Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Australian Capital Territory · Friday 7 August 2026
Our top pick won 4 of 7 races at Canberra Acton. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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Holds city-class form with a 4th in a BM64 at Canterbury and placings in her last two provincial runs. Barrier 1 gives her every chance to control a modest tempo, and Mathew Cahill is a strong booking. Rates as the chief threat on class but not the top selection.
Won over this exact 1206m trip at Canberra Acton on synthetic last start and is 2-from-3 at the course. Gets a huge weight swing with 53.5kg and barrier 2. The knock is the step up from BM50 grade to Class 2, but she is lightly raced and progressing.
Second-up today with a 2:1-1-0 record and has placed in 2 of 3 starts at this track. Drawn ideally in barrier 3 with her rider retaining the mount. The main query is the drop to 1206m where she is yet to win, but her on-pace pattern and proven track form make her the most likely winner.
Dale Cole rides in red-hot form.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Zou Royal | 1 | Mathew Cahill | J M Austin | 56.5kg | $2.60 |
| 2nd | 2 | Must Be Sain | 4 | Brodie Loy | Natalie Jarvis | 59kg | $7.00 |
| 3rd | 6 | Star Empire | 6 | Quayde Krogh | G G Kirkup | 55.5kg | $31.00 |
| 4th | 4 | Spice Alley | 2 | Erin Ellison | Rob Potter | 53.5kg | $8.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Give Me Joy | 3 | Jessica Brookes | K Dryden & L Snowden | 57kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Deekaygeebee | 7 | Dale Cole | Nell Foley | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Kotaishi | 5 | Matthew Kelley | 55kg |
Dunwithya lacks a win in this class but has been competitive around 2000m, including a second at Goulburn and a narrow fifth at Sapphire Coast. The inside-middle draw allows him to settle midfield and make his run at the 400m. The negatives are no Canberra Acton synthetic form, top weight, and a cold jockey, but his overall distance profile keeps him in the top three.
She has placed over 2200m, so the 1900m should suit, and she carries just 53kg.
Prophet's Promise is the form anchor. He wins this track and distance in Class 1 two starts back then ran a strong second under 59kg at Albury. From the inside gate he can sit on the speed or lead if pressure is required. The stable has him fit and Budler knows the horse. In a low-grade, high-variance race, he offers the most reliable winning chance.
Manzobeel looks the clear overlay. She finished fourth over this trip at Canberra Acton in a Class 1, then kept improving to win a Maiden at Albury before stepping back up. The jockey-trainer combination is strong and barrier 3 is ideal.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Tis No Man | 8 | Jeff Penza | N J Olive | 59kg | $3.50 |
| 2nd | 8 | Empire Time | 5 | Shaun Guymer | G P Vella | 56.5kg | $71.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | Dunwithya | 4 | Donovan Dillon | Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter | 59kg | $2.50 |
| 4th | 9 | Girl From Oz | 6 | Quayde Krogh | Maddison Collins | 55kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 2 | Pontiac | 2 | Glenn Cahill | N F Gardner | 57kg | $18.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Rita's Pearl | 9 | Robyn Freeman | P & M Cave | 57kg | $5.50 |
| Scr | 3 | Prophet's Promise | 1 | Damon Budler | K Dryden & L Snowden | 59kg | |
| Scr | 5 | Manzobeel | 3 | Jean Van Overmeire | Luke Pepper | 57kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Star Turn Dancer | 7 | Erin Ellison | Luke Pepper | 53kg |
Texan Star has been building towards a maiden win, with three fourths at this 1280m trip before a last-start second. From the inside draw he can stalk the speed and should be prominent at the 400m.
Jenni Moo Moo confirmed track affinity with a close second over 1080m here on July 8. She meets a slightly longer 1280m test but carries 2kg less than the top weights and has Damon Budler, who rides Canberra Acton well. The wide gate is the concern, but if she can slot into midfield with cover she rates as the main danger to the top selection.
However, he is winless in 11 and returns from a 193-day break with no first-up placings from two attempts. It is easy to see him running top three, but he may need this run to win.
