Australian Racing: Kings Valley eyeing Albury crown

There are a number of meetings scheduled to take place on Friday, including at Ipswich and Cranbourne.

Race 6 Cranbourne

No New Tricks @ 6.00

Race 6 Ipswich

Deep Fury @ 2.90

Race 7 Albury

Kings Valley @ 3.40

Tricks to salute at Cranbourne

Seven races have been programmed at Cranbourne with the penultimate contest a 1400m Benchmark 58 handicap.

A good 3 track is expected with the Gavin Bedggood-trained Highlands expected to jump as favourite.

The gelding registered his first victory when taking out a metro maiden over 1400m on the Lakeside track at Sandown last month.

This son of Sidestep went on to prove that he can be competitive against winners when beaten less than a length into second in a 1500m Benchmark 64 handicap on the Hillside course at Sandown.

Logan Bates takes a valuable two-kilograms off the four-year-old’s back and he is expected to go well jumping from barrier six.

The locally-trained veteran NO NEW TRICKS is the selection here however, with the nine-year-old having won at this venue in the past.

No New Tricks recorded a number of good placed efforts last year, including when third in a Benchmark 58 handicap over 1600m at Bairnsdale in September.

Alan Keenan’s representative was spelled following a down the field effort at Mount Gambier in September and he resumed in a seven-runner event at Moonee Valley two weeks ago.

Dropping to 1200m, the son of Fighting Sun belied his $26 starting price to deliver a good first up effort in being beaten less than three-and-a-half-lengths into fourth in a Benchmark 64 handicap.

No New Tricks is expected to have improved for that effort and stepping up in distance he is taken to deliver the eighth win of his career.

Fury for Ipswich success

A soft 6 track is expected at Ipswich with the sixth race of the day a 1700m Benchmark 0-58 handicap.

Angela Jones’ mount Jorum is expected to have her supporters, having registered a number of good efforts in defeat since breaking through for her first win at Toowoomba in November.

The four-year-old won over 1625m when racing on a sound surface that day, with her subsequent placed efforts including a third at the same venue when racing over 1890m in early January.

This daughter of Kermadec had his jockey here up when finishing fifth in a Toowoomba Class 1 plate event held over 2150m last month on her most recent start.

Kevin Kemp’s filly has been freshened since that effort and, while she rates highly, DEEP FURY is preferred in this event.

The son of Deep Field showed good form in defeat last prep, including when beaten just over two lengths when third on a heavy surface at Nowra.

This gelding was spelled following that effort and, while he could finish only eighth first up this time around, he was beaten just over two lengths over 1100m at Beaudesert that day.

Two improved efforts have followed, with the pick beaten just half-a-length when finishing fourth in a Class 3 handicap held on good going at Warwick at the start of this month.

Jack Bruce’s representative boasts a good barrier here and he looks capable of saluting stepping up in distance.

Valley for Gold Cup glory

The seventh race at Albury, the Listed Albury Gold Cup carries Big Dance Eligibility with a good 4 track expected for the 2000m contest.

Ciaron Maher-trained KINGS VALLEY takes the eye here, having won three of his last five starts, including when racing over this distance at Randwick at the start of this month.

The four-year-old came home nearly one-and-a-half-lengths clear of his rivals when contesting a Benchmark 88 handicap that day and he has forecast underfoot conditions to suit here.

Prior to that, Kings Valley had lost out by a length when runner-up over the same distance in a Flemington Benchmark 78 handicap last month.

The winner of that Flemington contest Revelare was completing a four-timer that day and he went on to continue his winning run with success over the same track and trip subsequently.

Kerrin McEvoy is a positive jockey booking for the son of Territories who is expected to prove hard to beat in this field.