The Canberra Racing Club will hold a minute's silence before race one on Friday in honour of Black Opal winning trainer Neville Layt, who lost his battle with cancer this week.
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Race one has also been renamed in honour of the Queanbeyan trainer, who will be represented in the Ginninderra Cricket Club Vale Neville Layt Handicap by two-year-old Never Astern.
Layt won the 2008 Black Opal Stakes in a major boilover with 50-1 filly Sarthemare, beating home Keith Dryden's odds-on fancy De Lightning Ridge.
He narrowly missed a second Black Opal three years later with Karuta Queen when she ran second to You're Canny, two months after claiming the $2m Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
"She was one of those horses that made the trainer," Dryden said.
"We always needed a good horse in those days because things were a lot different then to what they are now, owners in those days were a lot more loyal. Once you got an owner, they generally stuck with you.
"Now owners have horses in several different stables. You can get a good horse now and only have a month, and it'll go somewhere else.
"Nifty [Layt], he did a great job with that horse, it put him on the map. He had a lot of success with her and it probably couldn't have been handled any better by anybody else.
"He was one of those characters of racing, he would never do anyone any harm and he always tried his best for them."
MORE RACING NEWS
Dryden has three runners on Friday's eight-race card at Thoroughbred Park, including five-year-old mare Perfect Pitch who runs in the Benchmark 70 Federal Handicap (1400m).
The veteran Canberra trainer has engaged 3kg claiming apprentice Jess Del Frari for the ride after his horse was slugged with 59kg.
"She's only won once in two years but because she's so consistent they don't drop her down in the weights with this ridiculous benchmark system," Dryden said.
"She's getting beaten by the weights so the only option is we race her in those races or send her to Queensland to race her and that's going to be the next step with her.
"Virtually if you finish in the first five you don't get a deduction in weight but if you run second you get a kilo. She's run so many seconds, thirds, sometimes if it's a strong race she might get a point or two points for running third.
"It's a stupid system, and I have never spoken to a trainer yet that likes the system. It's made to the convenience of the handicappers."
Dryden also returns to Sydney on Saturday with stable star Handle The Truth, to contest the Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m).
"He's reached his mark now - they're virtually Group 3s he's running in all the time," Dryden said.
SCORSEY'S SAUCE
Former leading jockey John Scorse provides all the tips you need for Canberra's April 23 meeting.
Best Bet: Race 2, No 7 Emaleah - Covered ground from wide gate and finished off well over 1200 when 2nd up, better drawn and extra distance looks ideal for her.
Best roughie: Race 4 No 5 Diamon d Class - Taken time to find some form this prep but good run last time and has a chance at good odds.
Race one:
No 9 Silk Tie - Good effort on debut when placed, should be improved and drawn to get the right run here.
No 1 Danish Prince - Fought on strongly to score here at second run, has the rails so will be prominent throughout
No 7 Left Reeling - Well bred filly on debut off good recent trial win at Gosford, watch market
No 6 Hope In Your heart - Next best
Race two:
No 8 Emaleah - Lightly raced and on the improve, raced wide throughout, and finished off well last time, extra distance and better draw will help her here.
No 6 Bella Violet - Honest filly placed in four of eight runs, fought on well when resuming at Goulburn off one trial only, should go close.
No 10 Toostar - Has come back well this prep with two solid placings, has the rails draw and good speed.
No 2 Noble Albert - Next best.
Race three:
No 3 Urban Warrior - Resuming here with blinkers on, raced well last prep in provincial maidens on wet tracks, can be on speed here.
No 1 Kibosh - Placed three of four runs, beaten fav here when resuming but will be fitter now an extra distance suits her.
No 6 Sojo - Good recent trial winner here, watch market.
No 7 Hockahey - Next best.
Race four:
No 7 Rubaiya - Very consistent last prep and resumed with a very strong win over 1200, proven over further so she will finish off strong.
No 5 Diamond Class - Much improved effort last start after a wide run, drawn to get a nice run and can surprise here at good odds.
No 3 Morgenstein - Never in doubt to score dominant maiden win at Gundagai, can go on with it.
No 2 Legal Challenge - Next best.
Race five:
No 5 Himiko - Shows some staying promise and should peak at third run this prep, will race on the speed and be strong late.
No 4 Olmeta - Forgive last run and go on previous placing this t/d, better for three runs in.
No 1 King Ratel - Found his best to score a strong win this t/d last start, can go on with it here.
No 9 Stylebender - Next best.
Race six:
No 3 Propose To Me - Smart mare racing in great heart, made good ground in the wild card at Muswellbrook last run when dropping in distance, very well placed here.
No 2 Zelago - Very fit and honest galloper who makes his own luck, will be prominent throughout again here.
No 6 Perfect Pitch - Consistent mare who found the 1200 too short last time, better suited here and not out of this.
No 11 Swagger - Next best.
Race seven:
No 3 The Unknown Factor - Set to peak at his third run and loves this t/d, can race forward or back but will need luck in running, the claim is a big help.
No 5 Our Finvarra - Finished off strongly to score a strong win here last start and gets similar conditions again.
No 2 Haralben - Raced on speed and hung on well when placed last start and well placed after claim.
No 7 Nobody's Puppet - Next best.
Race eight:
No 2 Shenandoah -Set to peak after three runs and gets the blinkers on at first run this trip, his best will be good enough here.
No 9 Larmour - Had excuses last run at Goulburn and races well on her home track, drawn to get a nice run.
No 7 Mohahna -Comes into this at third run and blinkers on he can improve here.
No 1 Fox Beat - Next best.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
