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Canberra preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, March 9, 2025

Trainer John Sargent is looking for a big race treble as he saddles up strong chances in each of the three feature races in the nation’s capital.

Shayne O’Cass
6 min read
March 9, 2025 - 5:00AM
Progressive three-year-old French Ruler looks a good chance in the Canberra Guineas. Picture: Bradley Photos
Progressive three-year-old French Ruler looks a good chance in the Canberra Guineas. Picture: Bradley Photos

John Sargent has marshalled his troops for a three-pronged assault on each of the biggest races run in Australia’s capital city.

The High Street conditioner will be represented in the Canberra Guineas, Canberra Cup and coveted Black Opal Stakes.

First run in 1973, the Black Opal boasts an honour roll equal to that of any of the traditional Golden Slipper lead-ups run in Sydney.

Past winners include the likes of 1999 Golden Slipper winner Catbird, as well AJC Derby winner Criterion, VRC Oaks winner Spirit Of Kingston as well as the four time Group 1 winner and Everest placegetter, Trapeze Artist.

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!

Sargent’s 2025 hopeful is Nordic Viking who rattled home on debut to place in a fast run 1000m at Randwick which he followed up with a commendable fifth in an unexpectedly steady Pierro Plate there three weeks later.

“I’ve added blinkers and he’s worked very well in them,” Sargent said.

“I know he has drawn wide but if he gets a bit of cover somewhere, he should be hitting the line very strongly with Nash (Rawiller) on board.

“I think he’s gone up a level. Rain or shine, he’ll be running, and he doesn’t mind if we get a bit of rain.

“He should run well on Sunday and we’ll see where we go from there, whether it is the Sires’ or whatever.”

Sargent has a much firmer next port of call assigned to his Canberra Guineas contender French Ruler who has come a long way in a short time.

The son of Nature Strip’s sire, Nicconi, kicked off last preparation with a Super Maiden win at Newcastle, rounding it out with a second in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle and a noteworthy fifth on the road in the Sandown Guineas.

“He’s on a path to the Midway million dollar race so I thought this was a good race for him on Sunday and then he will go to a Qualifier at Newcastle,” Sargent said.

“He should get a nice behind the speed from that draw (5) and rain doesn’t worry him so I expect him to go a big race.”

The co-feature to the Black Opal is the annual Canberra Cup which was first run in 1928.

The inaugural winner, Sir Chrystopher, set a high bar for all subsequent winners given he went on to win the 1931 Doncaster.

As impressive as that is, the 1992 Canberra Cup winner later claimed two Doncasters and two Epsoms, that being none other than the immortal Super Impose.

Sargent’s Cup participant is the Dunedin and Southland Guineas and The Coast winner Palmetto who was handed the outside draw in the capacity field.

“He’s a good beginner, he’ll be up and over in plenty of time down the straight there at Canberra,” Sargent said.

“He is just getting better and better this prep. His coat is better and he’s the highest rating in the race and he loves it wet or dry.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 2: French Ruler

Laid the groundwork for a win with a slashing return against older horses.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 2: Let’s Go Brandon

Trialled well within himself the other day. Market watch advised.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 3: Jacob’s Ladder

Two runs so far, both honourable thirds at Warwick Farm.

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1, 2, 4, 5

Race 8: 2, 3, 4, 8

Race 9: 1, 5, 6, 11

Race 10: 1, 3, 4

Tyler Schiller is a good chance in the Jockey Challenge at Canberra. Picture: Getty Images
Tyler Schiller is a good chance in the Jockey Challenge at Canberra. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tyler Schiller could win a very open TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – CANBERRA

RACE 1

Let’s Go Brandon, a rather cheekily named horse, turned in a rather sneaky trial the other day at Goulburn is as much as he was never asked to let rip. Hard to tell, but it looked like he would have won the Heat. Written By Lucy was a distant, but unhurried, third in a very strong Heat here on Feb 21. Teylu has the right draw and the right form.

Bet: Let’s Go Brandon to win

RACE 2

Gundy Guy is a talented local. He’s won four from nine and second at another one. Has come up with a great draw (3) in the smallish field. His biggest danger could well come from within given the presence of his stablemate Love Shuck who has the compelling first-up record of three wins from four starts. Fangela has the race fitness.

