Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

Following a solid second last time out, the Bjorn Baker-trained Ita will relish the wet conditions and is ready to peak third-up. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Bjorn Baker has Ita ready to break through at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image

Daily Telegraph Racing Editor Ray Thomas and form analyst Shayne O’Cass give their best bets for Canterbury and Port Macquarie.

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

By Ray Thomas

BEST BET

Race 5, No.1: ITA

Ita is a genuine mare fitter for two runs from a spell including a good last start second over the Canterbury 1250m course. She stays at the sprint trip and while her best form is over further, the heavy track conditions are in her favour.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.5: SPITFIRE

Spitfire tried to lead throughout and did well to beat all but Ocean Shores over the same course and distance last start. Spitfire has recorded a hat-trick of minor placing, he handles heavy tracks and is ready to win.

VALUE BET

Race 8, No.8: RUBY KISSES

Ruby Kisses is in a stronger race than the one she won on this track last start but she is so effective on heavy tracks and gets in well at the weights after the claim. She’s good value around $6.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,3,7

Race 6: 5,1,10,3

Race 7: 7,3,10

Race 8: 8,3,5,10

With a strong book of rides, Hugh Bowman can be take out the TAB Jockey Challenge at Canterbury. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman, who rode his 100th Group 1 on Forbidden Love in the Canterbury Stakes last Saturday, has a good book of rides including Willinga Beast, Spacewalk and Gracilistyla.

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have some strong chances including Sweet Baby Boom, Surf On Turf and promising former English stayer Military Mission.

PORT MACQUARIE

By Shayne O’Cass

BEST BETS

Race 2, No.13: SPENDING SPREE

Mark Minervini-trained filly on debut off the back of two outstanding trials last month, both of them on Soft 7’s.

NEXT BEST

Race 4, No.2: ESSOESS

Another of the Minervini string; this grey son of Choisir raced well at Port Macquarie and will handle the heavy.

VALUE BET

Race 8, No.10: VICKY’S ONE

Had no luck in the MNC Country Championships Qualifier at Taree the other week - loves the slop.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Willinga Beast, a superbly bred Snitzel filly closely related on her dam’s sire to Astern and Alizee and a direct descendant of champion filly Triscay, cost $625,000 as a yearling and looked to have loads of natural ability in her trials. Won her latest heat with ease at Wyong but obviously is unknown on a heavy track. Asteria is a full sister to the flying Profiteer and she was very impressive winning a trial back in December. She hasn’t trialled in recent weeks which is a concern first-up on a heavy track but she is a promising type. Belriah worked home well when resuming at Newcastle over 900m and has race fitness on her side. Sweet Baby Boom is another first starter who has impressed at the trials.

Bet: Willinga Beast to win, saver on Belriah

RACE 2

Spacewalk was stakes placed in the Lonhro Plate when resuming then struggled in the Silver Slipper when unplaced behind Best Of Bordeaux. Drops back to midweek grade, has some wet track form, and boasts race fitness and experience. Alpha One was sent out favourite on debut and had every chance before fading for sixth behind Conqueror and Seven Veils in a strong form race at Kensington last month. Give this colt another chance as he trialled brilliantly on a soft 7 track prior to his debut. First starter Matcha Latte thrashed his two rivals by a widening five lengths in a recent Randwick trial. He was never extended in the heat and if he can run up to that effort in the heavy conditions, he will be hard to beat. Chipper has been strong late in his trials.

Bet: Spacewalk to win, but saver on Alpha One at odds.

Rachel King rides Spitfire at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Spitfire led for home and looked likely to score until Ocean Shores peeled off his back and finished powerfully. The third placegetter, Aton Of Delight, has since won to frank the form. Spitfire has three successive minor placings to his credit this campaign, he’s bursting to win a race and enjoys heavy tracks. Nano Star made up a lot of ground late to finish a close third on debut at Kilmore and is a progressive filly. Aircraftman ran very well when resuming and can only improve. Scat’s Surfer Girl has had a few chances lately but she is very fit and gets the run of the race from the inside barrier.

Bet: Box trifecta 1,5,7,9

RACE 4

Selhurst Park ran well when resuming, chasing home the race-fit Transformation at Hawkesbury. He has been placed in four successive starts on tracks rated in the soft-heavy range. Fitter, drawn well and is ready to win. Headliner is winless after six attempts but she has been tested at stakes level and did run second to Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside at her debut last season. Resuming here but rates highly off a solid recent trial. Minister is improving with racing and Yagoona showed potential when last in work.

Bet: Selhurst Park to win

RACE 5

Ita was second-up when she bumped into promising mare Samoot when beaten more than three lengths into second place at Canterbury two weeks ago. She handled the heavy track conditions well last start but had the misfortune to run into a talented sprinter. With race fitness on her side Ita looks well placed. Finepoint is the danger. Promising filly resuming after successive city wins to end her debut campaign last December. She handled a heavy track well on her debut when fourth at Kembla and will be strong late in this race. Ringarosa is very effective on rain-affected tracks and is racing in good form. Brooks Battle started favourite when unplaced at Warwick Farm a month ago. She has trialled well since but the heavy track is a concern.

Bet: Ita to win

Last start winner Sword Point is back from a short break and can pick up where he left off. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

Sword Point is an emerging three-year-old resuming off a short let-up. He won over this course and distance by a big margin when resuming back in December and also won with authority at Rosehill over 2000m at his last start. Untried on a heavy track but if he handles the conditions, he is the one to beat. Easy Campese struggled in Saturday class last start and is better suited this grade. Azarmin and Silent Agenda are both proven wet-trackers.

Bet: Sword Point to win

RACE 7

Gracilistyla ran a blinder first-up, finishing strongly for second against older horses at a Canterbury night meeting. Fitter now and his only win was a dominant effort on a soft 7 track at Warwick Farm. His dam, the talented Catkins was unbeaten on heavy tracks. Jailbreak has soft track form, is racing consistently and is a winner over this course and distance. Publicist is another lightly-raced three-year-old who broke his maiden on a soft 7 track two months ago. He has trialled well since and is one of the main chances. Vreneli faced out of contention when resuming but he has won on a heavy track and is capable of running a competitive race.

Bet: Gracilistyla to win, Quinella 3,7

RACE 8

Ruby Kisses handled the very heavy conditions to score over the Canterbury 1200m last start and she does gel in well at the weights. Zarastro won successive city races during spring and is resuming off two brilliant Rosehill trial wins. He’s a promising colt but is well-found in betting considering he has never been exposed to a heavy track. Turnstyle does have wet track form and can improve in this grade. Tonneofgrit was stakes placed on a heavy track last season and although resuming he is at very generous odds.

Bet: Ruby Kisses each way, watch betting moves for Turnstyle and Tonneofgrit

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