Black Opal Stakes & Canberra Cup Day Preview: Dean Watling’s best bets

Summary of Best Bets

Best Bet: Race 3 (3) Vella’s Best
Next Best: Race 8 (1) Travolta
Best Value: Race 5 (6) Rivendell

Race by race overview

R3

Keen to side with the locally trained Vella’s Best in race 3 here, a talented type who has more ability than the market suggests. He has been well backed off a smart trial and brings strong metro formlines to this event. Will start shorter. Soul Lady is the danger, new camp and trialled well at Queanbeyan. Draws well but may want 1200m+. The stablemate to the favourite Major Time is going well, an upset wouldn’t surprise and he’s a must in the multiples. Panic rounds out the numbers coming off a forgive run last time in.

Selections:
3 Vella’s Best
11 Soul Lady
8 Major Time
7 Panic

Suggested Bet – Vella’s Best Win

R4

Cracking Maiden plate. Happy to put Cosmic Eagle on top, she brings the best formlines around Bubble’s Up and Spice Prawn, he peaks fitness wise and should find the leader’s back. Superata maps ideally here first-up off a freshen, smart tick-over trial and the horse who beat him in that trial came out to win yesterday at Hawkesbury. Your Chilli was back and wide on debut at Canterbury, a much better map here second-up and the rise to 1300m suits. Rach is next best but draws poorly.

Selections:
12 Cosmic Eagle
1 Superata
7 Your Chilli
9 Rach

Suggested Bet – Cosmic Eagle Win

R5

The Canberra Guineas comes up in race number 5. 1400m with plenty of speed expected up front, happy to put Rivendell on top here rising to the 1400m. His last 200m was the strongest fresh over 1200m and he can only improve here and is big odds. The fast tempo is the only query for the current short-priced favourite Watson. He brings clearly the best formlines around Tempted and co to this event, maps to find the front and is the horse to beat. 1400m needs to be ticked now. Transcend draws well after a disappointing first-up run, back to 3yo grade and can improve. Aerodrome rounds out the numbers, very much suited up in trip now.

Selections:
6 Rivendell
3 Watson
10 Transcend
1 Aerodrome

Suggested Bet – Rivendell Win

R6

The National Sprint comes up over the 1400m for R6. Not a whole lot of speed expected up front. Can’t understand how Hellsing isn’t favourite for this event, he’s racing in career best form and in a race that doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of speed, he should get a lovely run from the inside draw. Cool Jakey should come on strongly second-up after a game 1300m effort fresh, poor draw but the kind nature of the 1600m start helps. Magnatear is another who’ll roll forward and land on speed, again drawn out but that shouldn’t matter, 1600m now the query. The consistent Welwal brings a completely different formline to this event and can improve second-up. Right in the mix.

Selections:
9 Hellsing
4 Cool Jakey
5 Magnatear
1 Welwal

Suggested Bet – Hellsing Win

R7

Not the strongest edition of the Black Opal. Pearl Of Dubai goes on top, smart debut behind Chilly Girl and has since trialled well. The gate is the big worry but we will put our faith in Adkins. Intrigued to see what the market does with Artaneous, solid trial off the back of a break, in-form camp and maps ideally. Eviction Notice will offset the draw with a positive ride, he’s going well and should find this easier but does still need to improve. The locally trained Music Time goes in the mix, back-to-back wins and should roll forward from the draw.

Selections:
9 Pearl Of Dubai
15 Artaneous
4 Eviction Notice
3 Music Time

Suggested Bet – No Bet

R8

We see the Canberra Cup now on the Sunday and it’s a cracking edition to kick off the change. Travolta goes on top, smart 2000m record and comes through a very strong rating last start 1900m clash. Peaks now third-up and should roll forward. Sam Hawkens gets the winkers on first time, he didn’t have much room late fresh behind Travolta, sharp improver. Flying Bandit goes in the mix, glorified trial first-up over the 1400m. Straight to 2000m now is a big watch. Nellie Laylax goes in the mix, tricky horse to get a guide on but should get a very soft lead here.

Selections:
1 Travolta
7 Sam Hawkens
8 Flying Bandit
6 Nellie Laylax

Suggested Bet – Travolta Win