Canterbury, Tamworth best bets, inside mail for Friday, February 14, 2025
The Joe Pride-trained Weeping Woman was good from a wide gate first-up and will prove hard to beat from a better barrier when she heads to Canterbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Mitch Cohen provides his best bets and analysis Canterbury and best bets for Tamworth on Friday.
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CANTERBURY
BEST BET
Race 6 No. 11: Weeping Woman
This mare is back in top order and can capitalise on a better draw here second-up.
NEXT BEST
Race 1 No. 1: Island Dec
Stakes quality mare resuming and can maintain her unblemished first-up record.
VALUE BET
Race 3 No. 7: November Falls
Underrated mare who always races well fresh. Barrier one and a favourable racing pattern help her cause.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 7, 9, 12
Race 6: 11
Race 7: 3, 4, 6, 8, 10
Race 8: 1, 5, 8
TRAINER TO FOLLOW
Bjorn Baker is training winners everywhere and has a few decent chances again with the likes of Little Baia and O’Ziggy.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Benjamin Osmond’s 3kg claim will be put to good use on a couple of chances at decent odds.
TAMWORTH
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 1: Aphelion
Promising galloper returning from a spell in a winnable maiden. He’s trialled up nicely and is ready to run well.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No. 4: Savethebesttillast
Unlucky not to make it two on the bounce last start but can go one better here.
VALUE BET
Race 8 No. 9: Upwardly Mobile
Found a way to win first up from a spell despite being caught wide and can go back-to-back.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 3, 5, 6
Race 6: 1, 4, 7
Race 7: 1, 8, 11, 12
Race 8: 7, 9
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock had a capacity book and looks destined to hit the target with gun rides on Aphelion and Savethebesttillast.
TRAINER TO FOLLOW
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald will take a strong team to the coast with the likes of Kowloon Princess, Clubman and Zoubeauty.
INSIDE MAIL - CANTERBURY
RACE 1: CHASE THE DREAM (BM64) 1250m
Island Dec is a lightly-raced filly that’s destined for stakes races. She returns from a break here with a couple of trials under her belt and proven to be a dynamite fresh performer before with two wins from two. The 60kg will make life tougher but her class should be enough to get through. La Roja is coming off awesome first-up victory over 1100m at Warwick Farm. She’s certainly untapped and should relish the step up in trip. Eternal is above average and can run well fresh while Lutetia will strip fitter second-up. It’s a race with plenty of chances.
Bet: Island Dec to win
RACE 2: THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE MDN HCP 1550m
Bendrodt was one of six Chris Waller-trained acceptors in the second event. He’s a son of Exceed And Excel that has been banging at the door and is ready to knock it down. First-up he raced with no luck before just missing in a Super Maiden at Newcastle last start over 1500m. Stablemate Automne Tree is destined to get the J-Mac tax but is certainly among the leading chances. He gets to this third-up off a second-up 1400m run that had plenty of merit behind Railway Man. Sunshine Law has finished runner up in five of her seven starts so she’s rarely far away.
Bet: Bendrodt each way, boxed trifecta 1, 2, 4
A decadent win for Decadent Tale in the Midway at Randwick!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/KZQTSyeu4J
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 8, 2024
November Falls always performs well fresh with two wins and two seconds from four attempts. There was a lot to like about her only public appearance at the trials that suggested another strong first-up showing. She’s drawn to get all the favours from the inside gate. Ragga Ragga has finished among the placings in a couple of good form races that have produced a number of subsequent winners. A tick over trial since her last run back on December 18 should have her up to the mark here. Darling Downs is in the right grade here and gets in alright with 59.5kg after Anna Roper’s claim.
Bet: November Falls each way
RACE 4: 2025 STUD AND STABLE STAFF AWARDS (BM72) 1550m
Little Baia won at this same track and trip with Anna Roper aboard last Friday and expecting they can do the same here. She goes up 2kg from that win but only meet a small field here that doesn’t have a lot of depth. Bjorn Baker has his stable flying too. Gendarmerie is holding her form without winning this prep. This certainly shapes as a great opportunity from a low draw and 52kg on her back. Hinchinjive and Jessandi are both decent mile performers.
