sailor was a two length winner from Sir Sublime over this track and distance last November. Will take improvement from his first-up sixth to Jolly Good Fellow at Bathurst on Apr 25.

Bet: Juliette’s Joy each-way

RACE 4: Peter & Audrey Sharp Memorial Mdn Plate 900m

MAGIC SPEED (11) is a first starter by Bon Hoffa. Fair away before pushing to share lead and kept under a hold when runner-up to Sooboogeliscious in her first trial here on Apr 12. Stepped a little slow then mustered to settle second before running past King Gutho to win her next trial by three lengths. WEIRD GOODBYES (4) debuted with a third to Noctua at Canberra the failed to handle the heavy track when seventh at the Sapphire Coast second-up. Boxed on for third to Dollythediva on a soft track here last start. LOOKACROSSTHEWATER (10) is better than her last start seventh at the Sapphire Coast.

Bet: Magic Speed to win

RACE 5: Campbell & George Defence Force Cup (Bm82) 1460m

ALMOST PERSUADED (4) is a Queanbeyan track specialist with four of her eight career wins here including a perfect three from three at the distance. She does prefer it wet but these days but did win on a Good 4 here last September. Stablemate BLOW IN (1) is on a quick back-up from his solid third behind The Dramatist and Crop Duster over 1200m at Dubbo last Sunday. Steps up to his pet trip and he is a multiple city winner. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (3) got well back when fourth at Canberra last start. Close second at Albury before that.

Bet: Almost Persuaded each-way

RACE 6: Queanbeyan Rsl Coral Sea Cup (Bm58) 1000m

ALL ASTERN (2) was just behind the placegetters in her first two runs back over 1200m at Cowra and Wagga before dropping back in grade and to 1000m when an all-the-way winner under 61.5kg at Canberra. Stays at the trip, drawn ideally and gets in well with the 3kg claim. ANTHRACIA (5) is chasing the hat-trick following narrow wins over this track and distance. Is another who will appreciate the 2kg claim. MOTORBOAT (6) ran her best first-up race when second to So Magnificent at Bathurst. Was three-wide throughout when last at Nowra on Apr 20.

Bet: All Astern to win

RACE 7: Steve Conroy Memorial Country Boosted Hcp (C1) 1460m

MIDNIGHT LUNA (2) was good in her first campaign which ended with a win from King Taurus before a nose second to Artist both over this track and distance. Drawn wide but has good speed and will give this a shake. TOMMY FLYER (1) led all-the-way for a big win from Zosma over 1200m here on Apr 22. Backing-up from a third behind Spiele at the Sapphire Coast last weekend. Winkers go on. RILEYCAT (4) started a three-wide run from the 800m and was widest on the bend when a three-and-a-quarter length third to Jato at Albury last start. Will make her presence felt from gate 1.

Bet: Midnight Luna each-way