CANTERBURY
FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER
TRACK: GOOD 3 RAIL: TRUE
BEST BET: Race 2 No.7 JAUNTY
VALUE BET: Race 8 No.4 WAKING MOMENT
Race 1
4 – 5 – 3 – 2
Only a small field and three legitimate winning chances. There are five runners with Chris Waller having two and the Waterhouse/Bott partnership also with two. The Waterhouse pair should control things up front and when China Gale finds the going a bit tough I expect ZEPPELIN to pinch a break and be too strong for the Waller pair who are sure to be closing hard late. Zeppelin won’t have any issues with the trip having raced over 1800m last start. SEMPER FIDDLES looks the top pick for Waller as she comes through a strong midweek race behind Popular.
Race 2
7 – 3 – 4 – 6
JAUNTY looks to have found her best chance of breaking her maiden status having run second on four occasions from just four career starts. From an ideal gate Schofield should position up handy to the speed and she should be hard to beat. The step up to 1550m and the tempo associated with this trip should enable her to get into a rhythm. Nothing between Netherlands, Skifield and even Chilli Beauty who is expected to be the leader here.
Race 3
8 – 1 – 6 – 4
I thought MAID MARILYN did enough on debut at Kembla when narrowly beaten to suggest with further improvement and on-pace favours here she might be hard to run down. In a race without much tempo Maid Marilyn from a good gate should have enough early speed to boot through and control things. STEALTHY did a super job on debut behind the stablemate when a closing second albeit the Markwell stables horses do race better on their home track. AQUA D’IVINA has only raced once and it was a cracker back in March this year albeit on a heavy track which she seemed to relish. She has trialled twice this time around in readiness and from a soft barrier should get her chance.
Race 4
1 – 2 – 3 – 7
NOIRE looks well placed here with a few things in her favour that include her class, the claim for Lee Magorrian and good tempo expected that should allow her to relax before charging at them. She has trialled twice with both over the short trip the latest a 740m hit-out at Warwick Farm that caught the eye. DIXIE CHICK is a quality mare and if right could blow this lot away but she failed badly first up here a month ago. She has trialled fair again since but on class alone I have to include here. THE WASP is ultra consistent and of the three main chances will be the most forward albeit off speed and you imagine she only has to repeat her latest run to be a major player here.
Race 5
3 – 2- 6 – 1
SERENE MISS is two from two and looks well placed to make it three from three. Her two wins have been at Newcastle and Scone but this looks an ideal race too come to the big smoke. She has tactical speed but the thing I liked about here was the way she put her rivals to bed in a few strides. She will be handy to the speed and is the one to get past.
FANNING has been good at his past two runs here and without a lot of depth here a repeat of those efforts will have him amongst the major spoils. MALAIGO comes through the same race as Fanning here a fortnight ago and he must be considered a player as he was forced to cover some extra ground last time but he never once shirked the task. VEGA turns up here off a strong and dominant win last start albeit at Bathurst. From a perfect gate and a solid enough tempo even allowing for the 61kg he must be considered a player.
Race 6
13 – 2 – 4 – 12
This looks a very open race with plenty of push forward horse’s which sure ensure a good solid speed giving all their chance. GALAXY WARRIOR is a lightly raced 6yo with only 15 career starts winning five of them and going off his latest run behind Gambler’s Blues at Rosehill this looks an ideal race to snare a city win. CELLARMAN recorded a well deserved win here last start and with the good tempo is capable of winning two on the trot. CARLUCA has drawn perfect and will race handy to the speed and give a good sight and although he hasn’t won past 1400m he has been placed four times from eight attempts at races over this journey or the mile. SPINNING GOLD is the one at big odds capable of getting the money and he turns up here off a super win at Newcastle and will only carry 51kg so keep him safe.
Race 7
10 – 2 – 5 – 4
QUEEN MISTY is first up here off a 15 week spell and a very good barrier trial albeit over the longer hit-out of 1045m. She generally races well fresh and with a fair tempo expected here she should get her chance to round them up. Although she got up to 1500m last preparation her two career wins have both come over the flying 1000m. Claire Cunningham has FIFTEEN SUNFLOWERS flying which resulted in a super all the way winning effort here three weeks back. She won’t get things served up on a platter like last start but a mare inform is a mare that’s hard to beat.
KNIT ‘N’ PURL has drawn perfect here to stalk the leaders and with a little three week freshen up she must be considered a player.
ELEMENOHPEE gets the soft run from the draw and could sneak into the numbers or better if the fancied runners have to do work or race below their best.
Race 8
4 – 7 – 12 – 11
WAKING MOMENT looks terrific value here in the last in what looks an open race on paper. She has raced twice this preparation and both runs have been full of merit even though she has finished well beaten at the end. She resumed over 1400m before having a three week break and stepping to 1900m where luck eluded here so with that run at 1900m under her belt and I think the ability to race a little closer with Blake Shinn on board she represents good odds. SHIELD WALL settled any arguments last start about getting the distance as she was strong winning here over the 1900m. She will need a touch of luck early from the wide barrier but that said it’s a good long run to they have to turn.
DALMATIAN PRINCE is a tough country campaigner and from a good gate will give a sight while THINK LIKE A BIRD gets the run of the race with a light weight making her a player.