Canterbury, Ballina best bets, inside mail for Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Team Hawkes-trained Brave One scored a good win on a heavy track on debut and can kick off this campaign on a winning note at a wet Canterbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Brave One looks hard to beat when he resumes at Canterbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Canterbury and top picks at Ballina on Wednesday.

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CANTERBURY TIPS

BEST BET

Race 5 No.8: BRAVE ONE

Nice won on debut on a heavy track. Trialling well for his return.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.5: SHANGRI LA IMPACT

Solid effort for second on debut. Can go one better.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.8: AHURIRI

Was a little unlucky when resuming. Goes well second-up and wet track a bonus.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 8

Race 6: 1, 6, 7, 8

Race 7: 4, 5, 8

Race 8: 1, 2, 4, 5

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

KERRIN McEVOY has a nice book of rides and is a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

BALLINA TIPS

BEST BET

Race 4 No.2: GUARDED OPTIMIST

Better than his first-up run when back and wide. Drops in class and can turn it around.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No.6: GURU CLASS

Boxed on well for a close third in higher grade last start.

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CANTERBURY INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)

COLD GIN (9) raced three back on the fence and was badly held up in the straight where she went to the line untested at all when sixth to Perle De Chocolate. POISED (4) shared the lead and only run down late when second behind the progressive Declichy Boulevard on debut at Warwick last June. Resumes from a long spell. SURF’S UP (11) went back from a wide gate and closed nicely when a half-length second to Perle De Chocolat on debut at Warwick Farm.

BET: COLD GIN to win.

RACE 2: 2YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m)

MISS FREELOVE (8) was $4.80 into $3.70 on debut at Warwick Farm where she raced keenly and had to be steadied off near the 700m after being crossed. Battled away to finish a half-length third to Perle De Chocolat. Will take improvement from the run. SYLPH (13) raced keenly back in the field before making ground out wide when fourth to Grand Eagle who has won again at Randwick last Saturday. JET (5) is a debutant by Zoustar who has been good winning both recent trials.

BET: MISS FREELOVE to win.

RACE 3: 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1550m)

SHANGRI LA IMPACT (5) had trialled nicely ahead of his debut at Kembla on Apr 15. Started a $2.70 fav when he raced outside Tact and the pair had a great dual up the straight when he went down by a nose. Drawn well and can go one better. BARBRAY (3) took benefit from his debut sixth to Fleeting Spirit over 1300m on the Kensington. Went to Hawkesbury when third to Full Hao over 1600m. DARK ARTS (2) finished a nose in front of Barbray in that Hawkesbury Super Maiden after leading.

BET: SHANGRI LA IMPACT to win.

RACE 4: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200m)

FIRST MISSION (4) did a nice job in his first campaign with a win and two placings from four starts. Lead all the way on a Soft 6 to win at Hawkesbury and placed runner-up to Candlewick on soft ground at Wyong before that. BONJOUR MADAME (6) followed a handy debut third at Taree with a maiden win at the same track before steeping up to a BM64 at Wyong and beating Broadway Follies and Reducio. Her two wins have been on soft track. IMPERIAL STATE (5) won nicely at Gosford before a second to Iron Hawk at Kembla. Has placed on heavy ground.

BET: FIRST MISSION to win.

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1250m)

BRAVE ONE (8) debuted with a good win from Mayfair on a Heavy 9 at Randwick last July and wet straight to the Listed Rosebud when sixth. Sat back and wide before closing smartly when a close second in his Apr 11 Rosehill trial. DEBELLO (2) scored back-to-back wins at Kembla and Hawkesbury before going down by a nose to Enter The Dragon at Hawkesbury. Has won on soft and heavy ground. TRUE AMOR (9) was good winning his maiden at Kembla last November. Won both recent trials including one from Headwall at Randwick.

BET: BRAVE ONE to win.

RACE 6: 5YO+ BENCHMARK 28 HANDICAP (1550m)

STAR IMPACT (8) sat fourth and battled away when fourth to Fiftyfivechevy over 1600m second-up on a Good 4 at Newcastle. at Newcastle. All her best form is on wet tracks and she can run a cheeky race with a light weight. OUR EMPRESS ZOE (7) tracked the leader and chased down Satness to win over this track and distance last week. Wet track the only query with just two third placings from nine starts on the soft. BODY BOB (1) carried 63.5kg when fifth at Canberra first-up. Is a winner here.

BET: STAR IMPACT each-way.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1900m)

AHURIRI (8) sat three-back on the fence and was held up early in the straight before making ground for fifth to Flying Bandit when resuming at Hawkesbury. Has a good second-up record including a win over 1890m and has won on the soft. PERFECT PLAY (4) was a two-length third at Flemington and just over two lengths away in seventh behind King Of Thunder at Rosehill. Less than a length behind Flying Bandit at Hawkesbury last start. REMATCH (5) is back in trip from his fourth to Campaldino in the Orange Cup.

BET: AHURIRI each-way.

RACE 8: F&M BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1100m)

ISLAND DEC (2) maintained her perfect first-up record with a win here before stepping up to stakes grade. Was last to Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes then beaten just over three lengths by She’s Got Pizzazz in the PJ Bell. Back in grade and gets her preferred wet track. PHOTOGRAPH (5) was disappointing behind Gangsta Granny here first-up on Feb 28. Given an easy trial since and can bounce back. LLANDDWYN (1) and TOTOKA (4) have place claims.

BET: ISLAND DEC to win.