Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

After resuming with a luckless run at Rosehill, a Jean Dubois-trained gelding is ready bounce back with a win at Canterbury.

Julian Rock can get back to winning form at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.

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 4, No.6: JULIAN ROCK

Handy galloper at his best who had no luck at all when he resumed in a Saturday race at Rosehill not long back. Has won over the track and trip.

NEXT BEST

Race 5, No.6: PRETTY AMAZING

Keith Nolen winner who shapes as a big second-up improver here after a half decent return to racing in a big field at Warwick Farm. Go well.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.8: MIRRA VIEW

Lightly-raced and well-bred mare who hasn’t put a hoof wrong to date. Looked the part in her recent trial; just needs luck from draw now.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,6

Race 6: 1,4,5,10

Race 7: 6,8,10

Race 8: 2,4,7

James McDonald is the one to beat in the TAB Jockeys Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald will be popular and short in Wednesday’s TAB Jockeys Challenge. What’s new.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Ring Ahoy was runner-up at Warwick Farm two starts ago but was probably better when he clocked-in fourth at the annual midweeker at Rosehill last start. The Ingham/Waller gelding has drawn much better on Wednesday and you would think that coupled with being up to 1550m, that he races handier. Easy to like. Stablemate Cabaca has an entirely disadvantageous racing pattern but what he lacks in early pace, he (almost) makes up for in finishing speed. Ruinart has been both costly and consistent but that doesn’t mean she can’t win this.

Bet: Ring Ahoy to win

RACE 2

Cool Kaap is a horse with a future beyond midweek racing. The Chris Waller-trained Coolmore (and co) colt is by American Pharoah and was put aside after his debut win at Doomben probably, in fact almost certainly, to time his run into a good race or two this spring. Canterbury? Hmmm. Cinderella Days adds weight to what is now a very strong midweeker. This daughter of Coolmore Classic winner Ofocurseican, seemed to have her chance to win here last start but unless you backed her, it’s hard to say she was outright disappointing. Standing Orders will have support from avid trial watchers.

Bet: Cool Kaap to win, quinella 3,4, box trifecta 2,3,4

RACE 3

Diva Diva is a typical Joe Pride-trained horse in as much as she has been very well-managed in terms of placement and seasoning, You get the sense looking at her only runs this campaign - both at the provincials - that Pride has her on an upward trajectory and ready for a return to city racing. Thousand Years is another that has been placed with military precision, each run will serve her well in the short, mid and long term. Bred to excel, her trial was a ripper. Stalking will benefit big time from the run at Warwick Farm and more so from the step-up on trip.

Bet: Diva Diva to win, quinella 4,6

Tyler Schiller rides Julian Rock for trainer Julian Dubois on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Julian Rock had the distinction of racing against (albeit unsuccessfully) against the champion European Intellogent back in France, Fast forward to more recent times and the Jean Dubois-trained gelding was monumentally unlucky first-up at Rosehill. Worth noting that the import has a win over this same track and distance on the show reel. Huge interest in the two Kris Lees-trained gallopers starting with Samoot who was something of an eye-catcher behind his rampaging stablemate Lock Eagle here a few weeks back. As for the other one, Ucalledit, the descendant of Special has been trialling well and comes to hand quick enough.

Bet: Julian Rock to win

RACE 5

Pretty Amazing is the reigning Kembla Classic winner so brings a touch of class to this midweeker in her own right. The Chris Waller-trained daughter of American Pharoah earned a pass-mark despite finishing well down the order at Warwick Farm first-up Has obvious natural improvement in her and can go on with the job from here. Colour Sergeant is proven right up to 2000m but has been competitive fresh and has been trialling well. Roots will have plenty of admirers and for good reason. Blesk will be strong late but just needs a fair track.

Bet: Pretty Amazing to win

RACE 6

Ting Tong has by far the deepest and strongest form bearing in mind that the Kris Lees-trained galloper beaten only three lengths in the Queensland Derby. The son of Epaulette was hard in the market when a first-up second to Communist which is form that has held up since. Essential Sky makes plenty of appeal down on the limit weight, The John Sargent-trained grey daughter of the grey Reliable Man has started $21 in consecutive Midways but has run much better than her starting price in both. Go well. Akahata has finished runner-up in his last two runs here at Canterbury and is getting close to a win.

Bet: Ting Tong to win

Dylan Gibbons partners the Kriss Lees-trained Ting Tong at Canterbury. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Mirra View is a More Than Ready half-sister to the well-credentialed Mirra Vision. This one, also trained by Peter and Paul Snowden has raced eight times for two wins and four placings so has barely put a hoof wrong. Been very well-placed throughout and this is no different; her last trial was an absolute ripper. Shohei, the Denise’s Joy descendant, was never going to get beat first-up off her trial and so it was when she cruised down to an easy win here first-up. Untapped and drawn to get a dream run if the track plays fair. Hoover Lucy was better than it looked on paper when she resumed. Eye See Things is a capable type.

Bet: Mirra View to win

RACE 8

Way To The Stars is a highly promising gelding from the Matthew Smith who has unfortunately drawn so wide that he may well be saved for another day. Assuming he is here, it is well worth noting that he has talent and the trials point to a first-up win somewhere, Mars Mission is back in Sydney for the first time on race day since his authoritative win at Warwick Farm on Australia Day. Has all but toyed with his rivals in his two barrier trials. Not sure where Vianello is headed this campaign but the way she is going, she could find herself down south in a stakes race and it wouldn’t be the first time.

Bet: Way To The Stars to win or if scratched quinella 2,4