Easter Monday specials: Best bets and inside mail for Canterbury and Muswellbrook

Racenet’s Shayne O’Cass has run his expert eye over the Easter Monday meetings at Canterbury and Muswellbrook.

A horse with form around Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life is the best bet at Canterbury on Monday for Shayne O'Cass. Photo: Brett Holburt/Getty Images.

Racenet’s Shayne O’Cass has run his expert eye over the Easter Monday meetings at Canterbury and Muswellbrook.

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CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 2: Apex

Was third to Private Life on debut and good ever since. Barrier two seals it.

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NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 3: Seafall

Has talent well beyond what is a midweek standard race.

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VALUE

Race 1 No. 10: Ripley

Superbly bred debutant who has trialled exceedingly well.

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QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,4,7

Race 6: 5,6,9.11

Race 7: 1,2,3,5

Race 8: 3

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JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald is on 195 winners at Canterbury.

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CANTERBURY INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Ripley was bought for $100,000 as a weanling in 2023 then went back through the ring at the Gold Coast eight months later and made $625,000. The Qatar Bloodstock purchase has been trialling like that is money well spent. Ditto that last bit for Hawker Hill which has the advantages of race experience and James McDonald but the potential disadvantage of the outside draw. Let’s Go Brandon should have won on debut.

Bet: Ripley to win, quinella 6,10.

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RACE 2

Silver Wedding was unlucky not to have won on debut at the midweeks in June 2024. Two runs after that were a fourth to Dominetta, at Warwick Farm, and then 11th of 13, but only three-lengths off Aeliana, in the Reginald Allen. Trialled well on April 7. Zoustar filly Ninette is the fourth foal of Slipper winner Overreach. Can see why she is favourite off the trials. Maid Of Moolah trialled well too.

Bet: Silver Wedding to win, quinella 9,11, box trifecta 6,9,11,12.

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RACE 3

Hidden Achievement is an I Am Invincible out of La Luna Rossa who won the Manawatu Sires Produce in NZ and also a direct descendant of Eight Carat which explains his $625,000 price tag at the NZB 2YO Sale. The Yulong / Chris Waller colt debuts here; sure to get better with racing but looks handy. Stablemate Ti Amo Tanto is third-up and seemingly peaking. Inside draw and Nash Rawiller – tick, tick.

Bet: Hidden Achievement each-way.

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RACE 4

Apex is a Vinery bred and owned descendant of Bint Marscay that was third to subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life on debut and was good in his four starts thereafter. Trialled well but Nash Rawiller and barrier 2 sealed the deal. Cassiel has won once in seven starts but two of his three placings were by the narrowest of margins. Excels fresh and trialled brilliantly the other day. Mural Crown is one for one here in a very deep maiden.

Bet: Apex to win, exacta 2 to beat 7.

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RACE 5

Flame Of Hestia is purpose-built for Canterbury given her uncommon pace. Throw in barrier 3 and the 3kg claim of Ben Osmond and she won’t have any excuses. Granted, this is a big step up from Taree and Newcastle but she won by six there at home first-up. That was the ‘real’ Written Scandal at Gosford last start. She comes to town as a very confident and very much in-form horse and she got box one as well. Flying Embers should be strong late.

Bet: Flame Of Hestia to win, quinella 2,7, box trifecta 1,2,4,7.

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RACE 6

Maison Louis was scratched from the Frank Packer Plate where he was in the market. That’s the respect he was given on the score of what he has already done and what is still to come from a very well-bred three-year-old. Full Hao got all the favours at Hawkesbury. Draw is not so kind for her this time but she could be on a really rapid trajectory. Could she even end up in Brisbane during the winter carnival? Reckon maybe she should!

Bet: Maison Louis to win, exacta 5 to beat 6, Daily Double 1st Leg 5, 2nd Leg 3

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RACE 7

Fire Star put together four wins on end last preparation at three different city tracks. Kudos to him and Peter Snowden, that’s not easy. Andrew Adkins on here with a tricky draw to overcome but he’s a nice horse and looked good in a recent trial. Barber was sold online in December for $215,000 and there is no one else you’d want to be training an ex-Godolphin horse than Richard Litt. It is quite amazing really how well he has done with them and there’s not been one with the CV to equal Barber.

Bet: Fire Star to win, quinella 3,5.

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RACE 8

Seafall is a magnificently bred daughter of The Autumn Sun. She’s won three from eight, two at Rosehill and one here at Canterbury over the 1550m; same as this race. Had two quiet trials so is fit but cannot stress enough the dual advantages of barrier 1 and 2kg off for the emerging apprentice Zac Wadick. Piplup is well-equipped, and has already, got out to 2500m. She resumes here over 1550m which gives her a decent chance of winning. She could be in for a good preparation.

Bet: Seafall to win, Pipette to place.

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MUSWELLBROOK

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 5: Pappiana

Has run some outstanding races, in good races, since she arrived from South Australia.

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NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 2: Nevermista

Has come back in great shape and is drawn to win again.

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VALUE

Race 5 No. 6: Zakor

Local that excels at home and a pretty reliable type too.

Originally published as Easter Monday specials: Best bets and inside mail for Canterbury and Muswellbrook