Bet: Gundy Guy to win

RACE 3

Adolphus has a win and a third from his only two runs at Canberra. Better still, since his December 6 win here he has gone ‘532’ in those three consecutive TAB Highways. Craving Magic was a tad unlucky not to have finished closer and higher up the order in the SERA Qualifier. Heat Missile is a market watch. Lord Finland is hugely consistent and flying!

Bet: Adolphus to win

RACE 4

Jacob’s Ladder races in the colours of the legendary Neville Begg. This son of his former star colt Written By has raced twice, both of them at Warwick Farm where he finished third each time. Ready and able. Karmardo turned in an encouraging debut second at Kembla on Feb 8 and trialled well in a good heat at Randwick since. Marais has placed at seven of his eight runs.

Bet: Jacob’s Ladder to win

RACE 5

French Ruler has come a long way in a short time. Consider this; he won a Newcastle Super Maiden at the start of last preparation yet ended up in the Spring Stakes (second) and Sandown Guineas (fifth). Made a super return to racing on Feb 22 in town. Snow In May was well-supported but not so grand when fifth in the Eskimo Prince. Has trialled since, too good to leave out.

Bet: French Ruler to win exacta 2 to beat 6

RACE 6

King Of Pop, a $700,000 yearling son of Farnan, only won by a nose on debut at Warwick Farm but there was a lot more authority and untold merit in the win. Drawn favourably here. Nordic Viking wasn’t suited by the slow tempo in the Pierro Plate. Should find this run more to his strengths. Extractor is a big chance but hate the draw. Steel Knight will be powering home.

Bet: King Of Pop to win or if scratched, Nordic Viking to win

RACE 7

Palmetto is the highest rated horse in the Canberra Cup and that always counts for something. Perhaps what is more significant is that The Coast winner is getting very close to being back to his absolute best and that’s good enough for this. Gear Up is a massive watch. He’s run third in a Naturalism over this trip and beat Cleveland in a Ballyroan. Stablemate Redstone Well has ‘a winning draw’ if he’s up for it.

Bet: Palmetto to won, Gear Up each-way

RACE 8

Berkshire Shadow has run in some big races down here; a Doncaster, Epsom, Big Dance, The Gong and few Cups and a Cameron (third). The Ciaron Maher trained import is at his most deadly first-up with three wins from six fresh runs. Bold Mac was hard to miss and easy to like at his first run for Richard Collett the other week at Rosehill. Highlights will be prominent for a long way.

Bet: Berkshire Shadow to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (2), 2nd Leg (3)

RACE 9

Black Babylon is a 2000m type from nose to tail and progressive too. Autumn Aroha was an easy winner at Newcastle last start. Black Babylon was three and a half lengths behind him at the post but was eating into the margin and was first-up too. Deal ‘N’ Dash created a very big impression winning at Rosehill on debut.

Bet: Black Babylon to win or if scratched Autumn Aroha to win

RACE 10

Hooligan Tommy has won twice in his 14 starts, both were 1600m. This race is 1300m which presents as some of the Goldilocks distance for him first-up, not too short, not too far. Does no work from barrier one, he’ll just need an out in the straight. Rockola ran a huge race first-up at Randwick. Drawn well. Yabby Pump was good then very good at his two runs so far.

Bet: Hooligan Tommy each-way

CANBERRA

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 2: French Ruler

Laid the groundwork for a win with a slashing return against older horses.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 2: Let’s Go Brandon

Trialled well within himself the other day. Market watch advised.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 3: Jacob’s Ladder

Two runs so far, both honourable thirds at Warwick Farm.

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,2,4,5

Race 8: 2,3,4,8

Race 9: 1,5,6,11

Race 10: 1,3,4

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tyler Schiller could win a very open TAB Jockeys Challenge today at Canberra.

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/horse-racing/canberra-preview-best-bets-inside-mail-for-sunday-march-9-2025/news-story/07fdf4a64c5f7a33b594e50f0ebcb23d