Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

A Kris Lees-trained mare can add to her impressive record and end the day on a high note. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Kris Lees can end the day at Canterbury on a high note with Powerful Peg set to claim another win. Picture: Getty Images

Form analyst Mitch Cohen 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 7, No.3: POWERFUL PEG

Progressive mare from the Kris Lees stable that has won half of her six starts. Drops in grade here and gets a good gate.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.8: QUEEN OF DRAGONS

Did enough on debut to suggest she‘s got more than enough talent to win in Wednesday grade.

VALUE BEST

Race 6, No.2: KIRKEBY

A winner third up before, he finds the right race to add a third win to his resume.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3

Race 5: 5, 6, 7

Race 6: 1, 2, 4, 7

Race 7: 1, 3, 4

Apprentice Dylan Gibbons looks set for a good day at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Dylan Gibbons has ridden 86 winners for his boss Kris Lees and looks well placed to add to that tally on Wednesday.

THE INSIDE MAIL FORCANTERBURY

RACE 1

Queen Of Dragons is the sister to last year’s Group 2 Percy Sykes winner Paris Dior with the daughter of Pierro also loaded with potential. Not everything went right in her on debut where she raced wide before battling on for fourth behind Red Resistance at Rosehill. She gets the better draw here and Victorian jockey Craig Williams is making the trip up to Sydney for just one ride. The Little Pumper is the main danger. The Shalaa colt led them up when only narrowly beaten by Infatuation last start and could prove hard to catch again. Militarize is the best of Chris Waller’s two chances after winning his latest trial in some style.

Bet: Queen Of Dragons to win.

RACE 2

Beauty Crusade is an aptly-named son of Invader lining up for start three. The Ron Quinton-trained gelding has been beaten but far from disgraced in two hits outs, most recently finishing third in a 1400m event on the Kensington course. Stepping up to 1550m now third up looks the right call. Eau De Vie brings country form to town after just missing in a Muswellbrook maiden last time. She surged through the line and should enjoy the step up in trip. Air Bentley ran on well for third in a leader’s dominant event at Gosford last time but finds another race without an abundance of speed in it.

Bet: Beauty Crusade to win.

Andrew Adkins rides Beauty Crusade for trainer Ron Quinton on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 3

Lalaguna has been a two time runner up in six starts including last time when she was nailed on the post at Warwick Farm over 1400m. She drops back in trip here but should land in a forward position again from barrier three while trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace to pull the blinkers out of the gear bag. She should be rock-hard fit now. Hollywood Hero has been backed from $6 into $3 in early betting. He looks a promising colt and wasn’t far away in his debut on New Year’s Day at the track. Botanica and Dakota Vroom have trialled well in the lead up to their debuts but the wide draws could prove costly.

Bet: Lalaguna to win.

RACE 4

Tawfiq Lass is a consistent mare that does some of her best racing second up. The Kris Lees-trained five-year-old is a two-time winner and also placed at this stage of her prep. She made up decent ground when fifth at this venue first up from a break on January 6 and history tells you she will improve off that showing. Game Theory was beaten by Tawfiq Lass’ stablemate Per Inaway in the Malcolm Cusack last start at Gosford but the margin was less than a length. He’s been racing well without winning this preparation and another forward showing wouldn’t surprise. Dynamic Impact is either rocks or diamonds. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has won six of his 24 starts but has never run a minor placing.

Bet: Tawfiq Lass last to win.

RACE 5

Sophia’s Magic started life in New Zealand but will join forces with a couple of Kiwi stars in her fourth Australian start. The Charm Spirit mare is now with Chris Waller and will chase a maiden Australian win with James McDonald aboard. She has finished among the placings at her past two starts at this track including a runner up last time over the same trip. She should be every chance from barrier two. Expecting stablemates Karlstad and Field Legend to provide the main challenge with a leaning to the latter. The Snitzel gelding should appreciate the step up to 1900m first up from a break. Claim The Crown could be a sharp improver at his second Australian start.

Bet: Sophia’s Magic to win.

Kirkeby (left) can register an overdue win on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Gun jockey Nash Rawiller is riding for the first time since January 7 and can get a welcome back gift aboard Kirkeby. The Chris Waller-trained gelding doesn’t win often with two wins from 22 starts and a further nine placings. One of those placings came last start in a solid second at Warwick Farm. A winner third up before, this is a great chance for him to add to his winning total. Golden Gorge was a winner around this track and trip two starts ago before failing in Saturday grade. He’s more than capable of bouncing back. Journalism gets the chance to back up his first up success Wyong but this is definitely harder.

Bet: Kirkeby to win.

RACE 7

Powerful Peg has made an excellent start to her career, winning three and placing twice in six runs. After winning at Tamworth and Beaumont to start this preparation, the Rubick filly finished within half a length of the winner in Saturday grade last time. She strikes an easy race here with a super draw in barrier two. Reckon she’s one of the better bets on the program. The Great Houdini will get back and be rattling home late. He has plenty of scope for improvement second up. Recommendation will need to muster early from the wide gate to take up the lead again but could prove hard to catch if he can.

Bet: Powerful Peg to win.

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