Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
Following two nice barrier trial wins, a good-looking son of Zoustar can kick off his spring with a win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.
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CANTERBURY
BEST BET
Race 1, No.4: AMBASSADORS
Flashy chestnut from the Snowden stable who was put aside after an inconclusive debut here. Loaded with talent and trialling very well.
NEXT BEST
Race 2, No.7: SUMATRA
Lonhro replica out of the Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper runner-up, Earthquake, who has been trialling like he will win first-up.
VALUE BET
Race 6, No.10: MISS MYA
May not have beaten much at Kembla but couldn’t have been any more impressive on the day.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1
Race 5: 5,6,7
Race 6: 2,5,10
Race 7: 1,10,13
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
James McDonald already leads the Sydney Jockeys Premiership by four thanks to a huge 28.2 per cent winning strike-rate.
THE INSIDE MAIL CANTERBURY
RACE 1
Ambassadors is a flashy chestnut son of Zoustar and was sold for $160,000 at the Magic Millions Sale. The Snowden Racing colt was tipped out after an inconclusive debut here on May 4 but everything he has done at the trials suggests a much better outcome this time. Northern Beaches has placed at three of his four starts and looked ready to make a bold return winning his Rosehill trial 5-days ago. Scientist, the I Am Invincible/Global Glamour colt and $600,000 Gold Coast yearling is the spruik horse from the stable so has to be respected.
Bet: Ambassadors to win, exacta 4 to beat 1
RACE 2
Sumatra is straight off the Lonhro assembly-line and what’s more is out of the Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper runner-up, Earthquake. This James Cummings trained filly was spelled after being beaten three and a half lengths in the VRC Sires’. Trialling like the one to beat. River Tamar is a typical John Sargent trained classic style filly being by Tavistock but there has been nothing dour about her in trials. Could be the surprise packet here. Ditto that for Wollombi who was closing fast when finishing just behind Sarge’s filly in that Randwick heat.
Bet: Sumatra to win, River Tamar to place, box trifecta 1,5,7,10
RACE 3
Oz Legend is a Bon Ho owned Irish-bred son of the ultimate classic colt - Australia. The Chris Waller trained gelding has won from a mile up to 2212m in the UK and showed is liable to peak here at his fourth run in Australia; namely a rock solid third over this track/distance. Sprout Wings deserves credit for having finished fourth in Saturday grade last start with the five weeks between runs. Take note that two of her three career wins have been at this venue. Roccaforte has been in fantastic form albeit on easier races. Karlstad is back to the midweeks after a couple of runs at Rosehill.
Bet: Oz Legend to win, quinella 3,7
RACE 4
Leo is a recent recruit to the Ron Quinton stable and has really thrived since he arrived at High Street. His two trials for Quinton were rippers and he was rightfully deemed as ‘brave’ when setting a strong speed only to be collared late by the superior Matoai. Drawn 1 and has James McDonald to steer. Da Nang Star is a half-brother to one of Quinton’s Coolmore winners, Peeping. Been trialling up a storm. Vinery gelding Resilient Star sent out some positive signs when holding his ground first-up at Gosford. Outside barrier is of no help however. Impulse Control hasn’t fared well in the barrier stakes but he is a Randwick placegetter over this trio and trialled keenly at Muswellbrook last month.
Bet: Leo to win
RACE 5
All England is more or the nephew of the great Chautauqua and while he has only won once in his eight starts, it is important to note that it was at this same track and distance. Not the most wholly reliable racehorse but he has shown glimpses of being above average in the past and his recent trial win was a beauty. Same goes for Rammstein who has a compelling first-up record but may need a track upgrade out of the Heavy range. Bartoselli has only won once in his nine starts but he has placed six times and had a few genuine excuses here and there, Apart from the fact that he has placed at two of his four runs at Canterbury, his two big pluses are barrier 4 and Nash Rawiller. Le Vizir bounced back to his best last start and could easily take another step forward.
Bet: All England to win
RACE 6
Miss Mya did the Tait colours proud when she broke her maiden at Kembla at her fourth and most recent outing. Can’t vouch for the standard of the opposition that day, but he left them standing with a quick burst of acceleration and won easing down. Up quite dramatically in grade but no better time to test her mettle. Petulant has been both costly (to bet on) and consistent (to own). The Team Hawkes trained mare almost guarantees herself a place on the podium given she has never missed out on a medal yet in her seven starts and often against quality horses. Speaking of quality horses, Roots’ last appearance was in the Group 1 Oaks over in Adelaide. If she is ready, she might just be too good. Market the guide to her prospects.
Bet: Miss Mya each-way
RACE 7
Atlantic King surprised a lot of punters when he won at Warwick Farm. Perhaps the manner of the win was unforeseen but what many seemed to overlook is that the son of More Than Ready had a deadly second-up record and Nash Rawiller clearly has the key to bringing out his best. You wouldn’t see many more impressive or decisive wins than that of My Truth here two weeks ago. Granted he got all the leader-bias and he was really well rated but his times stacked up against anything else on the day and bottom line is, he just won like a good horse. Clearly Blonde would only need to repeat her last start here to figure highly.
Bet: Atlantic King to win
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
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