Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
Kembla gelding Main Stage put the writing on the wall last start that a rare win was imminent. 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 6, No.5: MAIN STAGE
Only won 3 from 43 but his numbers at the track and distance and are very good. Caught the eye here first-up.
NEXT BEST
Race 2, No.6: NAY TO REMEMBER
About to open his second preparation and does so in great shape judging on his recent trials. has talent.
VALUE BET
Race 8, No.8: JUNGLE BOOK
Ready to peak third-up off two decent runs last month. Likes it here at Canterbury.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1,2,4
Race 6: 5,6,8
Race 7: 1,3,4,5,6
Race 8: 8
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Hugh Bowman has some great rides at Canterbury and some even better ones at Rosehill.
ORANGE
BEST BET
Race 3, No.2: WOLF QUEEN
Beaten a neck on debut at Mudgee but went to Gosford 20-days later and bolted in.
NEXT BEST
Race 1, No.1: THE DROVER
Ready to deliver now fourth run into the campaign off a good second here 10-days ago.
VALUE BET
Race 6, No.2: PANAURA
Locally-trained gelding who is perfectly suited up to the 1280m and with a good draw/jockey.
PORT MACQUARIE
BEST BET
Race 1, No.4: JAZIRAT
Dynamic Syndications mare whose three career wins have all been on heavy tracks.
NEXT BEST
Race 5, No.6: IMPULSE CONTROL
Nathan Doyle-trained mare whose lone win was on a heavy 10 here at Port Macquarie early on.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY
RACE 1
Paris Dior is one of the few two-year-olds here that has invaluable race experience, and in her case, it was a fantastic run. Should she have beaten Man In The Mirror that day? You could make a case for the positive, but whatever side you are one, we can agree that she is above average. Portray is a very racy little chestnut filly out of the Denise’s Joy winner Alucinari. She was really impressive winning a heat here. Proud Image is a massive hope.
Bet: Paris Dior to win, box trifecta 3,8,10,11
RACE 2
You wouldn’t see too many better-looking horses, or horses with a better action, than Nay To Remember. Forget the debut run, he’s a different horse now as evidenced in those trials. Drawn the rails which hopefully is a blessing and not a curse. Stormy Legend was beaten at $1.90 on debut back in mid-May. He was odds on for a reason that day. Nice horse. Solvere ran better than his $31 starting price here on debut. Sneaky Shark was runner-up on the Karaka Millions.
Bet: Nay To Remember to win
RACE 3
Super Vogue has been the talk of the trials in recent weeks, the Team Hawkes filly seems to have a real turn of foot on her when unleashed. Given the way she has trialled maybe the wide gate doesn’t matter. No guessing when it comes to where the Saintly relation Tick Tick Tick will be in the run - that’s in the lead or darn close to it. Going to love this venue. You Like was disappointing at Beaumont but can atone.
Bet: Super Vogue to win, quinella 3,4
RACE 4
Clear Blonde was $71 when she ran at Warwick Farm and make no mistake, those poor punters who backed her each-way or for the place should have been collecting. She was very, very unlucky not to medal that day, racing in restricted room at a crucial stage. Awesome Choice was doing his best work late first-up over 1400m. Well placed on Friday night at 1550m. Lady Proisir was found to be 2/5 lame after her Boxing Day ‘failure’ at Beaumont.
Bet: Clear Blonde to win
RACE 5
Southern Lad has eight second placings on his C.V, one of them was to Classique Legend, another was behind Masked Crusader. Probably won’t see Southern Lad in the 2022 The Everest but he is a very good G3/Listed sprinter who can add Friday night’s Christmas Classic to his other stakes win, the Ramornie Handicap. Unbeaten at the track/distance I should add. Special Reward turned back the clock in the Razor Sharp beating Southern Lad by a half-length. Poetic Charmer and the Provincial Championship Final winner Through The Cracks are in the mix. Market watch advised here across the board.
Bet: Southern Lad to win
RACE 6
Main Stage ran in five Group 1 races in his first 12 starts including the ATC, VRC and SAJC Derbies as well as the Rosehill and Australian Guineas - wow. Now a seven-year-old trained by ATC Derby winner Gwenda Markwell, Main Stage was $19 into $11 here first-up and ran accordingly well. Placed two of three at the t/d. My Demetra will give herself every chance on Friday night out in front or near enough to. The somewhat underrated Remus shapes like 1900m will be right up his alley. Dream Maiden, like any horse, is seemingly always subject to luck in running.
Bet: Main Stage to win, box trifecta 5,6,8
RACE 7
Miracle Day will be going for four straight wins either at Canterbury or at Rosehill on Saturday in what is a significantly harder race. So far as Friday night is concerned, barrier 6 for the Mugatoo combo and of course this fellow is ‘one for one’ at the venue. Conscript is also going for four straight wins and like Miracle Day, is ‘one for one’ at this track. Drawn is a little bit ‘iffy’ but that’s all. Accelerato has raced here seven times for no wins but five placings. Look out for Astero at Rosehill if he doesn’t show up here that is.
Bet: Miracle Day to win or of scratched Conscript to win
RACE 8
Jungle Book, a cleverly-named son of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, is ready and able to peak on Friday night third-up off two good runs, the last one we could even raise to ‘very good’ certainly in light of where he is headed now. Placed four out of five at the venue, placed at both tries at the track/distance. Kutayha is another horse that usually runs well at Canterbury. He likes the trip and he has a good second-up record. Barrier 4 and Bowman doesn’t hurt. Atlantic King can never be ruled out of any race.
Bet: Jungle Book to win, quinella 3,8
Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
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