One of the best betting programs on the Canberra racing calendar arrives on Friday in the form of their Preview Day.
A lead-in to Thoroughbred Park’s first million-dollar race day, which will be held on Sunday, March 10, the $50,000 Black Opal Preview (1000m) for the two-year-olds will headline Friday’s eight-race card
Complementing the event is the $40,000 Canberra Cup Preview (2000m), $40,000 National Sprint Preview (1200m), and the $40,000 Canberra Guineas Preview (1400m).
One local trainer looking forward to Friday who has runners in most events is Norm Gardner.
“It’s going to be terrific,” Gardner told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“This is always a good meeting, and the Black Opal meeting this year is really exciting with it being a million-dollar race day.
“It’s going to be hard for us local trainers, and with the two-day carnival, there were always three or four races we could win, but on the day, we’ll have to be at our best because they’ll all be Listed and Group 3 races.”
In a loaded National Sprint Preview, where a case could be made for most runners, Gardner will start the ever-consistent Dorami, which will jump from gate two with Jess Taylor aboard.
A three-time winner, Gardner said Dorami is in it to win it, but he has bigger goals in mind for the four-year-old, including the $150,000 South East Country Championships qualifier at Moruya on Sunday, March 3.
“Dorami is on a path to the Country Championship heat next Sunday,” Gardner said.
“I was going to trial her on Friday, but when there weren’t a lot of noms (nominations), I thought we would put her in.
“The race is worth $40,000, and it’s $24,000 to the winner, and it works out perfectly as it is nine days out from the qualifier.
“She is the sort of horse that needs a bit of work and racing, and I didn’t want to go into it too fresh.
“Don’t get me wrong, she will be trying and want to win, and it is just a really nice rice that comes up at the right time for her.”
The Dissident mare has been another success story for the stable after she failed to fire for the Richard and Will Freedman and Stephen O’Halloran yards.
She has started 14 times for the stable and finished in the top three on 11 occasions, earning T C Bloodstock almost $100,000.
“Richard Freedman had her and sacked her, and another bloke had her and couldn’t get her in the barriers, and the owners rang me up and asked if we wanted to have a go with her,” Gardner said.
“When she came to us, she was a handful to ride and do anything with, but she’s been a revelation, and she’s settled down.
“She still has that bit of mongrel in her and will to win, but she is good to ride.”
On the day, Gardner will unleash another potential star of the future in Dupli Kate, which is by Star Turn and out of a talented sprinter turned broodmare, Atom Eve.
Contesting the Black Opal Preview, connections have drawn well with gate three, and Jess Taylor takes the ride, but Gardner believes the race might arrive too soon for his two-year-old.
“She is a lovely horse with a bright future, but it might be a bit soon for her,” Gardner said.
“To be honest, I was going to trial her on Friday and run her Black Opal Day, but we thought we’d chuck the nom (nomination) in.
“She has only had the one trial under her belt, so she’ll be lacking experience, but I have a lot of time for her, and she will be a lot better next preparation.”
In the Canberra Guineas Preview, Dupli Kate’s half-sister Destructive Diva and stablemate Miss Ghent will go around.
Mathew Cahill takes the ride on Destructive Diva (gate 2), and Jess Taylor hops aboard Miss Ghent (gate 1).
“They are both very nice horses,” Gardner said.
“Miss Ghent might be a little bit better chance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either one beat the other one home, and for both of them, it is the right race at the right time.
“I wasn’t going to run Mis Ghent as she has a rating of 67, but she gets the two-kilo allowance for being a filly, and with 60kg, I thought I’d run her.
“If she were to win, she would be another one heading towards the Country Championships.”
Of his other chances, Gardner thinks Gatchan can run well in the 1600m Class One Handicap if she doesn’t start at Wagga on Sunday in the 1600m Class One/Maiden Plate.
“She’s been another revelation; early on, she was legless,” Gardner said.
“I told the owners, let’s get her to 2000m and see what happens, and she boulted in at Queanbeyan; since then, that has switched her right on, and she is a different horse.
“She might go to Wagga, but we expect her to run a nice race wherever we go.”
At Canberra, it will be a good day, and for those interested, the Thoroughbred Park members’ tipping competition is up to a whopping $98,000.
To become a member and get involved, click here.
For fields, click here.
