Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
An Annabel Neasham-trained gelding looks well placed to land a first-up win at odds at Canterbury on Wednesday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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Daily Telegraph form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.
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CANTERBURY
BEST BET
Race 2 No.13: VOMO ISLAND
A promising colt returning from a break. He went close on debut last preparation and can go one better here.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No.6: I AM JADE
A runner-up in half of her six starts. She ran into a nice one last start and can break the maiden this time.
VALUE BET
Race 5 No.1: STICK TO YOUR GUNS
The Annabel Neasham-trained galloper has performed well fresh before and expecting another forward showing here.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 5, 7
Race 5: 1, 6, 10, 11, 12
Race 6: 8, 10, 11, 12, 13
Race 7: 1, 11, 12
TRAINER TO FOLLOW
Chris Waller, the state’s leading trainer, has an enviable hand at the midweeks and can add to his season haul of 138 winners.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Tyler Schiller, with both of his apprentice premiership rivals suspended, the defending champion gets a great chance to capitalise.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY
RACE 1
Makena returns from a 15 week break for her second preparation. The Zoustar filly didn’t show much in her debut at Flemington but her only trial in the lead up to her return was an ominous win. She gets a gun draw and J-Mac here. Heaven Bound is a first starter from the Mark Newnham camp. There was a lot to like about her effort at the trial and expecting her to get back and hit the line strongly from the wide draw. Zoukerette did things the hard way when forced wide a long way from home first up from a break but can get an easier run here.
Verdict: Makena to win
RACE 2
Vomo Island won‘t be a maiden for long. In fairness, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt would have already shed that tag with a bit more luck on debut last preparation where he flashed home for second at this track. He has trialled up well for his second start and gets the perfect draw to capitalise. Kandinsky Abstract is the $3m brother of former sprinting star mare Sunlight. The trials have been promising for him and he’s from right stable. Snowman finished under two lengths off dual Group 1 winner Militarize on debut in January. That has to be good order for this.
Verdict: Vomo Island to win
RACE 3
I Am Jade has been runner up in half of her six starts and it took a smart one to beat her last time. She was only gunned down late by Shipshape last start at Hawkesbury with the winner franking the form with a win at Wyong since. She can go one better here. Prefer The Wink is a son of Victoria Derby winner Preferment so you‘d think longer he will be suited by longer assignments. His trials have been good though and expecting he will be one of the strongest late. Leandra was placed in two of her three starts in her debut preparation and can produce a forward showing on return for round two.
Verdict: I Am Jade to win
RACE 4
Domingo was tested in a Group 1 Australian Derby but found the staying test too tough. This is easier and looks to be at a trip more to his liking. The son of Contributer had won back to back starts around 2000m range before his Derby tilt. Sprout Wings lived up to her name with a slashing return at Warwick Farm. She‘s been a second up performer in the past with two wins from three attempts so another strong showing in this certainly wouldn’t surprise. Todd Smart has Loose Love flying. This is harder again but he has proven he’s a capable type.
Verdict: Domingo to win. Quinella 5, 7
RACE 5
Stick To Your Guns is ready to fire a shot first up. The Annabel Neasham-trained galloper usually comes to hand pretty quickly and is already a two-time winner fresh. He returns here off a couple of nice trials with an ideal inside draw. Tenderize will get better the deeper his preparation goes but has been given a couple of solid tune ups to have him ready for his return. The Gary Portelli-trained colt is still only lightly-raced and looks to have some upside. Miss Hellfire is good enough to win this but barrier 11 will make life tricky this time.
Verdict: Stick To Your Guns to win
RACE 6
Songbird Serenade tends to mix her form but her best is good enough for a race like this. She was a winner at this track and trip at one of the final Canterbury meetings before it became a quarantine facility for the Autumn Carnival internationals. Trusting that she will appreciate getting back to a happy hunting ground after failing at her last start at Warwick Farm. Buillt needed a scratching to get in the field as the first emergency. The Chris Waller-trained galloper is racing well and hit the line strongly last time after racing without a lot of room in the straight. Improving ground would hold the key to Tradition. The Godolphin galloper has shown talent on good ground but falters whenever the surface is rain affected.
Verdict: Songbird Serenade win with saver on Buillt
RACE 7
Conrad was backed into $2.90 favourite last start in a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier and beat just one runner home but willing to forgive him. That was on a very heavy track and he pulled up with poor post-race recovery. He deserves a second chance in his return to a track and trip here where he has had success before. Bat Out Of Hell debuts for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable after racing well under Gary Portelli with two wins and three placings in five runs in his debut preparation. If he can pick up where he left off, he will be competitive here. Va Vie is a Godolphin filly that should be able to capitalise on a handy draw and feature in the finish while Sports Legend can’t be discounted.
Verdict: Conrad to win. Boxed trifecta 1, 10, 11, 12
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
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