Australian Racing: Snowdome to reign over Albany rivals

There are eight meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday, including at Albany in Western Australia, where they stage an eight-race card.

They also race at Alice Springs, Coonamble, Grafton, Port Lincoln, Sunshine Coast, Swan Hill and Yarra Valley.

Race 7 Albany

Snowdome @ 3.60

Race 6 Swan Hill

Bannerton @ 6.50

Race 5 Sunshine Coast

Khant Quit @ 4.60

Snowdome has it covered at Albany

The feature race on the previously mentioned Albany card is the penultimate contest, the Wellington & Reeves Bluff Knoll over 1099m.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with Rope Them In expected to jump as favourite having competed successfully in Group company last prep.

The four-year-old registered a Group 3 success in the Colonel Reeves Stakes over 1100m at Ascot in November and went on to finish fourth in the 1200m Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes next time.

The son of Playing God was spelled following a Group 3 fifth over 1400m at Ascot in December and he has gone well first up in the past.

However, the in-form SNOWDOME is preferred on this occasion, having recorded Listed race wins in each of his last two starts.

The first of those saw the gelding come home over three lengths clear of his rivals when contesting the Cyril Flower Stakes at Ascot last month.

The 3.60 pick raced over 1200m on that occasion and stepped up to 1300m with no issue to duly complete a double when triumphing by just under half-a-length.

Both of those efforts came on sound surfaces and he is expected to have the going to suit again here.

Neville Parnham’s representative boasts a good barrier draw in five and he is taken to continue his winning run.

Bannerton to salute at Swan Hill

A good 4 track is expected at Swan Hill, with the sixth race of the day a 2400m Benchmark 58 handicap.

Apprentice Sam Kennedy is set to ride Dandruff, with the gelding expected to feature prominently on his second start back from a spell.

The son of Written Tycoon won over this course and distance when competing in a Benchmark 58 handicap in October.

While unable to win in three subsequent outings, the six-year-old did show good form when jumping at big odds for a 2000m Benchmark 0-64 handicap here on his return to action last month.

Toby Lake’s representative was beaten just two-and-a-half-lengths on that occasion and he is expected to have improved for that effort.

Austy Coffey’s BANNERTON is the pick in this event, though, having recorded some good efforts in defeat since winning at Wycheproof at the start of November.

The seven-year-old won by just under half-a-length when racing over 1800m that day, while he came home fourth of seven in a 2200m handicap at Ararat on his penultimate start.

The 6.50 selection lost out by just over four-and-a-half-lengths that day prior to a disappointing effort when seventh at Ararat earlier this month.

While the gelding is yet to win at this venue, he has finished in the first three in nine of his 15 starts here and, with Harry Coffey up, he is taken to record a win.

Khant Quit can record Sunshine Coast win

They are also set to race at Sunshine Coast, with the fifth race of the day an 1800m Benchmark 58 handicap.

Wet conditions are likely with a soft 6 track expected and, with that in mind, the New Zealand-bred KHANT QUIT is selected to record his second career win.

Kerry Taplin’s 4.60 representative has placed in two of his three starts on ground described as soft, including over this distance at Eagle Farm last month.

The five-year-old was beaten just under three lengths when placing third in a Class 3 contest that day on just his second start since breaking his maiden.