Kip Star has shown enough on Canberra's synthetic surface with back-to-back thirds, and the step up to 1280m plus first-time blinkers could unlock improvement. His heavy-track failure last start is easy to forgive given today's synthetic surface and inside draw.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 | Kip Star | 3 | Shaun Guymer | G P Vella | 56.5kg | $4.60 |
| 2nd | 2 | Cold Mist | 5 | Quayde Krogh | Paul Murray | 59kg | $2.90 |
| 3rd | 5 | Texan Star | 2 | Brodie Loy | B Joseph & P & M Jones | 59kg | $3.40 |
| 4th | 3 | Entirely Oak | 1 | Molly Bourke | Greg Stephens | 59kg | $17.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Jenni Moo Moo | 8 | Damon Budler | Natalie Jarvis | 57kg | $4.80 |
| 6th | 1 | Captain Smoker | 9 | Jess Taylor | J M Austin | 59kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Monnie | 7 | Jordan Quince | Luke Pepper | 55kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Impending Fortune | 4 | Amy Mc Lucas | L T Hodgson | 59kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 7 | Kasumi | 6 | Dale Cole | D Wagstaff | 55kg | $81.00 |
He maps to be prominent in a moderate tempo and has the best current form of the field. The main knock is 64kg, but he has carried 63kg recently without issue.
Merchant Reign has the map and the surface form to improve sharply. He has a win and a place from three starts on the Canberra Acton synthetic, and barrier 1 allows economical positioning. His second-up record (1 win from 2) fits this return from a modest first-up run. Dale Cole is riding well.
Jukebox Flyer returned to form with a third placing in a BM60 over this track and distance on July 24, and the drop back to BM50 is a significant plus. She has placed in two of three starts at Canberra Acton and is tactically versatile. Jessica Brookes combines well with this stable. She lacks the winning habit of the top pick but represents the clear second string.
Jeff Penza is in good riding form and has 4 wins from 43 rides at this track.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Merchant Reign | 1 | Dale Cole | Luke Clarke | 59.5kg | $3.60 |
| 2nd | 8 | Prophet Time | 5 | Jeff Penza | G P Vella | 60kg | $19.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | On Point Pixie | 7 | Quayde Krogh | Matthew Kelley | 61kg | $16.00 |
| 4th | 11 | Beau Rock | 11 | Teaghan Martin | G P Vella | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Melodia Perfecta | 3 | Erin Ellison | Aaron Clarke | 56.5kg | $6.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Too Darn Sassy | 8 | Jordan Quince | B Joseph & P & M Jones | 57.5kg | $11.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Sir Lunchalots | 10 | Glenn Cahill | Anthony Warren | 61kg | $4.60 |
| 8th | 6 | Cassimir | 2 | Molly Bourke | P Waters | 60kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 1 | Geostorm | 9 | Brodie Loy | Greg Stephens | 64kg | $4.40 |
| 10th | 10 | Media Coverage | 4 | Jean Van Overmeire | Greg Stephens | 58.5kg | $20.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Jukebox Flyer | 6 | Jessica Brookes | K Dryden & L Snowden | 58kg |
La Stiava is the clear class runner in this maiden, dropping from Group 3 and Open company. The 151-day freshen-up and winless record are concerns, but this is the easiest assignment of her career and the stable has her primed. If she reproduces her best, she should prove too classy for these.
The unknown is her race-day temperament with first-time bubble cheeker and ear muffs. She may lack the exposed form of the top picks, but her profile is dangerous and she is a legitimate place chance.
Three Wishes represents the consistent form runner, having finished runner-up at this track and distance 13 days ago. She has placed in three of her four starts and already has a placing on the synthetic surface. The addition of blinkers may provide the extra sharpness needed to break her maiden, though the 59kg top weight and wide gate make it tough. She is the clear second pick on form and should be in the finish.
She has placed in half of her six starts, including thirds at Quirindi and Port Macquarie, and now gets the benefit of an inside gate, low weight and blinkers for the first time. Dale Cole is riding at 30% over the last 20 starts. Each-way value.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 | La Stiava | 7 | Mathew Cahill | N F Gardner | 56kg | $3.60 |
| 2nd | 5 | Avalon Lady | 8 | Molly Bourke | T J Wilson | 56kg | $61.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Deeply | 4 | Jeff Penza | G P Vella | 56.5kg | $4.60 |
| 4th | 2 | Lavender Rose | 5 | Jean Van Overmeire | Luke Pepper | 58kg | $1.65 |
| 5th | 10 | Rosary Sister | 3 | Robyn Freeman | Anthony Warren | 56kg | $81.00 |
| 6th | 3 | The One | 1 | Adrian Layt | Tash Burleigh | 57.5kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 7 | Gunna Reign | 6 | Damon Budler | D Wagstaff | 56kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 8 | Krasaki | 2 | Dale Cole | D Wagstaff | 54kg | $61.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Three Wishes | 9 | Jess Taylor | J M Austin | 59kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Eighteen Months | 10 | J Rolfe | 56kg |
His 1000m speed translates well to 1080m, and with a good draw he should land in the first half. No synthetic experience is the main query, but his class and fitness edge make him the most likely winner.
