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By Neil Evans

January 4, 2026 — 5.00pm

Track good 4 and rail true.

Race 1

4. Dubbo Boy is lightly raced, and can bounce back after dropping out first-up when the jockey told stewards he didn’t handle a shifting Soft 7 track. Was $7.50 into $4.60 that day, and drops a kilo here on a firmer surface, with a significant jockey change. 3. Shezain is a Canberra mare and big market watch, resuming for only her second start, nearly two years after making her debut as a two-year-old in the Black Opal Preview at home. Trialled okay, and is in good hands. Keep safe 11. Splendid Magnus resuming for the new Canberra stable with blinkers going on from the inside draw. Big gap to the rest headed by 6. Mogo Rock, who is trained on the course, and can improve sharply fourth-up at huge odds.
How to play it: Dubbo Boy to win

Racing heads to Moruya on Monday.Credit: Fairfax

Race 2

3. Bombelleistic is a tough Canberra four-year-old who has never raced more consistently, and shapes nicely on the map third-up. Finished best to claim a BM 58 two starts ago before running home late in a similar field here. Stays at the distance, and at peak fitness, will take plenty of holding out. 5. Write Your Own is very fit, and will appreciate coming back to a weaker race after being soundly beaten in a CL3 Highway. 8. Grey Secret is over the odds drawn low, and coming off a fast-finishing BM 58 win at this track third-up, while 1. Line Of Fire gets key gear changes second-up.
How to play it: Bombelleistic to win

Race 3

2. Escargoes worked home okay in a deeper provincial race third-up, and despite the big weight, he’s on the rise, and this is only a moderate field. Watch the betting heavily on Kembla-based pair 5. Rubilace, an honest mare resuming without any official trials; and 4. Pariah Time, a three-year-old by Pariah on debut behind two improving trials. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Escargoes to win

Race 4

8. Star Bling is an underrated and still lightly raced Canberra mare who can claim an overdue second win second-up, with winkers going on. Improves considerably over more ground off a fair closing run fresh, and even better served if the track slips back into soft range. 4. Tjaka draws the inside second-up with a significant drop in weight and is much better suited over a longer trip. 2. Jamarni needs to find a length or two, but gets an important gear change fourth-up. 7. Nagadec is trained locally, and may jump a wide favourite after working home okay in her last couple, but is a shade under the odds. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Star Bling to win

Race 5

5. She Within has this race at her mercy, second-up and five weeks between runs. Charged home from the back to only miss by a length in a much stronger Highway at Rosehill before being backed off via an easy trial win. Comes to hand on the fresher side and draws to get plenty of cover over the right trip. Looks the best weighted runner on the program after the jockey’s 3kg allowance. 2. Famoso reloads off a strong-finishing BM 65 win in Canberra; while 10. Merchant Reign second-up can run into the minor money.
How to play it: She Within to win

Race 6

8. Vella Fox is a talented Canberra seven-year-old who was stiff not to claim the Town Plate Prelude when slow to begin and then checked at a crucial stage in the straight. Drops a significant 4kg for this, and has a sound record at the track and trip. Won a solid five from 20, and placed a further five times, and further boosted with a couple of the main market rivals coming out. 11. Your Not The Boss can be hard to catch, but has more than enough ability, and hit the line late in the Narooma Cup a fortnight ago. 1. Fangela is a tough veteran who continues to race well, and has bypassed a couple of races to be set for this. Ran home late from the back in a BM 72 at Canterbury, but won’t want to drift too far back carrying 62.5kg. 3. Who But Roo, also dropping back from tougher metropolitan opposition, and 6. Tartana drawn inside and scratched from Kembla on Saturday to be saved for this; are both capable of running into the money.
How to play it: Vella Fox to win

Race 7

10. Super Extreme represents great value at big odds second-up with weight relief off an eight-week let-up in what is a weak renewal of the Cup. Charged home late to miss narrowly in a strong Federal at Canberra before that break, then hit the line from last in the Narooma Cup. Gets both more ground and a stronger temp to chase here. 9. Dumebi is the clear threat reloading behind a second-up win in that Narooma Cup, especially with the stablemate unlikely having run on Saturday. 2. High Dandy is a market watch, first-up from a wide draw off a quiet trial. 4. Craving Magic is well over the odds from a soft cover draw, and dropping sharply in weight for the rise in grade.
How to play it: Super Extreme each way

Race 8

11. Silver Serenade is a lightly raced and progressive filly who can make the step up from a dominant maiden win at her fourth start in what is a weakened race. Drawn wide, but has oodles of scope in this company, and only needs to find cover early. 12. Wonderful Mistake is the clear threat third-up from a softer draw having found the line hard in two runs back from a spell. 7. Sunrise Ridge shoots for a third win from her last four rising in grade; while 10. Royal Memory second-up heads the rest.
How to play it: Silver Serenade to win

**BEST BETS
**R2 3. Bombelleistic
R5 5. She Within
BEST VALUE
R6 8. Vella Fox

_Supplied by Racing NSW
_Full form and race replays available at** racingnsw.com.au**