CANTERBURY

 

FRIDAY 5 JANUARY

TRACK:                        GOOD 4 (4.76)                                    RAIL:    +6M

 

 

 

BEST BETS:     

Race 2             No.1    AL MAH HAHA

Race 3             No.7    MISTEED

Race 7             No.6    SATIRICAL MAGIC

 

 

Race 1

3 – 4 – 5 – 2

Only a field of four runners to kick off the night that is sure to be a battle of tactics. I’ve settled on WOOSHKA who got the job done here last start and from the inside gate should be able to dictate this race. Brunch comes here after a win at Kembla a month ago and could roll forward and sit outside Wooshka and it wouldn’t surprise if she applies the heat early as she has won up to 1400m. Nipotina could not have done anymore having won at her only start and with a nice easy trial since she should be ready to go again.

 

 

Race 2

1 – 3 – 4 – 5

Looks two winning chances to my eye here being the toppy AL MAH HAHA and League Of Nations. Al Mah Haha is resuming following a good first preparation that included three very good city efforts. Barrier one tonight may be his biggest issue but if Brenton Avdulla can overcome that his class should make him hard to beat. League Of Nations has been thereabouts including a last start third here in a race dominated by those on-pace. This race looks to have less depth than last start outside of Al Mah Haha.

 

 

Race 3

7 – 1 – 5 – 3

MISTEED is on debut and looks a readymade race horse in winning both her barrier trials in good fashion. With the speed drawn outside her here she should find a nice spot on the back of the leaders and then be able to utilise her turn of speed. Now Or Never hasn’t raced since a very good debut in the Gimcrack behind the very smart Satin Slipper and subsequent two-time winner Setsuna.

 

 

Race 4

5 – 6 – 1 – 4

Not a race I’m overly excited about with my top pick ATLANTIC FOX well short of the price I thought he’s entitled to be. That said he was good here last start and a repeat of that should have him in the major spoils. Its stablemate Firebird Flyer if ridden somewhere on-pace she can bounce back and play a major role and she should be able to having drawn a perfect gate. Dawn Raid drops back in grade and although there are no mad leaders a few should hold their spots ensuring a fair tempo and if that happens Dawn Raid should get his chance to finds the line. Sensacova is in good form and must be given thought in an even race such as this.

 

 

Race 5

5 – 8 – 1 – 9

Interesting speed map here with Nines Enough in gate one and Star Crossed in five having good early speed but I am hoping ALL CARISMA drawn the outside can jump cleanly and go bang and cross the field and find the front. If that happens he will take a power of running down. Nines Enough was very good winning on debut before looking only average at her second start albeit it was against subsequent Randwick winner Sasso Corbaro. Star Crossed trialled well and was solid enough first up in a country feature sprint event so should be ready to fire here.

 

 

Race 6

4 – 3 – 1 – 9

The map changes here with the leader Identic withdrawn but I’m hoping there is still enough speed to allow my top selection BLOWING KISSES to charge over them in the run home. Last start was a horror show so hopefully the breaks fall her way tonight and she can show her best. Difficult To Get comes through the same race as Blowing Kisses meeting her a couple of kilos worse off but will settle handy to the speed and make her own luck. Lake Lugarno ran well first up on a heavy track but is sure to appreciate the better ground tonight and she has won two from three second up from a spell.

 

 

Race 7

6 – 8 – 7 – 4

Originally I thought there was four winning chances but with Powerline and Machinegun Jubs both taken out it leaves me with SATIRICAL MAGIC as very very hard to beat and Pianissimo the danger. Satirical Impact is shooting for three in a row and from barrier two should get the nice run of stalking the speed and then being able to utilise his turn of speed. Pianissimo had his first start since joining the Richard Litt stable and was very good when running a brave second to Brave Song who subsequently went onto win a better quality race at Randwick. Chief In Command finished third in that race behind Brave Song and if he was able to find the front without much pressure here he can give them a tough chase.

 

 

Race 8

1 – 4 – 9 – 2

Tough race to finish the night off with plenty of chances so if you alive in the quaddie I hope you have the field crossed in the last. HIGH OPINION is my top pick as he maps to get a nice run just off the speed albeit the speed map has lost some grunt with the scratching of Brogue leaving Lord Macau to fly solo up front. High Opinion is third up and only needs to repeat his second up effort to be around the mark. Lord Macau gets things nice up front and coming here off a three week freshen up should have him ready fire. The chances certainly don’t finish there in a tough race to finish.

 

 

Quaddie:

 

1^st leg:             1 – 5 – 8

2^nd leg:             3 – 4

3^rd leg:             3 – 6 – 7 – 8

4^th leg:             1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 6 – 8 – 9 – 11

 

Cost $48 = 25%