Sunrise Ridge has the strongest pure strike rate in the race and comes off a solid BM64 metropolitan placing, following a BM66 win at Moruya. However, she is untested on the synthetic and faces a significant class rise, so her place claims are stronger than her win claims.
He maps favourably from barrier 3 with in-form rider Damon Budler and should be strong late. The query is whether he can convert minor placings into a win at this elevated grade, but he rates clearly second best.
Hellinda is the value runner after breaking through in a BM66 last start. He gets every chance from the inside gate with 53.5kg and should settle close to the speed in a moderately run 1080m.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Action King | 4 | Erin Ellison | Rob Potter | 57kg | $1.85 |
| 2nd | 6 | Sunrise Ridge | 5 | Amy Mc Lucas | G Backhouse | 55kg | $8.00 |
| 3rd | 3 | Hellinda | 1 | Rochelle Wedrat-Kroezen | Danielle Seib | 53.5kg | $8.50 |
| 4th | 2 | Cougars | 2 | Jordan Quince | B Joseph & P & M Jones | 53.5kg | $2.90 |
| 5th | 4 | Cholante | 6 | Jean Van Overmeire | Luke Pepper | 55kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 5 | Famoso | 3 | Damon Budler | Rob Potter | 55kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Stupendo | 8 | Jeff Penza | Matthew Kelley | 55kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Getty | 7 | Matthew Kelley | 55kg |
Bombelleistic is the clear form anchor. He beat Sunburnt Country over this course and distance in July and returns to his preferred synthetic surface after an forgive run on soft ground at Wyong. From barrier 1 he can either lead or stalk the pace and is proven to handle the trip. His 21% career win rate is the best among the main chances and his track/distance record stands at one win from one start. The slight class rise to BM70 is a query, but his tactical advantages and proven synthetic form make him the most likely winner.
Sunburnt Country has the strongest synthetic track profile in the field, with two wins from three starts at Canberra Acton and a placing over this exact 1750m trip. He was beaten only a length by Bombelleistic when they met here in July and now meets that horse with a slightly better weight spread. The 2400m run at Kembla Grange last start can be treated as a fitness sharpener rather than a true guide. If he reproduces his earlier Canberra Acton form, he is the main danger despite the class rise.
Remadosi has been extremely consistent around this trip, placing in both career starts at the 1750m at Canberra Acton. She finished third in the same BM65 race won by Tillman on 24 July, beaten less than a length, and should be fitter again. From barrier 3, Quayde Krogh can settle her midfield with cover and make her run from the 400m.
He won this exact course and distance in BM65 on 24 July, holding off Flashy Icon and Remadosi, and now comes in lighter at 53kg. With only one genuine leader in the race, he is the likely pace controller and Canberra Acton's slow tempo should suit a horse able to dictate.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Bombelleistic | 1 | Brodie Loy | B Joseph & P & M Jones | 59.5kg | $3.50 |
| 2nd | 3 | Remadosi | 3 | Quayde Krogh | B Joseph & P & M Jones | 57.5kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Sunburnt Country | 4 | Damon Budler | Natalie Jarvis | 56kg | $2.80 |
| 4th | 7 | Tillman | 8 | Dale Cole | Greg Stephens | 53kg | $26.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Flashy Icon | 6 | Jeff Penza | Rob Potter | 55kg | $6.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Devine Outcast | 5 | Molly Bourke | Pat Murphy | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 1 | Sunsource | 2 | Shaun Guymer | Robert Quinn | 61.5kg | $11.00 |
| 8th | 8 | Beauer | 7 | Jean Van Overmeire | Paul Murray | 55kg | $16.00 |
| 9th | 9 | Onya Lional | 9 | Amy Mc Lucas | G P Vella | 55kg | $71.00 |
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