Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

Premiership leaders Chris Waller and James McDonald combine with a promising gelding who is set to notch his maiden win at Canterbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald combine with Gago in the opening race at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: AAP Image

Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.

CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 1, No.1: GAGO

The Chris Waller-trained gelding has placed in his first two starts. Stepping up to 1550m now, he can break through with J-Mac aboard.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.4: DAYTONA

The Michael Freedman-trained three-year-old is drawn to get every chance with J-Mac aboard. Rock hard fit and ready to go.

VALUE BEST

Race 7, No.6: NEVER SECOND

Talented mare from the Annabel Neasham stable who can live up to her name and win again.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,2,4

Race 6: 3,4,7

Race 7: 6,7,8

Race 8: 5,9,11

Brenton Avdulla has a strong book of rides at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Brenton Avdulla gets to reconnect with his Golden Slipper winner Fireburn on Saturday but has a strong book at Canterbury first.

TAMWORTH

BEST BET

Race 3. No.3: OLIVIA‘S SPIRIT

Ready to peak third-up from a break in a winnable maiden.

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 7, No.6: DARCI DIVA

Consistent type that returned from a break with a narrow second. Can go one better here.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Gago wears the famous cerise of the Ingham family and looks to be a more than capable galloper. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has placed in two runs over 1400m at Warwick Farm, beating home several of his key rivals here in a narrow second last start. The step up to 1550m is ideal third-up from a break. Stablemate Zakiyya was the best of the chases in that last start event, doing her best work late to finish third. She’s another that will love the step up in trip. The Englishman led them up before battling on late to finish fourth. He’s a nice type too but would need to lift to turn the tables on his rivals.

Bet: Gago to win.

RACE 2

Songbird Serenade is a daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente but she did her best work over shorter trips than her dad. She has been racing consistently this preparation with a win and two placings at her past four. A three-time winner and five time placegetter at the mile, she finds her ideal trip in a winnable race. Stellar Performer is a likely improver second-up from a break after a credible first-up run. Two of her three wins come at this trip. The question mark for Sensationalism is her ability to run out a strong mile. If she can, the Jason Deamer-trained mare can feature in the finish somewhere.

Bet: Songbird Serenade to win.

RACE 3

Beep Test boasts a competitive record of two wins and five placings from five starts. The John O’Shea-trained mare got the cobwebs with a fourth at Canterbury where she raced without a heap of room. Can improve second-up and will handle conditions if wet. Essonne beat home Beep Test last time but momentum was key down the outside. She could take a power of beating if she finds similar clear air. De An Andretti, the sister to Libertini, has been edging closer to fulfilling her potential and will be peaking third-up.

Bet: Beep Test to win. Quinella 4,6,8.

Champion jockey James McDonald looks set for a good night at Canterbury with the likes of Beep Test and Kazou. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Kazou is a highly-promising daughter of Zoustar making her return. The Chris Waller-trained filly was awesome winning her only start by four and three-quarter lengths when dominating on speed at this track. She looks better than this grade. Silentsar returns from the Gold Coast after breaking the maiden in lucrative $250,000 Magic Millions race. This is harder but he’s a nice enough horse. Promising colt Citizenship only needs to replicate his determined debut performance at Canterbury to be competitive again.

Bet: Kazou to win.

RACE 5

Taraashoq has finished among the placings in all four of his starts over the Canterbury 1900m and that shouldn’t be expected to change. The German-bred import placed three times before finally chalking up a well-earned win last time in a race that has produced two subsequent winners. Yukon drops back from Saturday grade to the easier Friday night. He capable on his day but you have to take on trust. Field Legend returns to the Canterbury 1900m ten days after saluting here. He’s rock hard fit now and will run well.

Bet: Taraashoq to win.

RACE 6

Daytona ticks a lot of boxes deep into his prep. The Michael Freedman-trained gelding was an excellent second over 1500m at Rosehill last time and sticks at the trip with peak fitness. In addition he gets the gun draw in barrier two with J-Mac aboard. He will be hard to beat. Mystic Mermaid won here 10 days and will be one of the major players close to the speed again. Regal Pom has finished within a length of the winner in all three starts this prep but needs to produce that killer instinct again to salute.

Bet: Daytona to win.

Never Second and Brett Prebble can combine for another win at Canterbury. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Never Second lived up to her name with a strong first-up win over 1000m at Warwick Farm. She’s open to plenty of improvement second-up, a stage of her preparation she’s won twice before. Provided Brett Prebble can find some cover from a tricky draw, she can go close again. Dalaalaat produced an explosive turn of foot to win in Midway grade but his get back style could be his downfall. Expect him to go back from the gate 12 and rattle home. Game Theory continues to race consistently but it’s been a while between drinks.

Bet: Never Second to win.

RACE 8

Dashing Legend is a stakes performed daughter of Snitzel making her return. The Hawkes Racing-trained filly finished third in the Tapp-Craig and Listed Brian Crowley Stakes in the spring and will find this easier than that. Has trialled well and gets a good draw. Seven Sisters made an ideal return with a win at Wyong. She was tested by Godolphin in stakes grade as a juvenile so that’s an indication of her ability. Nominator has talent but returns off a 44-week break. He may need the run.

Bet: Dashing Legend to win.