Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Canterbury and Walcha on Friday

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selection, quaddie picks and inside mail for Canterbury on Friday night, as well as his tips for Walcha on Friday.

Shayne O’Cass

4 min read

February 6, 2025 - 5:00PM

Fun Sunday is Shayne O'Cass's best value bet at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Bradley Photos

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Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selection, quaddie picks and inside mail for Canterbury on Friday night, as well as tips for Walcha on Friday.

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CANTERBURY TIPS

BEST BET
Race 2 No.3 MIA BALLERINA
Put the writing on the wall that a win was close-by, when resuming.

NEXT BEST
Race 1 No.9 RED HOT ROSIE
Racy and pacy in equal measures. Barrier one has to aid her cause.

VALUE
Race 7 No.3 FUN SUNDAY
Makes appeal here first-up over 15500m off a great trial.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 4,12
Race 5: 1,2,8
Race 6: 2,3,5
Race 7: 1,2,3,7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Tyler Schiller has some great rides tonight at Canterbury

CANTERBURY INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate (1100m)

RED HOT ROSIE (9) has drawn one and that always helps a 2YO and it (almost) always helps around Canterbury, especially if you have some early pace – and this filly has that in spades. Just comes down to ‘race pressure’ now. MARHOONA (7) is, in a word, quality. No finer pedigree in the Studbook and she has a beautiful action and a quick one at that. AUTUMN BLONDE (1) paid the price for her wide draw in the Gimcrack. She at least can boast the invaluable race experience and the trials are ‘ticks’.

BET: RED HOT ROSIE (9) to win.

RACE 2: Fillies and Mares Maiden Handicap (1250m)

MIA BALLERINA (3) is a valuable filly by Cosmic Force out of the multiple stakes-winner Ballet Society. The Chris Waller-trained 3YO had two starts either side of the spell – the first one was better than it looks and the second was every bit as good as it looked. Debutant AMPLIFY (2) has trialled exceedingly well in his two city heat last month. Kicks off in a winnable and suitable race. PEAR BELLINI (5) is by an Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, out of a Tatts Tiara winner. Hasn’t been shown up in any of her trials.

BET: MIA BALLERINA (3) to win, quinella 2,5.

RACE 3: Colts, Horses and Geldings Maiden Handicap (1250m)

FLYING FROM ABOVE (5) is a Pierata colt from one of Goree’s good old families. It has produced James Cummings’ VRC Derby winner, Prized Icon, and the way this colt is bred and races, he could be a classic contender for father Anthony in 2025. NOW IS THE HOUR (6) is a blue blood of sizeable proportions but it matters not now, given this will be his first run as a gelding. CENTURY SONG (4) was mowed down at Kembla but by a pretty exciting horse.

BET: FLYING FROM ABOVE (5) to win, quinella 5,6.

RACE 4: Benchmark 64 (1900m)

SMART LEGEND (4) had a few excuses, at times, for that underwhelming beginning to his campaign. The Les Bridge-trained gelding is in the groove now, that much is plain given he is ‘312’ leading into this one. We should also point out that he has raced at the track/trip, three times for a win, a second and a third. STING IN THE TAIL (12) was given the most perfectly-executed ride by Zac Lloyd to win here on Jan 17. That was 16-days subsequent to his closing fourth to Smart Legend here at 1900m. VICTORY ROLL (2)’s chances improved when he drew three.

BET: SMART LEGEND (4) to win, exacta 4 to beat 12.

RACE 5: Benchmark 72 (1100m)

OUTBACK MISS (2) was sold for $150,000 at the Magic Millions to Mick Price et al and has taken just five starts to be in the black as it were. The daughter of Rubick has won three times – once at Bendigo, once at Caulfield and then on Jan 8 at Warwick Farm where she won like Winx! If tonight was Heavy 10, she’d be Winx-like odds. STRAAND BEAUTY (8) resumes as a gelding. His form as a colt was rather good. His trials as a gelding are very encouraging / impressive. Has talent and has the best draw (box one), unless it turns out not to be!

BET: OUTBACK MISS (2) to win, STRAAND BEAUTY (8) each-way.

RACE 6: 5YO+ Benchmark 78 (1550m)

REMATCH (5) has win 5 times in 14 starts with 7 placings, 3 of them seconds and most of them it has to be said, were in pretty good company. Granted a lot of times that has been either ‘bush company’ or ‘Highway company’ but this is very winnable. SWEYSIVE (2), the horse on a hat-trick, was always going to hard to beat, well now that he has drawn the rails, he is just to be the one to beat. Fortune is getting close now. ALL IN THE MIND (4) is racing himself to a peak.

BET: REMATCH (5) to win, quinella 2,5.

RACE 7: Fillies and Mares Benchmark 72 (1550m)

FUN SUNDAY (3) is a Canterbury winner BUT that was over 1900m which is hardly surprising given she is more or less a middle distance/staying type. Now with all that said, horses like her – especially ones with a good turn of foot – can often pull out a big run fresh. Indeed, Fun Sunday has placed at 4 of her 6 fresh runs; this is 1550m and the last trial was an absolute beauty. BRIGHT RED (2) was an inch of a well overdue win here last Friday. Just can’t keep throwing good money after bad, that is of course, unless we end up with half the field as it stands.

BET: FUN SUNDAY (3) each-way.

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