Bet: Little Baia to win
😮 What a thriller in the last at Randwick, with Green Belt holding on for @SchofieldChad by a whisker - and it's a winning double for Chad! @MickPriceRacingpic.twitter.com/Z69vOhXJIW
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 9, 2024
United Kingdom has had the ultimate gear change and that might finally help him deliver on his potential. The now gelded son of Almanzor was in the market at all four starts last prep and clearly has ability but harnessing it will be the test. He gets his chance here first-up from a break. Atelier has been doing it really well in the bush and just needs to bring that form to be competitive in this. Her last win was only in a Benchmark 58 at Goulburn but there was a bit of style about it. Missile Seeker has hit top gear now and will be finishing strongly late again.
Bet: United Kingdom to win
RACE 6: PROVEN THOROUGHBREDS (BM72) 1100m
Weeping Woman was set a task from a testing draw last start and still ran really well. Caught three-deep throughout, she was doing her best work late to finish 1000m over 1000m. Better draw here and an extra 100m should suit her nicely. Winning Proposal finished 1-1/2 lengths off Group 1 winner Manaal during the spring and anything close to that performance has her winning this. She comes out of the same race as Weeping Woman and might have needed it. Aardvark is another with stakes form and returns a gelding with plenty of gear changes. He’s a danger.
Bet: Weeping Woman to win
Weeping Woman powers home to win Race 6 at Hawkesbury! @PrideRacing@Reganbaylisspic.twitter.com/Vzec6BQnP1
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 13, 2024
RACE 7: SYDNEY CITY KIA EVENING STAR (BM78) 1250m
Keitel is a winner of five of his 13 starts and has a devastating turn of speed when he gets the chance. He showed it two back with a dominant win on the Beaumont track before a midfield effort in the Saturday grade. Hoping Kerrin McEvoy gives him last crack at them. Walkin’Talkin’ is the track and trip specialist with a favourable racing pattern. He’s put together a winning hat-trick over the Canterbury 1250m and is bound to give them something to catch again. Spicy Hotpot is the other one with the picket fence next to her name and looks destined to run well.
Bet: Keitel each way
RACE 8: ASAHI SUPER DRY (BM78) 1900m
Barazin is also an acceptor at Eagle Farm on Saturday but if he runs closer to home, he can win again. He was dominant winning at this track and trip last time albeit after getting a perfect time in the run. The draw makes life tougher but he’s still the horse to beat. Lincoln Rocks is resuming over 1900m and does his best work over a trip. He won three of six last preparation and knows how to find the winning post. Go Troppo ran well behind Barazin last time and gets a 5kg weight swing after Anna Roper’s claim.
Bet: Barazin to win, boxed quinella 1, 5, 8
CANTERBURY PARK
BEST BET
Race 6 No. 11 – WEEPING WOMAN
This mare is back in top order and can capitalise on a better draw here second-up.
NEXT BEST
Race 1 No. 1 – ISLAND DEC
Stakes quality mare resuming and can maintain her unblemished first-up record.
VALUE BEST
Race 3 No. 7 – NOVEMBER FALLS
Underrated mare who always races well fresh. Barrier one and a favourable racing pattern help her cause.
QUADDIE
Race 5 – 7, 9, 12
Race 6 – 11
Race 7 – 3, 4, 6, 8, 10
Race 8 – 1, 5, 8
TRAINER TO FOLLOW
Bjorn Baker is training winners everywhere and has a few decent chances again with the likes of Little Baia and O’Ziggy.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Benjamin Osmond’s 3kg claim will be put to good use on a couple of chances at decent odds.
TAMWORTH
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 1 – APHELION
Promising galloper returning from a spell in a winnable maiden. He’s trialled up nicely and is ready to run well.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No. 4 – SAVETHEBESTTILLAST
Unlucky not to make it two on the bounce last start but can go one better here.
VALUE BEST
Race 8 No. 9 – UPWARDLY MOBILE
Found a way to win first up from a spell despite being caught wide and can go back-to-back.
QUADDIE
Race 5 – 2, 3, 5, 6
Race 6 – 1, 4, 7
Race 7 – 1, 8, 11, 12
Race 8 – 7, 9
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock had a capacity bulk and looks destined to hit the target with gun rides on Aphelion and Savethebesttillast.
TRAINER TO FOLLOW
Annabel Neasham will take a strong team to the coast with the likes of Kowloon Princess, Clubman and Zoubeauty.
Canterbury, Tamworth previews: Pride’s high hopes for promising mare
Following a luckless run first-up. trainer Joe Pride of looking for Weeping Woman to get back to winning form at Canterbury.
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Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel will make a later than planned start to her campaign after a unique malady has forced her to miss Saturday Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick.