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Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for February 09.
Australian thoroughbred Tab meetings are today held at Canterbury, Moonee Valley, Walcha, Oakbank, Albany, Canberra, Hobart, Colac and Darwin.
CANTERBURY: RACE 7 @ 9:00 PM
ROYAL INVADER (5) holding form well and lone win came over the 1200m. Ran on late in stronger company two back before dropping back in trip when third over 1100m at Randwick Kensington on January 17. Will take running down here. LITTLE BAIA (10) fitter after two runs back and goes well this course and distance. Finished off hard when second over 1200m at Goulburn on January 30. Maps well and not to be underestimated. ALWAYS IN (7) racing in good form this time in after hitting the line late when third over 1400m at Newcastle on January 27. Looks good each way value. GOLDEN GATE (3) undefeated in two first-up runs and has the early speed to get across from the wide gate. Not asked to do much in two recent trials and market moves must be monitored.
SELECTIONS: Royal Invader to win.
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MOONEE VALLEY: RACE 1 @ 6:15 PM
MY NAME IS (6) has run second in both runs to date and will be well fancied to go one better here. Turned over at very short odds at Sale last time, he was equally good on debut at Mornington and 1000m around here will suit. CAPZINZI (13) resumes. Three runs in Sydney in her first campaign were solid against some handy opposition over a bit further. Suited this level, trip is the query. SON OF ZORRO (1) was good in a small field first up at Cranbourne with scope to improve. CORE CONCEPT (4) looks suited staying at 1000m and will give a sight.
SELECTIONS: My Name Is to win.
WALCHA: RACE 4 @ 2:45 PM
OMIANS (10) just missed the placings in a driving finish when fresh from a spell last start over 1400m at Tamworth. Found her best form last prep when she got the mile and beyond so this is a perfect progression. AVALICIOUS (5) stalked the leading division then tried hard but just missed the placings last time out over 1600m at Parkes. Has raced four times at today's journey for three minor placings. Sure to be about the mark. BILL PEYTO (6) is on a six-day back-up after charging home to score narrowly over 1600m at Tamworth. Facing a tougher assignment today but he is worth each-way consideration. GANGPLANK (4) has switched stables since a tidy win over 1800m at Horsham eight weeks ago. Will improve on what he does today but do not underestimate. The in-form AWAYGOESTHEBUNNY (1) missed the hat trick by a head last start over 1600m at Gunnedah. New to this trip but going too well to rule out.
SELECTIONS: Keen on Omians.
OAKBANK: RACE 3 @ 4:40 PM
SEVEN SHOTS (6) resumes. Struggled to make an impact in his debut prep but looks to have progressed nicely during the break, judging his handy trial win in readiness. Has a wide alley to overcome but is expected to make a bright return. UTILITARIAN (8) is another that's ready to make his return. Showed positive signs in his debut prep, despite finishing outside of the placings. Hasn't been seen at public trials but is expected to have taken improvement during the break. Right in the mix fresh. SLIM JIM (12) has been thereabouts in his debut but has just been lacking the winning blow. This doesn't look as tough and the inside draw should see him settling in a favourable position. Among the key chances this time. TENTERK (7) resumes and looks best of the rest. Worth including.
SELECTIONS: Backing Seven Shots to win.
ALBANY: RACE 2 @ 2:46 PM
WHY ME (5) has spent much of his life racing in much tougher company and now drops back to Maiden grade at Provincial level. No trials coming in, but he brings the best form and Kennedy strikes at 13% when riding for Wolfe. Looks set for a winning return. SPEARFISH (8) ran on strongly when a big price at Mt Barker last start and rates well off that effort. She mightn't be far off the pace from the inside draw and if she can repeat her latest effort, she should be right in the finish. SUPER SNIPPY (1) gets the blinkers on first time after a sound effort at Bunbury. This looks a slightly easier event this time and the Blinkers may be what he needs to spark him up. Can improve. FLYING SOUTH (6) hasn't been sighted publicly since December but can bob up in a race appearing to lack depth. SOSIPATRA (9) looks best of the rest.
SELECTIONS: Keen on Why Me.
CANBERRA: RACE 6 @ 5:03 PM
BON FRANKIE (5) brought strong form to resumption and missed a lip at Moruya. Matched his best after that winning a Highway at Rosehill. Stays down in the weights in stronger and maps for a soft run. He can go back-to-back. DORAMI (6) improved again when beaten a lip in a Randwick Highway and then found a place here in Open grade as a short-priced favourite. She will ride the speed from an inside gate and has won 2/2 at this course/distance. Freshened and is a live chance. Ditto ROUGE LUNE (7) was plainer second-up but ran a strong figure on resumption and will be sharper today. Has the early speed to offset the awkward barrier. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2) won an Open easily here and then came back and disappointed in the same grade. Probably needs the cut out of the ground and may get that. KING GUTHO (3) finds it hard to win but is going well enough to fill a slot.
SELECTIONS: Backing Bon Frankie.
HOBART: RACE 7 @ 6:34 PM
YELLOW SAM (7) spiked her figures second-up winning a 70 easily at Geelong building on the near miss at Mooney Valley. That form reads well and she tumbles in weight at this level. She has been briefly freshened and will position forward. Rates to be winning. GIVE GIGGLES (14) has won three of her last four with the latest by a space in a Ballarat 70. Has been kept up to the mark with a big 1000m trial win at Geelong. Has the early speed to offset the awkward barrier and is a player. JAGUAR STONE (5) is a local busting to win. Measure on the narrow defeat two-back in the Listed Newmarket. Peaks and is a hope. MEGAMEA (1) surprised the market when finding a place in the Listed Pearl Stakes at Geelong 34 days ago. Gives away starts but will be fitter and shouldn't be underestimated. Ditto BELSIELLE (2) building on the narrow defeat in a Moonee Valley 78.
SELECTIONS: Backing Yellow Sam.
COLAC: RACE 3 @ 2:20 PM
MICK DUNDEEL (6) was well in the betting at Geelong on debut and didn't disgrace when a close-up third behind Vilnius. That galloper was then not too far away in town at his next outing. Sure to have come on with race experience and strikes a very winnable contest here. Rates the testing material. The well-related OBSESSIVE MAID (10) (half to G2 winner and G1 placed Moonlight Maid) was okay over this mile journey when resuming and will strip fitter for that hit-out. Doesn't need to improve much to play a role in the outcome. GOATS ON OATS (2) is unlucky to still be a maiden hitting the top-five at his past eight starts. A must for the multiples. CHURCHIE GIRL (9) next in line in a race with only a handful of chances.
SELECTIONS: Mick Dundeel to salute.
DARWIN: RACE 4 @ 4:35 PM
MR HAVE A CHAT (5) did not come up as expected in 3 starts last prep and was moved on to the local Chris Nash stable. He normally needs a run fresh up but it has been less than 6 weeks since his last start at Morphettville and with his position in the weights, he is capable of taking out a race like this. Watch the markets closely. EL MAGNIFICENCE (3) is a tough local veteran who is building towards his next win after 3 second placings in a row most recently. This is his best trip and he will be hard to beat. CANTON KID (2) went for a spell after a brace of wins during the winter months last year. He comes to hand quickly and a win would be no surprise. PATRIOTIC KING (6) is resuming from a short spell and the small field will suit him. He is well placed at the weights. Can win.
SELECTIONS: Mr Have A Chat to win.
