Key Factors: Country Championships
Published: 19 Feb 2016
Country form - Neville Layt, pictured with Red Excitement, often finds a city-class horse
The Country Championships Qualifiers kick off tomorrow at Goulburn with a maximum capacity field over 1,400 metres. There are chances everywhere you look and with bold statements being made by most of the trainers, you can be sure the betting action will be heated too.
Our Analyst Team comments on each runner and gives a Key Factors assessment of the winner.
"She'll sit up and be counted tomorrow.. She's going great."
Neville Layt, Trainer of Grand Proposal
1. HUDSON COUNTY Joe Cleary (Queanbeyan)
Form: Tough staying type coming into this off a 63 day freshen, before which he finished a mediocre 3rd of 6 over 2200m in Open company at Doomben.
Verdict: Has some talent, but hard to see him having the speed needed over 1400m on a dry Goulburn track.
2. LOFTY'S MENU John Bateman (Goulburn)
Form: Genuine chaser that had swept home best off a good tempo first-up at Canberra, storming clear by 2.5 lengths over 1200m in BM 75 grade (soft track).
Verdict: Enjoyed the conditions last time, may be a touch short in the market on a drier track.
3. BANK ON HENRY Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones (Canberra)
Form: Won last two at Wagga Wagga, latest a 0.8 length victory in Class 4 grade over 1300m.
Verdict: Drawn barrier 20 which makes it very hard.
4. KARAKUCHI Matthew Dale (Canberra)
Form: Not much luck when 3rd to LOFTY'S MENU last start over 1200m in BM 75 grade (soft track).
Verdict: Strong mare, but finding excuses and maybe not quite at best.
5. LANI GIRL Luke Price (Nowra)
Form: Hit the line late to win a 1200m BM 70 race on a heavy track at Kembla Grange.
Verdict: Hit and miss record, scoring 5 wins and no places from 14 starts. Could surprise.
Hot and cold - Lani Girl is a hard galloper to follow with varied form
6. BRING A SECRET Nick Olive (Canberra)
Form: Back to easier grade for two wins, latest a dominant 3.3 length win in Class 2 company over 1200m at the Sapphire Coast.
Verdict: Going well and still on the improve as a 3yo. Right in it.
7. BECAUSE WE ALL CAN Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones (Canberra)
Form: Raced on the pace and finished 5th behind LOFTY'S MENU over 1200m on a soft track.
Verdict: Drawn very wide in 19 and might be spent before the turn.
8. ROSE OF MAN Terry Robinson (Shoalhaven Heads)
Form: Raced in the worst ground and still managed 3rd over 1200m at Randwick in a Class 3 Highway Handicap
Verdict: Has great form, but she's a powerful sprinter up to 1400m for the first time.
9. SHUTTER BUG Danny Williams (Goulburn)
Form: Ran a good 3rd to All Cerise at Randwick over 1600m before running on late over 1250m in a BM 72 at Canterbury.
Verdict: Drawn well in 4 and has the right form-lines.
10. GRAND PROPOSAL Neville Layt (Queanbeyan)
Form: Made ground up the inside (bias against) when a 3.7L 7th over 1200m in Randwick Class 3
Verdict: Value each-way chance up in distance.
11. NORTHERN FURY Matthew Dale (Canberra)
Form: Some excuses when 6th over 1250m at Canterbury in a BM 67 following solid 3rd to Kangarilla Joy.
Verdict: Talented mare with 3 wins from 7 starts, but might be better fresh?
12. VISION AND VERSE Joseph Ible (Moruya)
scratched
13. HERMOSA BEACH Matthew Dale (Canberra)
Form: Racing well, following up two wins with a 3rd over 1500m at Rosehill on a heavy track.
Verdict: Ticks the boxes and ideally suited at 1400m.
14. ASHJATA Danny Williams (Goulburn)
Form: Consistent form before an 84 day break, finishing up with a 3rd over 1500m in a Rosehill Highway Handicap Class 3.
Verdict: Could run on into a place if fit in the yard.
15. NIGHTS ON FIRE Norm Gardner (Canberra)
Form: Racing consistently last three starts, finishing 2.5L 2nd to LOFTY'S MENU last start over 1200m on soft ground.
Verdict: In form mare with an each-way chance.
16. LA BELLA ROUGE Danny Williams (Goulburn)
Form: 7th last start over 1250m in a Canterbury BM 67, following 5th in a Randwick BM 67 over 1400m.
Verdict: Overall ratings a couple of lengths off the favourites.
17. OLD HABITS Kurt Goldman (Goulburn)
Form: Finished 7th in the Daybreak Lover over 1800m at the Gold Coast before a long break. Has trialed quietly.
Verdict: Unbeaten fresh and a definite knock-out hope if all is well in the yard.
18. DARTS AWAY Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones (Canberra)
Form: Finished 7th of 8 in a BM 67 over 1550m at Canterbury before a spell, and did win first-up last prep.
Verdict: Best ratings give some hope, but drawn barrier 17.
19. ISTANBUL Danny Williams (Goulburn)
Form: Freshened for 3 weeks following a 7th over 1500m on a heavy track.
Verdict: Better on dry now, but has only won 1 race and needs luck.
20. TIGER BY THE TALE Danny Williams (Goulburn)
Form: Won an easier BM 65 last start over 1200m after no match for HERMOSA BEACH start prior.
Verdict: Drawn well in 2 and could sneak a place.
Key Factor Assessment
Best Bets
SHUTTER BUG at $7
HERMOSA BEACH at $8
click here to bet on Goulburn Race 7 now
Overall Ratings
- HERMOSA BEACH 12.0
- SHUTTER BUG 12.0
- BRING A SECRET 11.5
- ROSE OF MAN 11.0
- OLD HABITS 10.5
- NORTHERN FURY 10.5
- LOFTY'S MENU 10.5
- KARAKUCHI 10.0
- LANI GIRL 9.5
- GRAND PROPOSAL 9.0