Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

Following placings at both starts back from a spell, the Mark Newnham-trained Sixgun is ready to find winning form. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Sixgun looks ready to break through after two good efforts back from a spell. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.

CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 6, No.2: SIXGUN

He looks to get all the favours at a track he has won at before and peaks now third-up in a competitive race but he looks primed for 1100m now.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.2: SPELLCATCHER

He should have probably won in town on a Saturday last start when he got blocked for a run at a crucial point in the straight. It did prove however that he belonged at that level.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No.2: LEAVE ME SOME

She has been in form for some time now and has placed twice from three runs at this track and finally draws a gate now.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 4, 6

Race 5: 1, 5, 6, 9

Race 6: 1, 2, 3, 8

Race 7: 1, 2

Trainer Chris Waller can start the night at Canterbury on a high note. Picture: Getty Images

TRAINER TO WATCH

Could premier trainer Chris Waller prepare the first four runners home in the opening race? It’s a rare feat but he’s the man to do it with Aton Of Delight on top for me.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Apprentice Tyler Schiller has good rides in White Boots and Leave Me Some and will have to be at his best to get Salina Dreaming home from barrier 10.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Dresden looked home on debut at Wyong only to get nabbed on the line by a Godolphin runner who was also on debut and hasn’t raced since. Up in trip now helps but the wide gate doesn’t. Aton Of Delight should be one off the fence and a pair or two back so there shouldn’t be any excuses and he’s had the benefit of a first-up run and Bowman sticks. Marcher did well on debut after having to make a wide run before running on and is another improver but could get caught wide again. McDonald is on though. Spitfire gets the dream run here while nothing went right for Big Short first-up.

Bet: Aton Of Delight to win

RACE 2

Spellcatcher probably should’ve won last start at Randwick on a Saturday when he got blocked at a crucial stage. He’s drawn well but he’s only ever raced on big, open tracks. California Surreal has drawn out so it won’t be as easy as last time when she won here by a good enough margin. With luck she’ll give another good account of herself. Ringarosa broke 34 seconds for the last 600m on a Heavy track first-up when she showed a top turn of foot and plenty of determination to run down a leader. She will be suited to 1200m but will need the speed on to win as James McDonald now jumps on. Watch the market moves with Divina who returns off a long break.

Bet: Spellcatcher to win

White Boots found winning form last start and looks a good chance again. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

White Boots got back into the winners’ circle after a period where not much was going right. He’s back in grade but up 3kg. He’s only race here was a win too. Should be hard to beat. She’s All In has been beaten by a couple of in-form horses at her past three starts and might be starting overs at $14. Jungle Book is knocking on the door after a series of good runs without winning and has placed four times from five runs here. Nordic Pride comes up from Victoria and there’s no issue with him running this out strongly.

Bet: Quinella 4, 9

RACE 4

You would think this is a touch too short for Ita to win fresh but the market likes the consistent type who has a powerful team behind her. Ciccina is a real winner but this is the toughest test she’s faced to date. She’s first-up and she only needs to improve from a nice spell to be comfortable at this level. Russbuss has the fitness on her side but not the barrier. She ran above her odds at her first go at this track last time so will have plenty of support even though she doesn’t get all the favours on paper. Leave Me Some looks the one to have at decent enough odds from a good gate. She’s so consistent and must be in the numbers.

Bet: Leave Me Some to win

RACE 5

Bergen will get more respect on Friday night than he did when winning here at $12 fresh two weeks ago. He’s been kept fresh for this and if he’s to win at this grade, this looks his best hope. Score is well placed in this grade but her racing pattern isn’t going to do her any favours at this circuit. Nikohli Beagle also gets back and had excuses last start behind an in-form Stakes level horse. Accelerato gets an extra 1.5kg less weight against Bergen than last time when he didn’t get much luck in the straight and went over the line with a bit left in the tank. With a better draw than Bergen, a reversal of the last result wouldn’t surprise.

Bet: Accelerato to win

Accelerato can turn the tables on Bergen. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

A great race. Star Cherie has come back in top order and has the speed to lead this field into the straight. She might be vulnerable late but is third-up so this is her chance to produce a strong 1100m. Sixgun will look to pounce late over the top of the speed off two nice runs over 1000m this time in. Salina Dreaming is probably the best horse in the race but has been handed a wide gate. She’s got to improve off her fresh run in higher grade. Park Avenue goes great fresh and is well placed here. It looks like a good target for him.

Bet: Sixgun to win

RACE 7

Off Shaw has been good at his two runs back from a spell and there’s a significant rider changes here as he gets up to a much more suitable trip third-up. He carries the top weight and he just about wins. Savvy Legend will probably be ridden for luck from the barrier but has the ability to let down well off a hot speed. Savoury was very impressive winning here two weeks ago and gets all the favours again with High Bowman on.

Bet: Exacta 1, 2

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