Cairns 26 Mar 2026
GOING: H(9)
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CENTURY CRANES BENCHMARK 55 Handicap 950m Track: Heavy 9 Clear (Max: 29) Rail: True. (Pent: 6.84) |
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Shere Khan is the likely leader at a strong tempo. Tricky. NORDIC INVADER (6) resumes and started his last campaign in good style, placing over 950m at this track. Has good numbers and is sure to make his presence felt. Stablemate RAFF VADER (7) resumes and is good enough if presented forward this time around. Went close in an Open 34 this track/trip two back, and a winning rider, Wiggins, is reunited. Will likely settle back and finish hard. BELLZEN (1) resumed improved by the new stable, finishing well to win this track/trip. Keeps the handy 2kg claim and won't have to improve much to be fighting out the finish. Ditto ACCEPT POWER (8), who posted a similar figure winning this track/trip first-up at big odds. Has the tongue tie on and responded. SHERE KHAN (4) is a leader who could make the finish forgiving the latest. SUGGESTED PLAY: Nordic Invader if the betting suggests stable confidence.
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| 1 | 468x1 |
BELLZEN
ALEXANDER MALLIFF 6YO BLACK GELDING 61.0KG K A Buckingham, Miss A Heaton, B Butler, D P Finch, Miss S Huegli, J Vaughan, Mrs M N Johnstone, Mrs R N Love & S J Vaughan Second-up. First-up after three months won by a head at this track 0 - 55 March 12 over 950m in the wet defeating Airborne Hotdog with 57.5kg at $13. Previously second-up eased back early on 3rd in a small field at Ballina Ctry Bm58 on November 3 over 1000m, 4 len behind Back On De Quo with 58.5kg at $6. Back in fine order and is likely to feature. |
8 SAMANTHA POINTON |
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| 2 | 469x7 |
ALBANIAN BAY
PATRICK MCGUIRE 6YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG Mrs M V McGuire, P T A McGuire, M H McGuire & Miss P M McGuire Second run back. First-up after five months eased back early on 7th of 12 at Townsville Cl3-Sw on March 15 over 1000m, on a wet track; 6 len behind Spirit Of Mac with 58.5kg at $31. Previously second-up 3rd of 10 at Townsville Bm60 on June 29 over 1000m, 1.2 len behind Lady Damus carrying 56.5kg at $17. Didn't do enough first up to raise hopes. |
3 MICHAEL MURPHY |
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| 3 | 2396x |
FANCY GARTER
ALWYN BAILEY 4YO BAY MARE 59.0KG J A Holsman, T O'Reilly, S J Spinks, Ms C A Branch, A J Brown, J G Nicholson, Cheeky Boys Racing (B J Boske), PFI Racing (K A Paine), Mrs R Sydun, T E Foster, M J Skuse, T A Bolwell, B D Wood, P J Foster, C R Ross, Mrs D L Mcgee, R V McGee, C R Willebrands, B L Walker & The Phantoms (L C Paton) First-up. Finished off last campaign second last of 7 at Mudgee Cl3 December 5 over 1100m, 7 len behind Butterfly Style with 55kg at $26. First up last campaign third of 8 at Hawkesbury F&M Bm64 October 9 over 1100m, 2.5 len behind Twinkling Star carrying 55kg at $91. Will improve on what she does here. |
6 AIDAN HOLT |
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| 4 | 29217 |
SHERE KHAN
SCOTT COOPER 5YO CHESTNUT GELDING 58.0KG D P Martin, Mrs G E Martin, R Siegmann, Mrs K M S Siegmann, A D Downs, Mrs S Downs, D G Devietti, Mrs T L Devietti, L G Seccombe & Ms H B Thomas Last start did the work up front then tired 7th of 9 at this track 0 - 55 on March 12 over 950m, on a wet track; 4.5 len behind Accept Power carrying 59kg at $4. The start before that won by 0.5 len at this track Bm55 February 16 over 950m on a heavy track defeating Lord Power with 56.5kg at $8.50. Can bounce back. |
1 N THOMAS |
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| 5 | 961x |
TALK DIRTY
BODINE BAILEY 3YO BAY GELDING 57.0KG Mrs K J Casey, B F Bailey, Broke Boyz (Mgr: K T Fransen), J G Nicholson, J Bertoncini & H E Walker He is resuming after a six months break. Not seen since winning by 2.5 len this track 3yo Mdn September 30 over 1250m defeating Sheza Barbarossa carrying 59.5kg at $4.20. On debut ninth of 11 at Gold Coast 2yo Mdn-Sw July 12 over 1200m, soft track; 5.5 len behind Benefitsofmine carrying 58kg at $41. Worth a betting watch. |
5 MS L MORRISON |
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| 6 | 2569x |
NORDIC INVADER
STEPHEN MASSINGHAM 3YO CHESTNUT GELDING 56.0KG R W McIntosh, R Smith, B J Nally, G N Mcnulty, P J Crabb, A Sullivan, K Graham, A L Dean, A J Spackman, S N Nankervis, C Promnitz, Ten Chain Racing (Mgr: B Griffin), I've Got Five Kids (Mgr: B A Gibson), D J Rides (Mgr: D L Jones) & R J Nankervis Gelding back from a spell of 11 weeks. Has placed previously first up from a break. Finished off last campaign second last of 10 at Townsville 3yo Hcp January 6 over 1400m, soft track; 8 len behind Bang Stick with 54.5kg at $21. Previously first up; third of 7 at this track 3yo Hcp November 16 over 950m, 3.5 len behind Satisfied Mugs with 55kg at $17. Rates well and the betting will be key. |
4 S CORMACK |
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| 7 | 4524x |
RAFF VADER
STEPHEN MASSINGHAM 3YO CHESTNUT GELDING 56.0KG Hedley Racing (Mgr: T W Hedley) & B J McDonald Resuming after five months in the paddock. Finished off last preparation fourth of 7 at Mackay 3yo Hcp October 24 over 1300m, 2.75 len behind Don'tdoubthelady carrying 55kg at $8. First up last campaign fifth of 9 at this track 2yo Hcp July 15 over 950m, soft track; 2.25 len behind Mister Tia carrying 57.5kg at $11. Can get the job done if presented forward. |
9 R WIGGINS |
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| 8 | 107x1 |
ACCEPT POWER
TREVOR & PETER ROWE 3YO CHESTNUT FILLY 56.0KG Mrs S Hammer & Mrs B Stewart Second-up. First-up after four months won by 1.4 len at this track 0 - 55 March 12 over 950m on a heavy track defeating Coppabella Road with 54.5kg at $51. Previously second-up second last of 11 at Clifton Clb on October 25 over 1000m, 5 len behind I'm A Chocoholic carrying 55kg at $6. Chance to go on. |
7 KRYSTEN SWAFFER |
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| 9 | 318x6 |
RISING RUBY
KRYSTIN ALLENDER 4YO B/BR MARE 54.0KG K R Allender, N F J Wieland, J M Brown, D Betland, K A Hall, G J Pepper & Miss T Allender Second-up. First-up after three months tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 9 at this track 0 - 55 on March 12 over 950m, on a wet track; 3.5 len behind Bellzen with 56kg at $61. Previously second-up 4th of 11 at Cloncurry Mdn-Sw on October 10 over 1000m, 3 len behind Corvalist with 58.5kg at $8.50. Looking to others for the winner. |
2 I FRY |
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