Race 1: Maiden Handicap 1200m: First race of the day should give us a bit of a guide as to how the track is playing. There's supposed to be a few showers about but the track should at least start in the good category. Former Hong Kong sprinter Wild Five should get the gun run from gate 2 and looks a big chance of saluting for Clarry Conners. He led and battled on well at Wyong in his first Australian run and will only improve on the back of that. Smart Amelia has been racing in black-type races in all but her last start, where she was sent out a short-priced favourite but didn't handle the wet track. First starter Eau Sauvage has won his last two trials and leading jockey Brenton Avdulla has jumped on him here. Other chances include Sleek, Daytime Dancer while the best local hope appears to be Keith Dryden's Prince Jacko.
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Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Wild Five, 2. Smart Amelia, 3. Eau Sauvage.
John Scorse tips: 1. Smart Amelia, 2. Eau Sauvage, 3. Sleek.
Race 2: Benchmark 65 Handicap 1400m: Fabvier looks an interesting runner here. Returned from a spell in the group 2 Light Fingers over 1200m where she finished 13 lengths last. Her second up form is solid and this is much, much easier. Get the feeling she'll appreciate the 1400m too. Submissive is the obvious threat. Her two runs back this campaign have been okay and she looks ready to get the chocolates. O'Reilly's Angel looked very good at the back end of her win over 1300m at Goulburn, and while this is tougher, she's in winning form. Local runner Zuzzudio returned in good order at Goulburn and gets good weight relief on Sunday. Could give them something to chase.
Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Fabvier, 2. Submissive, 3. O'Reilly's Angel.
John Scorse tips: 1. Submissive, 12. O'Reilly's Angel, 7. Chloe's Comet.
Race 3: Camarena Quality 1000m: Pretty hard to go against Almighty Girl here. The former Victorian sprinter is already a group 2 winner at Moonee Valley, and although this is her first start for NSW trainer Joe Pride, she looked good winning a Warwick Farm trial. She's got good first-up form and looks really well weighted at 56.5kg. For Me Dad was super impressive winning at Wagga Wagga last start, leading from start to finish. From barrier two he's every chance of repeating that performance. Another Canberra-trained runner, Hill Spy, won the last race on this card last year and has progressed nicely for Luke Pepper. He'll be storming home but the 1000m might just be a bit too speedy for him. Local Highly Geared is three from five first-up and has to be included despite being drawn awkwardly.
Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Almighty Girl, 2. For Me Dad, 3. Hill Spy.
John Scorse tips: 1. Almighty Girl, 2. Hill Spy, 3. Highly Geared.
Race 4: National Sprint 1400m: Happy Clapper's acceptance means we see every horse except the top weight carrying the minimum here. Sadly for Happy Clapper, it means he's giving all his rivals 6.5kg. He's the form horse in the field but from barrier 15 over 1400m might find this a tad short. Class will take him a long way and if they rocket along at the front he could be charging home. Not much split the Peter Snowden runners of Gold Symphony and Tower Of Song last start and they look the two to beat here. I'm leaning towards Gold Symphony - think he gets in better with the weights and 1400m should be cherry ripe. He was placed behind Ecuador two starts back whose form over 1400m has stood up at group 1 level behind Black Heart Bart. Of the others, quite like Handfast - he hit the line well second up and John O'Shea should have him rock hard fit for this. Got The Goss was fantastic under the big weight in the Burley Griffin. He'll have to find a nice spot after drawing the carpark but if he gets a bit of luck then he will be flying home. Nat King Cu was just as good in winning that race but also has a rotten barrier.
Kyle Mackey-Laws: 1. Gold Symphony, 2. Tower Of Song, 3. Nat King Cu
John Scorse tips: 1. Handfast, 2. Gold Symphony, 3. Happy Clapper.
Race 5: Canberra Guineas 1400m: Not the strongest edition of the guineas but there's still a few classy ones here that should battle out the finish. Victorian raider Extra Olives was very good when second in the Vanity over this journey at Flemington. She's drawn terribly though which has me leaning towards Bryneich, who boxed on solidly for fourth in the Hobartville last start in the bog. He's drawn the No.1 gate and should get the perfect run. Gai Waterhouse has Sedanzer entered - she's coming here off a couple of trials and has to be respected. Didnt Even Kiss Me was thrown in the deep end first up in the group 2 Armanasco and was soundly beaten. He's a speedy type and could give them something to chase in the straight. Ebenos ran on only fairly in a small field at Rosehill but gives the impression he could benefit from 1400m.
Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Bryneich, 2. Extra Olives, 3. Sedanzer.
John Scorse tips: 1. Byrneich, 2. Extra Olives, 3. Eusebio.
Race 6: Canberra Cup 2000m: Red Excitement will once again lug around more than 60kg - something he's getting quite used to in recent races. He'll be asked to carry 62kg here and is the standout runner in the race. Classic Uniform edged him out in a head-bobbing finish in the Parramatta Cup but meets Red Excitement worse off in the weights on Sunday. Parramatta Cup fourth placegetter Dark Eyes has won very well since then and will be thereabouts in this. Coolcat Dancer earns his spot in this after winning the cup prelude carrying 61kg. He is going for a fifth consecutive win here and is the best local chance. Cool Chap comes here off the back of a disappointing run in the Hobart Cup, but his two runs prior were very good behind black-type horses. His placement here could be a savvy piece of training by the Freedman brothers.
Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Cool Chap, 2. Red Excitement, 3. Dark Eyes
John Scorse tips: 1. Dark Eyes, 2. Cool Chaps, 3. Classic Uniform.
Race 7: Black Opal Stakes 1200m: What once was one of the strongest Opals I've seen has been hard hit by scratchings. Magic Millions winner Houtzen opted to stay in Brisbane, Gunnison beat Menari to win the Todman in Sydney and From Within opted for the Reisling Stakes. Throw in Jukebox once again getting scratched by the stewards and there's a last-horse-standing feel about this year's Black Opal. Chauffeur chased home Houtzen to finish second behind the highly rated filly on the Gold Coast and has been drawn to get a gun run and will be motoring home. Muraaqeb absolutely flew home to salute with a withering last-to-first run on debut at Moonee Valley. The longer trip should suit to a tee. Matthew Dale's Mossman Gorge is the only local hope as the young Canberra trainer looks for his first Opal. He doesn't race many two-year-olds unless they're absolutely cherry ripe. Could pinch a place.
Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Chauffeur, 2. Muraaqeb, 3. Mossman Gorge.
John Scorse tips: 1. Chauffeur, 2. Jukebox, 3. Muraaqeb.
Race 8: Benchmark 65 Handicap 1200m: A good, strong benchmark race to finish the day, with plenty of chances. There's a big question mark over Ziganui carrying 63kg - that said he's excellent first up and has a good gate. Stablemate Like A Shot was a narrow second in the Jack Thomas - the first two put a gap on the rest of the field. He's flying and has every chance despite barrier 10. Know When To Hold Em loves racing at Canberra and has good first-up form. The big grey filly will start from a wide gate but that's not necessarily a bad thing for the backmarker. Curious to see how the John O'Shea-trained Pecans runs here. She was a good winner at her first start but struggled in her second preparation. O'Shea has given her three trials for this race and suspect he's not driving down the Hume Highway to make up the numbers.
Kyle Mackey-Laws tips: 1. Like A Shot, 2. Know When To Hold Em, 3. Pecans
John Scorse tips: 1. Ziganui, 2. Like a Shot, 3. Pecans
Best Bet: Race 3, No.2 Almighty Girl
Next Best: Race 6, No.4 Cool Chap
Roughie: Race 2, No.10 Fabvier
