Australian Racing: Mister Popcorn to repeat at Albany

There are eight meetings taking place across the country on Sunday including at Albany, where an eight-race card is on the schedule.

They also race at Ballarat, Hobart, Narromine, Port Macquarie, Seymour, Toowoomba and Townsville.

Race 7 Albany

Mister Popcorn @ 23.00

Race 7 Port Macquarie

Via Vegas @ 6.00

Race 7 Ballarat

Brandjam @ 6.00

Mister Popcorn to crackle in Cup qualifier

The highlight at the aforementioned Albany meeting is the penultimate race on the card, The Road To The Jericho Cup WA Qualifier, a 3100m Benchmark 66+ handicap.

The Tony Triscari-trained Bernbrae has been competing in metro events of late and she is expected to jump as favourite here.

The five-year-old is a metro winner already this prep, having saluted over 2200m in an open contest at Ascot three starts back.

Two creditable efforts at the same venue followed, including when beaten just under three lengths into fourth over 2400m earlier this month.

The daughter of My Admiration holds obvious claims in this field, but she looks opposable, with last year’s winner MISTER POPCORN the selection here.

The six-year-old appeared to relish the step up to 3100m when coming home over four-and-a-half-lengths clear of his rivals here 12 months ago.

The gelding raced from the front on that occasion and, while he has yet to score in seven subsequent starts, they have all come over shorter distances.

The God Has Spoken gelding returned to action with a down the field effort when jumping at $31 for a 2200m event at Ascot recently.

The 23.00 pick is expected to have improved for that effort, his first start since October and it’s of note that Rosie Mahony, on board here last year partners the gelding for the first time since.

A wide barrier shouldn’t prove an issue over this distance and Ben Owen’s representative is taken to return to winning ways.

Looker to lead Via Vegas home

Nine races have been programmed for Port Macquarie, with the seventh race of the day a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap.

A heavy 8 track is expected for the race, with Kris Lees’ Chillcuz expected to feature prominently in the betting.

The three-year-old has made just three previous race starts, following up a second at Kempsey on debut with a victory by nearly a length over 1410m at Grafton two weeks later.

The Churchill filly failed to shine when eighth in a Class 1 handicap at Ballina when last in action back in December, however, that effort marked her only previous start on a wet track.

The Jonathan Smith-trained VIA VEGAS is the pick here, with the gelding having broken his maiden over 1206m at Ballina earlier this season.

The four-year-old came home over a length clear of his rivals when racing on a sound surface that day and, while unable to win since, he has delivered a number of good efforts in defeat.

Those include a third when dropped to 1000m for a Class 1 event at Taree in February, with the gelding given a break following that outing.

The 6.00 son of Boulder City came close to doubling his career tally when jumping from a wide barrier prior to finishing a close second over 1100m at this venue earlier this month.

Ben Looker, on board that day, is again set to ride here and, while his mount tackles heavy going for the first time, he appeared to handle a soft track in maiden company earlier in his career.

Brandjam ready for Ballarat win

The penultimate race on Ballarat’s eight-race card is a 1200m Benchmark 0-64 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Having demonstrated ability when runner-up over 1000m at Mornington on debut, BRANDJAM broke through for his first win at Moonee Valley on his second start.

The 6.00 gelding appeared to appreciate the step up to 1200m when racing on good going that day, with the pick failing to shine in his two subsequent starts.

The son of Alabama Express jumped at double figure odds for each of those starts, however, including in a Group 3 over 1200m back at Moonee Valley.

The three-year-old has shown up well in a couple of jumpouts at Flemington and going from barrier 11 he is taken to make a winning handicap debut.