AFL / Timeform / 11 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Timeform's Gary Crispe focuses his daily preview on Salander in today's final race at Canberra - the Elrington Lawyers Handicap.

The locally trained galloper has been in good form this campaign and in this Benchmark 60 over 1750m should prove hardest to beat again on the Acton track.

Salander, a lightly-raced four year old by Moscow Ballet, broke through for her maiden win here over a mile at her fourth run from a spell, going back from a wide gate and storming home to score.

She was then disappointing at 2000m here so went for a break.

Resuming here over 1000m she settled well back over the short journey but motored home to finish runner-up, beaten three quarters of a length. Next start was over 1200m and she again got back before making good ground, running on into second but was no match for Mynames'sjames. Up to 1400m last time, though, she settled closer in the run from the inside gate before edging into the clear in the straight and running on to score a half-length win.

All her recent runs have been on the turf here but on the Acton track she has placed at her only try. She is fitter again, is a fourth-up winner already and does look as though the longer journey will suit.

Salander keeps winding up which is a plus on this surface and should be hard to hold out again.

Another local Prince Warrior can bounce back from an unplaced run last time and will take catching.

The gelding was a winner fresh then thereabouts at his next two before a disappointing effort three back. Two starts back he led throughout to score a strong Class 3 win at Queanbeyan before tackling a mile at Wagga in a Benchmark 65 where he again ed until into the straight, still there to the furlong but was swamped late, finishing ninth and beaten 4.2 lengths.

The gelding is a winner here on the Acton track and with the claim and the inside draw looks to set give a big sight again.

Mr Zip doesn't win out of turn but is a fairly consistent type rarely far away.

Fresh-up he was fourth here over 1300m on the turf, boxing on well to finish only a length from the winner in fourth place. He was then runner-up at Goulburn over 1400m when racing just off the speed and working home well to go down by a head. His winning range is a mile to 2000m so is suited by the longer trip and with a good draw here should be prominent throughout.

Monte Ichiban drops in grade after finishing seventh at Mudgee in open class last time.

He has a good record here at the journey and can improve sharply.

Prestidigitate wasn't far away last time and is worth including in the multiples.

GARY'S TOP TIPS for race 8@CANBERRA
(1) Salander
(2) Prince Warrior
(3) Mr Zip