Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for November 14.
Australian thoroughbred meeting are today held at Canterbury, Gundagai, Ballina, Pakenham, Geelong, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Bordertown.
CANTERBURY: RACE 8 @ 9:30 PM
ISTOLEA MERC (1) dominated first-up over this distance at Warwick Farm then a step up to Saturday grade on a soft track didn't work out last start. Genuine gelding who reunites with Ash Morgan who has won twice on him from just four rides. Perfectly placed to make amends. BALKANS (3) closed resolutely to finish fourth in the same race as Istolea Merc at Randwick last time out. Saves his best for 1100m at Canterbury so from gate one a long-awaited win is not out of the question. WAVE BREAKER (8) switched from Peter Snowden to Justin Drake before the last outing and met with immediate success in a BM82 over 1000m at Scone. Kept fresh for this as she likes it. Makes plenty of appeal from a favourable draw on the limit weight. APEX (5) is back after a 20-week spell. Opened last prep with a second under 61kgs in a BM64 over this course and distance. Recent trial winner who looks wound up for a big performance. Last start Hawkesbury winner INOUE (7) is up in grade but worth considering.
SELECTIONS: Keen to be with Istolea Merc.
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GUNDAGAI: RACE 2 @ 1:35 PM
ESCARGOES (2) progressive three-year-old gelded over the break. Finished in the minor money at his first two starts on the provincial circuit. Fitted with the two trials and the winkers come off. Hard to stop. UNCLE BARRY (1) Kembla-trained gelding close to shedding his maiden status. Shouldered the 59kg from the good draw when third over 1000m at Kembla Grange. That form looks good enough for this and placed at the trip. ARTFUL LADY (12) rolled forward from the sticky draw on debut when a respectable third over 1200m at Queanbeyan. Sure to take a lot from that hitout and will appreciate the claim again. Leading contender. APPLE EYES (11) fitter after the two career starts and gets every chance from the low draw. Surged late in the heavy (9) going when a courageous fourth in a 1300m contest at Wangaratta. Respect.
SELECTIONS: Escargoes finds a winnable contest.
BALLINA: RACE 7 @ 4:54 PM
CERTIFIED COPY (1) brought strong relative from to resumption but looked short of a run in much stronger at Eagle Farm. The lightly-raced galloper won his only second-up start easily at Doomben and the 3kg claim takes care of most of the weight rise. Suited and quick improvement is on the cards. BELLZEN (3) ran into a place here second-up and has more to give over the longer sprint. Has the rail and is still well shy of his best. CARDSHARP (4) raced favourite at Lismore first up but lacked a kick after settling well back. He will have to do it the hard way again, but the longer journey suits and his best would see him in the finish. PRIVATE TENDER (6) led and placed at Lismore two back over 1310m, and that form would see him get some of the cash.
SELECTIONS: Certified Copy if the betting suggests stable confidence.
PAKENHAM: RACE 3 @ 7:15 PM
FORCEOFONE (6) on top. He ran a good race first up at Sale in what was a strongly run affair, battling away well for third having started firmly in the market in a G3 race on debut before the spell. He's bred to get a trip so rising to 1400m second up looks perfect. RATHLIN EXPRESS (7) comes through the same race at Sale, finishing fourth on that occasion when not far behind Forceofone. Tricky draw here but he can roll forward and give a sight. JUSTIBELLA (9) was disappointing at her second start staying at 1200m at Ballarat last time but had shown promise on debut and rising in trip should suit. MOONBOLT (5) just missed fresh at Warrnambool in an encouraging effort. Bit more depth here but 1400m looks ideal. BACK FOR MORE (1) could be an improver in his second campaign.
SELECTIONS: Forceofone to win.
GEELONG: RACE 4 @ 2:55 PM
REGENERATION (7) returned last time with a solid second at Sale over 1200m after being prominent at the bend. Needs to be at his best to beat this field but he deserves his chance. MERIMBULA (6) didn't hit the mark when highly-fancied in two runs in the debut campaign, but was far from disgraced and has looked good in a couple of Mornington jumpouts in preparation for the return. TSAVO (8) resumed from a spell last start with a sound third over 1000m at Bendigo when he made late ground. Must raise the bar but he has the talent to test this line-up. VALEDICTORIAN (9) is ready to break through after collecting his 4th minor placing in a row last time over 1000m at Cranbourne. Should camp just off the leaders. Meets some better types this time but he has the talent to test this line-up.
SELECTIONS: Regeneration to win.
SUNSHINE COAST: RACE 3 @ 7:38 PM
The well-related SHAKO (2) (half to G2 winner Arcaded) absolutely loves this track and trip with three wins and four seconds from just seven starts and has been racing with a lot of confidence this campaign. Gets some weight off with the 3kg claim and should be right there when the judge calls a halt. XPRESSO (4) hasn't been too far off them in harder contests of late and will be rock-hard fit for this. Respect from the Vandyke barn. SUPER DAISY (3) strips fitter second-up from the break and is another to get some weight off with the claim. Top-three prospects. ALLOUTATIME (7) is drawn favourably from the inside marble and is sure to give backers a sight.
SELECTIONS: Shako to continue the rich vein of form.
ROCKHAMPTON: RACE 6 @ 5:43 PM
HYDE PARK (3) has threatened his last two at Townsville, and his effort in Open grade two back over this distance reads the best. Races here for the first time and Huxtable is a positive jockey engagement. Rates well. DARLING CLEMENTINE (6) has put together two wins at the track, the latest over 1500m when she got home by 2.2L. This is a bit tougher, but she keeps improving and this is within her scope. JOURNALISM (1) finished third last start over 1460m at Home Hill, beaten 1.5L. Goes up a rung or two, but he has a handy 2kg claim and is capable of running into placings. CITIROC (7) proved too strong two runs ago but couldn't follow that up last time. He's capable of filling a minor slot.
SELECTIONS: Going with Hyde Park.
BORDERTOWN: RACE 4 @ 3:50 PM
Super competitive heat of the country sprint series. VEXATIOUS DANCER (3) is hard to go past. Game in defeat in town at Morphettville fresh then out sped over at Moonee Valley last time. Back a long way in grade and will take catching around here. QUIK RHAPID (2) finished last fresh but blew the start and was never in it from there. Best form measures right up to this level and fitter for the run is worth another chance. SIR RANDOLPH (5) resumes and while yet to win fresh is well placed this level. Placed over 1200m when last resuming and expected to be in the finish. EL PASO CITIE (9) is another resuming. Goes well here and drawn to stalk the leaders throughout Will be tough to stop late. ELLIOTTO (6) resumes from a long break and is well placed here on best figures. Another who will be charging late.
SELECTIONS: Follow in on Vexatious Dancer.
