Having trouble picking a winner on Sunday? Here's how Kyle Mackey-Laws thinks the racing will unfold.
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Race 1: ActewAGL Maiden Plate (1200m)
Peter and Paul Snowden-trained COURTZA KING looks our best chance of a winning start. Nothing went right on debut at Canterbury and still almost won. He'll strip fitter for that run and can salute. KEIKOSAN has been thereabouts in all three of her starts and must be included. LA BELLA ROUGE is first-up after a long spell but was less than five lengths behind subsequent group1 winner Peggy Jean last year and that form is good enough here.
Selections: 3. Courtza King, 11. Keikosan, 12. La Bella Rouge
Race 2: XXXX Gold Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200)
Tough race with fancied runners drawing off the track. Going with local hope GOCUP BELLE despite barrier 16. Looked very good when second in a stronger race at Canterbury last start. EXERT is moving through the grades and produced a gutsy win last start at Gosford. Has master hoop James McDonald on board. TABLETOP has strong first-up form and will benefit from a hot speed.
Selections: 5. Gocup Belle, 12. Exert, 8. Table Top
Race 3: Barlens Camarena Quality Handicap (1000m)
Difficult to go past DIAMOND OASIS - 59.5kg is a more-than-respectable weight for this race. Barrier 7 and Hugh Bowman are two big ticks. Has won two trials in the lead up to this and is normally very strong fresh. ROSE OF FALVELON won this race last year and is every chance of going back-to-back. Three from four at the track and is a genuine performer first-up. THE MONSTAR gets weight relief off a strong showing at Moonee Valley last start and can be a nuisance.
Selections: 1. Diamond Oasis, 5. Rose Of Falvelon, 8. The Monstar
Race 4: Mercedes Benz Canberra National Sprint (1400m)
He's a hard horse to follow but DARCIWOOD finally put it all together first-up at Randwick over 1200m and appears to have plenty of upside from that run. MIGHTY LUCKY hasn't been far behind some talented horses this prep and can win this. Local hope JUST A BLUR was huge when finishing 3.6-lengths behind Catkins in the group 2 Breeders Classic last start. This is much easier.
Selections: 6. Darciwood, 1. Mighty Lucky, 8. Just A Blur
Race 5: Premier Racing Partnerships Canberra Guineas (1400m)
LADY SHARAPOVA gets the nod. She's a proven winner first-up and has some very good form over the 1400m against some top-class three-year-olds. She should be flying late. MR BOGART has been top notch his last two starts and is every chance to continue his run here. Canberra hope AMERICAN TIME was excellent when fourth against the older horses last start and should relish the 1400m.
Selections: 8. Lady Sharapova; 2. Mr Bogart, 9. American Time
Race 6: tab.com.au Canberra Cup (200m)
Trying to talk myself out of BURBERO but he just needs to stay this trip out and he wins. Has been in tremendous form and was a narrow second last start over 1900m. Sticking with him but not convinced. SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD was a convincing last-start winner over this journey at Flemington but think this is harder. Looks the likely danger. Throwing LAIDBACK LARRY in - he should relish the distance and is due a strong run.
Selections: 1. Burbero, 5. Sir John Hawkwood, 6. Laidback Larry
Race 7: Seppelt Black Opal Stakes (1200m)
Think this could be one for the locals with SINGLE GAZE on top. She hasn't run a bad race and there are no doubts about her running out a strong 1200m. A little luck from gate 12 and she's going to be there a long time. Disregard ANTELUCAN'S last run - she looks the likely challenger. Can go forward or back from gate 7, and she'll be thereabouts. Stablemate CHAMARAL was very good when a neck-second last start. Before that he finished third to Golden Slipper fancy Vancouver.
Selections: 9. Single Gaze, 8. Antelucan, 2. Chamaral
Race 8: Canprint Communications Benchmark 65 Handicap (1400)
Going for the class runner - DIAMONDROCKER - to overcome the top weight and collect the chocolates in the last. He's been racing in better races than this and from gate 2 will get a dream run. Should have enough in the tank to win. THE WACO KID produced an eye-catching win at Goulburn last start and will only improve with Hugh Bowman on board. ALAGONIA can add some value to the trifecta after a belter of a run last start to win at Goulburn. Wide barrier suits as he'll head to the back and storm home.
Selections: 1. Diamondrocker, 6. The Waco Kid, 11. Alagonia
