Canterbury, Inverell best bets, inside mail for Wednesday, January 1, 2025

The Blake Ryan-trained Lady Extreme returns to the track and distance of her last win and add is perfectly placed to add another.

Lady Extreme returns to Canterbury and looks hard to beat. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet form expert Adam Sherry analyses the New Year’s Day cards at Canterbury and Inverell, presenting his best bets plus Canterbury quaddie picks.

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CANTERBURY TIPS

BEST BET
Race 4 No.4 LADY EXTREME
Just beaten here first-up before a second in a Midway. Gets her chance to break through.

NEXT BEST
Race 8 No.11 UNLEESHING
Drops in grade from her two second placings this campaign.

VALUE BET
Race 3 No.6 JAYASHREE
Nice effort on debut before a tough run second-up. Drawn well and will give a sight.

QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 2, 6
Race 6: 3, 4, 6
Race 7: 2, 3, 5, 10
Race 8: 5, 7, 11

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jason Collett has a nice book of rides and will be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

CANTERBURY INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: MAIDEN PLATE (1900m)
SOUNDS UNUSUAL (2) was a little slow away when he came from last when runner-up at Newcastle on debut over 1500m. Settled midfield from a good gate when third to Great White Shark over 1900m here 19 days ago. Drawn well again. THE BEAST (11) had excuses in his only unplaced run when wide early before being restrained to midfield and boxed on okay for sixth over this track and distance. Drawn better this time. ANA CAROLINA (4) will be better for her first-up fifth to War Star.
BET: Sounds Unusual to win.

RACE 2: MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
GOODLUCKTOME (5) raced outside the leader when runner-up to the exciting Tuileries when resuming here on Dec 13. Can go one better here. THE ENCHANTER (11) jumped well to race outside the leader before finishing second to Point And Shoot on debut at Nowra on Dec 15. The winner was beaten a nose at Randwick on the weekend. COLD BREW (2) raced greenly in the straight but did a good job to finish a half-length second to Lough Eske on debut on the Beaumont. Will take plenty of improvement from the run.
BET: Goodlucktome to win.

RACE 3: MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
JAYASHREE (6) hit the line strongly when runner-up behind Dance To The Boom on debut at Kembla then raced wide without cover second-up when he beat just one home behind El Castello. Resuming off a nice trial at Rosehill. TAKE ACHANCE ON ME (14) debuted with a fifth to Spirit Of Wealth at Newcastle in August. Resumes off two good trials, the latest a nose win over Jayashree. QATARS CHOICE (10) was a handy third to on debut at Warwick Farm before a seventh at the same track in August. Back from a spell and expect her to keep improving.
BET: Jayashree each-way.

RACE 4: 5YO+ BENCHMARK 72 (1250m)
LADY EXTREME (4) ended last campaign with a win over this track and distance in July. Resumed with a nose second to Queen Of The Mile here before a second to Zoubaby at Randwick. Drawn ideally and hard to beat. LANCASTER BOMBER (3) was a half-length third to Scorch two runs back before a second to the talented Winston Hills at his last two runs, both here. NOT THAT EASY (8) is knocking on the door after placing at her last three starts, the latest a nose second to Slinky at Warwick Farm. Placed both runs this track and distance.
BET: Lady Extreme to win.

RACE 5: 3&4YO BENCHMARK 64 (1550m)
POCKETING (2) was well backed on debut and got the job done before a second to the promising Komodo Dragon. Started this campaign with a close second at Hawkesbury before beating Toes In The Water at over 1400m Kembla. OH DIAMOND LIL (6) raced well in her first campaign. Returned with a handy third to Raikkonen here before breaking through with a big win from Altair I Am. TOES IN THE WATER (1) finished a length behind Pocketing last time out. Will appreciate the extra trip and meets him 2kg better.
BET: Pocketing to win.

RACE 6: BENCHMARK 64 (1900m)
SMART LEGEND (6) was well supported when fourth to Malabar over 1600m at Warwick Farm after racing behind the speed. Steps up to 1900m and gets a 3kg claim. WAR STAR (4) was impressive leading all-the-way at Hawkesbury before a third to Malabar. Looks like he will appreciate the extra distance but has the outside gate to overcome.
BET: Smart Legend each-way.

RACE 7: LISTED CANTERBURY SPRINT (1200m)
OUR KOBISON (3) resumed from a let-up with a second to Eagle Nest in the Listed Starlight Stakes before a fourth to Iowna Merc at Randwick both over 1100m. Better suited up to 1200m and can get back to winning form. TIME TO BOOGIE (10) was first-up since January when he stalked the leaders before being caught late by IOWNA MERC (4). He will be improved by the run and is a second-up winner. EAGLE NEST (2) followed his Starlight win with a neck third to Jedibeel in the Listed Razor Sharp.
BET: Our Kobison to win.

RACE 8: 3&4YO BENCHMARK 64 (1100m)
UNLEESHING (11) was a debut winner at Mudgee before a spell. Returned with a second to Aye Aye Captain before working home well for second behind the exciting unbeaten gelding Private Harry at Rosehill. RED HOT LIZZIE (5) was okay first-up when beaten just over a length when fifth to Midnight Dynamite here on Nov 20 then suffered cardiac arrhythmia when last to Raikkonen on the Kensington. Can bounce back. 7. MANUSCRIPT (7) isn’t without a chance.
BET: Unleeshing to win.

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INVERELL TIPS

BEST BET
Race 2 No.10 CRESTA RUN
Drops back from city company when fifth at Canterbury. Runner-up to Sir Remlap before that.

NEXT BEST
Race 4 No.1 PERFECTLY FROSTED
Ran home smartly for a half-length second at Newcastle on debut. Can go one better.

Originally published as Canterbury, Inverell best bets, inside mail for Wednesday, January 1, 2025