Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury, Orange

John O’Shea’s brilliant trialler Ruinart can make a winning debut at Canterbury. Plus, Orange and Port Macquarie best bets and the Inside Mail.

Trainer John O'Shea has a promising filly in Ruinart making her debut at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: AAP

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass is an avid trial watcher and was suitably impressed by a John O’Shea-trained filly who can kick off her career on a winning note.

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 1, No. 10: RUINART

John O’Shea-trained filly in the Amelia’s Dream colours. The two-year-old was impressive winning her only trial by more than five lengths and can make a winning start to her career..

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No. 2: BAROSSA ROSA

Speedy filly who ran quite well at her first campaign and opens up tonight off a lovely trial win at home recently.

VALUE BET

Race 6, No. 6: THISTLEDO

Gundagai galloper who was nosed out at his only run at this same track and distance. In good form for the return.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Rachel King is riding in superb form and can continue her winnings ways with several leading chances including Ruinart and Estrado.

In-form jockey Rachel King and keep her winning form going at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3,6,7,13

Race 6: 1,5,6,10

Race 7: 1,3,4,7,8

Race 8: 10

ORANGE

BEST BET

Race 2, No. 11: DAWN FLIGHT

The Jarrod Austin-trained filly has raced twice, both of them were at Orange and one more stride and she wins last start. Easy to like on Friday.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No. 8: ALWAYS SURE

Lightly-raced type who was very good at his first two runs. Probably a bit better than country grade as time goes on.

Trainer Nathan Doyle has a good chance at Port Macquarie in Impulse Control. Picture: Grant Guy

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 4: IMPULSE CONTROL

Nicely-bred type from an astute yardand has the blinkers on here first time after a creditable debut at Scone when in the market.

NEXT BEST

Race 4, No. 1: BOLD CONTENDER

Another lightly-raced type, this son of Ocean Park is on an upward spiral and can deliver here at odds.

INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY: SHAYNE O’CASS

RACE 1

Ruinart is a daughter of Tempt No Not who won the P.J. Bell. Her own mother, Tempest Morn, was an iron-horse who won two Group 1’s. Ruinart made a huge impression at the trial winning her 800m heat at Hawkesbury by five lengths. Looks a real ‘runner’ and ready-made racehorse. Her dangers are the Godolphin fillies, Larkspur Run and Honeycreeper. Larkspur Run, the granddaughter of Portillo, has been trialling really well while Honeycreeper has Ranch Hand form. Big watch on Bil Colyns; pardon the pun.

BET: RUINART TO WIN

RACE 2

Mount Fuji was scratched from a race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday to run here on what is surely a better track at least when it comes to what’s underfoot. Famous for life as the Easter Yearling Sale topper, (at $2.8m), Mount Fuji was terrific at the Farm first-up and is ready and able to progress from here. Velorum is a classy colt too however. The Arrowfield/Team Hawkes colt was tipped after a fairly underwhelming debut on May but he is a hundred times better than that. Not Another Reiby might get all those ‘Canterbury favours’ than decide races there too often.

BET: MOUNT FUJI TO WIN, QUINELLA 1,6

RACE 3

The cleverly-named Barossa Rosa is very fast for a progeny of Cox Plate winner, Adelaide. This Tracey Bartley-trained fully led and was nailed late on debut by Yangarra Rose who has turned out to be quite handy. Spelled after a decent enough run here on August 5. Predictable but impressive trail winner recently at home. Star Project is a Waller trained daughter of the Waller trained Zoustar. Been kept under control in her three trials looking like she had plenty to offer. Tight Ropes most likely leads here. Bailieston goes well.

BET: BAROSSA ROSA TO WIN, BOX TRIFECTA 1,2,6,8

Apprentice Tom Sherry will partner Barossa Rosa at Canterbury on Friday night. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images

RACE 4

Space Is Deep could be saved for Randwick on Saturday given the wide draw here but she is going to play a role here or there. Enduring Night got the perfect ride from Jess Taylor when she won at Gosford last start. Been well placed and consistent right the way through. Can keep progressing. Joliette was a distant second to Ellsberg at Rosehill on December 5 and was better again on the Kensington track 12-days later. Getting close to a win now. Insensata has won almost $500,000 so is handy. Canterbury is the query.

BET: SPACE IS DEEP TO WIN OR IF SCRATCHED ENDURING NIGHT TO WIN

RACE 5

Ron Quinton-trained mare Alchermes has raced well this campaign without winning (yet) but I am sure the Hall Of Famer could point to a bit of bad luck here and there for the great granddaughter of Whisked. Alchermes gave a good account of herself when Quinton stretched her out to 1900m here last start. Very fit and well drawn. Main Stage is by far the best performed horse going back to his days in Victoria. His best run in a while was his last run and it happened to be here over this trip. Into The Oblivion was third in the same race.

BET: ALCHERMES TO WIN, QUINELLA 3,6

RACE 6

Thistledo is on the road from Gundagai to Canterbury and it won’t be a wasted visit for trainer David Blundell. This son of Zariz has made the trip once before and was nosed out by Quadriga who was going well at the time. Vitesse was third. Fast forward to more recent times and Thisteldo’s form is pretty compelling. Weekend Affair should hate Canterbury but he actually goes all right at the joint. If they can come from further back than second on the night, he might flash up late and blouse them all. General Soho was good here last Friday.

BET: THISTLEDO EACH-WAY, WEEKEND AFFAIR PLACE

Greek Hero (right) looks a good chance at Canterbury on Friday night. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images

RACE 7

May lose Queensland Guineas winner Salsonic to Randwick tomorrow. He is on top here if runs. If not, all roads lead to Greek Hero who has cost his fans a fair few drachmas in his time, not all his own fault mind you. The best Greek Hero would take some beating and he is entitled to be in the finish tonight from barrier 4 and Kerrin McEvoy to ride. Think Free ran the best race of her campaign behind stablemate Itz lily at Newcastle last start. Wants 1550m and gets the gun draw. Bergen would be close to a good thing if the track was ‘Good.’

BET: GREEK HERO TO WIN

RACE 8

Estrado was specked $15 into $12 first-up at the Farm on November 25 and ended up beating just one horse home. Bear in mind that she is now four starts for zip first-up but has placed one from three second-up. Better still, she has raced at this same track and distance three times for a win and a second. She loves the sting out and her December 30 trial was fantastic. Perigord actually beat Estrado when they met here in the winter. Going to need the track to play fair or he is out of business. Wander can never be left out of calculations.

BET: ESTRADO TO WIN