Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

A Chris Waller-trained former Kiwi can introduce himself to Australian racing fans with a first-up Australian win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Chris Waller will send former Kiwi Sindacato to Canterbury for his Australian debut. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass 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 5, No.4: SINDACATO

Half-brother to Luvaluva and Brandenburg ready to make his presence felt at his first start on our side of the Tasman for Chris Waller.

NEXT BEST

Race 8, No.4: ROCKLILLY

Talented and progressive filly from the Matthew Dunn stable. Easy winner on a Heavy 9 beating Dufresne that day.

VALUE BET

Race 2, No.9: RINGAROSA

Ploughed through the slop at Kembla first-up then had genuine excuses in defeat next time when she ran fifth here 14-days ago.

BEST PLACE BET

Race 1, No.15: KOTE

Choisir filly on debut in the Anthony Cummings. Plenty to like about her trial behind a smart filly eight days ago.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,4

Race 6: 7,9,12

Race 7: 5,6,10,13

Race 8: 4,6,7

James McDonald will be a short-priced favourite to take out the Canterbury Jockeys Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

How many times do you reckon James McDonald has started favourite in the TAB Jockeys Challenge? Going to be short again on Friday night.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Swift Sweet is a Snitzel half to Denise’s Joy winner, Ballistic Lover, and being out of a Show A Heart mare, you almost have to put a tick in the ‘heavy box’. Doesn’t always work out that way of course but better that than nothing. Form good, trials great. Speaking of trials, there was a like about the way Kote closed off behind Winnertakesitall is being treated as a scratching here having maybe raced down in Canberra. Master Showman is a brother to Trapeze Artist and can clearly gallop.

Bet: Winnertakesitall to win but likely to be scratched. Swift Sweet to win, Winnertakesitall to win the Percy Sykes (TAB Fixed Odds $34).

RACE 2

Ringarosa absolutely ploughed through the going when she won her maiden at Kembla on Jan 23. Had excuses for her defeat here 21 days later. James McDonald sticks, so should we all perhaps. Vivid Flash was bloused right on the line by the barnstorming and above-average Mayrose here two weeks back. Go well again. Shades Of Rose broke the 1100m track record at Bathurst last start. Box 4 and Tim Clark on-board suggest she leads. Thanks scoop.

Bet: Ringarosa to win

RACE 3

Ocean Shores had the last crack and got a great ride, etc, etc. but it was a really good win to the eye. Just liked the way the son of Fastnet Rock and Shawnee Girl attacked the line and then ran through it. That said, no one would have missed the stablemate in The Autumn Sun colours namely Aton of Delight. If ever a horse is looking for 1900m, it’s this son of the Zabeel mare Zurella. Twice On Sunday has a terrible draw but she is one for one on heavy.

Bet: Ocean Shores to win a very open race

Sixgun looks a good chance to break through at Canterbury. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Sixgun, the brother and stablemate of Splintex, seems to be able to handle all surfaces. The other notable aspect to his C.V is that he has raced at this same track and distance twice for a win and a last start third (top run that too). He is very pattern/tempo/bias related but Canterbury has been playing really well again. Now should there be any leader/on-pace bias, rest assured a horse like Buckin’ Beauty will be the one to benefit just like last Friday night. Star Cherie and Salina Dreaming have obvious claims.

Bet: Sixgun to win

RACE 5

Sindacato is a half-brother to the John Sargent-trained stakes winners Luvaluva and Brandenburg. Can you believe the dam of these siblings, a Galileo daughter too, was sold for $500 as an unraced 3yo filly 14 years ago. If there is a market watch horse, it’s Sindacato. Kinloch has shown glimpses of above average talent. He is certainly a Saturday class horse and we know he performs/excels fresh. Has there been a better wet tracker at Waller’s than Red Tracer. Okay, yes, Winx, but Overlord’s mum, Red Tracer was a swimmer.

Bet: Sindacato to win but, if scratched, Kinloch to win

RACE 6

Savvy Legend is a Les Bridge-trained son of the great Savabeel. You wouldn’t be able to find too many fitter horses going around here than this fellow who is cherry ripe for the 1900m. Surely barrier one has to be a huge assist, so too Josh Parr who should really suit the horse. Benaud was a long way off being ‘marvellous’ at

Warwick Farm first-up. Even so, it is a little bit too early to give up on a Reliable Man gelding who is clearly in search of a trip. Zoumon will probably try to lead here or at least be on-speed.

Bet: Savvy Legend to win, quinella 7,9

Josh Parr rides Savvy Legend for trainer Les Bridge. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Having just said you would be hard pressed to find a fitter horses, Let me throw in Hemmerle’s name too as being rock hard and battle ready for a welcome first visit to town for apprentice Hannah Williams. This one-time boom son of Lucas Cranach is aiming for four straight wins and he’s been putting them away by big margins too. Chris Waller is a master of the Savabeels and he’s got a pretty promising one here in Paternal. Philipsburg has a lot going for him bar the barrier.

Bet: Hemmerle each-way

RACE 8

Rocklily was, for some unknown reason, $2.90 to $5 first-up at Gosford off a couple of smashing trials; one close-up behind Overpass no less. Long story short, Rocklilly fought like a lion to beat the runner-up. Three week break to regroup (if she needed to) and it’s onwards and upwards for this regally-bred miss. Said it before and say it again, I think Hugh Bowman likes Sunborn as a horse. He rides her a bit and always rides her well and comes back for mow. Beep Test is liable to hit back big time here. She’s got talent.

Bet: Rocklily to win, box trifecta 4,6,7,12

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