Best bets and inside mail for Canterbury, Taree and Bathurst for Friday January 31, 2025

Trainer Ron Quinton can win at Canterbury on Friday night with Signor Tortini in the colours of Hall of Fame members.

Trainer Ron Quinton saddles-up Signor Tortoni at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Grant Guy

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Canterbury and best bets for Taree and Bathurst.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 2 No.2: Signor Tortoni

Gone down fighting each time, drawn to win.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 4: Barazin

Ideally placed on all levels. A wholly reliable horse.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No.3: Flying Thinker

Has come back in tremendous shape. Good times ahead for her.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4,5

Race 6: 3,7,9

Race 7: 4,5,7

Race 8: 1,7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald’s winning strike rate at present is 30.5 per cent

TAREE

BEST BET

Race 1 No.2: All Hunky Dory

Ex- Hong Konger who is ‘211’ in his three Australian runs.

BATHURST

BEST BET

Race 4 No.4: Prorata

Pierata trained by Mr Pierata himself. Nice horse.

CANTERBURY INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Fierceness was bred by Matthew Smith who trained this colt’s sire, dam, grandam and maternal grandsire. The colt’s father was a great miler but the mother was an absolute rocket. Trials are good. Has plenty to like short, mid and long-term. Namsate handed in a solid showing on debut on The Lakes card. Drawn well again. You Sexy Thing is bred to excel. Just needs a whole lot of luck from the draw.

Bet: Fierceness each-way

RACE 2

Signor Tortoni was good on debut and better again the second time around. That was here at Canterbury in a 1250m maiden where he drew seven of eight and was pegged back on the line. The Ron Quinton-trained gelding has box two tonight and that could make all the difference. The Enchanter was third in that same race. Placed at all three in fact, the debut was second to Point And Shoot. Kendalia came from last to get pretty close on the Kensington on debut.

Bet: Signor Tortoni to win

RACE 3

Shanoni wears the same cerise colours as her most famous relative, Shame. This Chris Waller-trained daughter of Nicconi ran an honourable fourth in what was a rather strong seven-horse 1250m maiden here on debut. Extra trip is ideal. Stablemates Pink Shalaa and Delrico have both been rather costly to follow but hugely consistent as well. Both have pretty bothersome draws. Perfectly Frosted in crying out for 1550m.

Bet: Shanoni to win

RACE 4

Bright Red has finished on the podium at exactly half of her 20 starts. Granted only three of them are wins but all they are all more or less at this trip. On top of that, she has barrier five here and the sting out of the ground plays to her advantage. No excuses. Destiny’s Delight has done more good than bad across her dozen starts. She is essentially a 1500m./1600m type so that first-up second over 1400m at the Farm is inspiring. Heed The Omens is getting close.

Bet: Quinella 1,2

RACE 5

Barazin was ‘123’ in his three runs in France and has carried that consistency on with him now that he is an Australian Bloodstock/Kris Lees import. Barazin was beat a subsequent winner (Gwendie) at Kembla on Dec 28 then was a closing to repeat winner Our Anchorage on the Kensington track 16 days ago. Frankely Elegant was runner-up in that Our Anchorage race and you would think that barrier one is a big boost to her already bright prospects. Not giving up on King Of Florida.

Bet: Barazin to win

RACE 6

Flying Thinker was ‘3116’ at her four runs at her first preparation so kudos to her for that. She spelled, came back and trialled like nothing would beat her when she resumed and so it was, when she carried 61kg, drew 11 of 11, but won easily at Newcastle. Could be in for a big campaign. That said, this is a very, very good race. Take Scintilla for instance. She was second to Qatars Choice here first-up then absolutely bolted in at her next start. Gangsta Granny has talent, trialled super, but drawn poorly.

Bet: Flying Thinker to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (3), 2nd Leg (1)

RACE 7

Welcome Gypsy drew eight of eight at Wyong but still managed to win with an air of authority. She’ll have to do it all again tonight given she has drawn 12 of 13 (only 12 max will run). Long story short, she is in such great form that it might be better to win her than against her. Kris Lees-trained mare Memoria has one hugely attractive statistic and that is her first-up record of three wins and one third from four goes. Ripper trials too.

Bet: Welcome Gypsy to win, quinella 4,7

RACE 8

Oakfield Duke is a 72 rater in this very suitable Benchmark 72 hence the 61kg. No doubt Kris Lees could have claimed if he wanted but booked James McDonald instead. Understandable! As for the horse himself, Oakfield Duke has raced at Canterbury four times for a win and two thirds. That win was at this trip. Wish it was a Heavy 10, he’d be a moral. Believe In Angels beat Modella at the Farm on Jan 8. Can/must forgive that follow-up eighth of 10 on the Kensington which wasn’t all that bad anyway (and she drew 10 of 10 with 61kg).

Bet: Oakfield Duke to win, quinella 1,7