Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury, Ballina, Moruya

A consistent mare from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable can start off her preparation on a winning note at Canterbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Lovero can kick off her campaign with a win at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Bradley Photos

The Daily Telegraph’s form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets, value bets, exotic and quaddie selections for Friday’s meetings at Canterbury, Ballina and Moruya.

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 5 No. 9: Lovero

The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained mare resumes from a spell off a handy trial win at Rosehill. She is very consistent and has a good first-up record.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 1: Malabar

Was narrowly beaten first-up by stablemate Hellfire Express but meets him 5.5kg better this time. Is a second-up winner and can add another win.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 4: Euros

Will appreciate a drop in class from her sixth at Randwick last start. Races well here, like it wet and drawn ideally.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 4, 6

Race 5: 2, 7, 9

Race 6: 1, 3, 14, 15

Race 7: 1, 2, 12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald has five rides and each should be prominent in the finish.

BALLINA

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 1: Rolling Rock

The mare was back an wide throughout before working home to finish sixth behind big winner Vanquished in the Magic Millions Maiden. Can break through here.

MORUYA

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 8: All Too Lucky

Handy effort on debut when a close fourth at Gosford in a Super Maiden. Will be better for the run and looks hard to beat.

INSIDE MAIL – CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Malabar was first-up under 60kg and giving stablemate Hellfire Express 3kg when he finished a half-length here at Canterbury on New Year’s Day. He meets him 5.5kg better at the weights, is a second-up winner and proven on wet ground. He can turn the tables.

Hellfire Express is chasing a fourth straight win and too has a good record on wet ground. Won on the heavy at Orange three starts back and it was a Soft 6 here when he ran down Malabar. Amati will be improved by her first-up fifth behind Lancaster Bomber over 1250m here on the same day. Should appreciate the extra trip.

Bet: Malabar to win

RACE 2

It’s A Wonder closed smartly out wide when a length second to Cosmonova on debut over 1000m at Gosford before again doing her best work late when a length fourth to Tycoon Deshauna over 1100m here on Jan 5. The step up to 1250m looks ideal. Setombe made her debut in that same race here two weeks ago and came from well back with a wide run rounding the corner and was making steady ground to finish fifth, beaten about a length and a half. Will be improved by the run and is another who will appreciate the extra distance. Autumnmation ran some handy races when placed in three of her four runs in her first campaign. Sure to make her presence felt.

Bet: It’s A Wonder to win

RACE 3

Customized is one of two two-year-olds taking on three-year-olds here. Has been freshened since his three length third to subsequent Magic Millions winner Storm Boy on debut in the Gr3 B.J McLachlan at Eagle Farm on Dec 23. Groundrush was a handy third behind Lost on debut here on Sept 13 before heading to Rosehill two weeks later when third to impressive winner Arctic Glamour who was a stakes winner at her next start. Good to the line without being knocked about in his recent Rosehill trial on Jan 11. Dayu finished off okay at Wyong too starts back before a third behind a couple of promising ones in Hanau and Xidaki over 1200m at Newcastle last start. Improving type.

Bet: Customized to win

RACE 4

Euros will appreciate a drop in grade from her sixth behind Terra Mater in a Bm78 at Randwick 13 days ago. Was less than a length behind Afterlight here on Dec 8 before a handy second to Miss Hellfire at Randwick. Dakota Vroom kicked off her campaign with a smart win from Wingardium over 1100m here two weeks ago. She does jump up 4.5kg but has won on soft ground. Miss Emma followed three handy placings with an impressive all-the-way maiden win by five lengths from Assemble over this track and distance on Dec 15. Stepped up to a Bm72 at Randwick 22 days later when sixth to Shaken.

Bet: Euros each-way

RACE 5

Lovero has a solid first-up record and can add to it when she resumes here. Kicked off last campaign with a half neck second to Petulant over this track and distance on June 7. She is a two-time winner at the trip with two placings and is a winner on soft ground. Former Queensland mare Xtra Gear is resuming from a spell after two impressive trial wins by big margins for new trainer Joseph Ible. She was a first-up winner last preparation over 1200m at Beaudesert. Deep Romance bounced back to form when she resumed with a win on the Beaumont on Boxing Day after two good trial performances. Look for another forward showing.

Bet: Lovero to win

RACE 6

Jack Duggan was good in his first three runs back from a spell as he was building to peak fitness which saw him break through with a handy win from New Republic over 1900m at Gosford on New Year’s Eve. He stays at the 1900m, a trip he is two from two, with that confidence boosting win, he can go back-to-back. Fleet Commander, the Irish-bred son of Atlantic Jewel was a winner second-up in Australian over 1900m at Gosford back in June. Resumed with a handy fourth to Djapana over 1600m at Gosford on Dec 28 and will appreciate stepping up to the 1900m here. Counter is the third emergency and needs a couple more scratchings to get a run. Has placed in all three runs at this track and distance including a last start second to Suit Of Armour on Jan 1.

Bet: Jack Duggan to win

RACE 7

Huon has handy record at Canterbury with two wins and three placings from eight starts. Two of those placings were over this trip including a closing third to Karedada on Dec 8. Worked home well for fourth behind Lancaster Bomber here on Jan 1. Botanica broke his maiden with a nice win on the Beaumont on Dec 16 and stepped up to a Bm72 here when runner-up in that same race here on New Year’s Day. Drawn well and will give plenty of cheek again. Shalailed only beat two home when eighth to Contemporary first-up but he did make some ground late out wide at Randwick on Dec 30. Had won both trials leading into that run and he has a good second-up record.

Bet: Huon each-way

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury, Ballina, Moruya