Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury, Gundagai

A John O’Shea-trained mare can continue her rise through the grades and notch another victory at Canterbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Gundagai and Canterbury.

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CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 4, No.4: BLACK ON BEAUTY

The John O’Shea-trained mare came out and dominated first-up at Gosford and is back to a track she’s run well on in the past. This mare is on the rise and will prove hard to beat again.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.4: GRANGE ROCK STAR

He’s knocking on the door with three seconds from his first four career runs and at his only unplaced run he ran behind a top horse in Kibou at Rosehill. He’s ready to breakthrough.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 5

Race 6: 3, 4, 6, 10

Race 7: 3, 5, 6, 8

Race 8: 2, 5, 8, 9

Nash Rawiller has some good rides at Canterbury on Friday night.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Nash Rawiller has a couple of awkward gates to deal with but he’s the man to overcome them and he can finish strongly with Grange Rock Star, Sensationalism, Fielding and Left Reeling.

GUNDAGAI

BEST BET

Race 4, No.3: ATMOSPHERIC ROCK

He’s a horse on the rise who should put himself into this race and improve off a breakthrough win.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones can take out the Snake Gully Cup with Super Helpful.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GUNDAGAI

RACE 5

Neidr Dawn has drawn wide but looks to have the early speed to come across and take up a position so the first 400m is key to his final 100m. La Quinta Donna has drawn an ideal gate and is going up from 1000m to 1400m which is something she should handle, being by Pierro. Wet ground isn’t an issue either. The same can be said for Battle Talent who comes into this off a strong win on a Heavy 10 and he’s got the right gate to be stalking the speed with a winnable weight.

Bet: Neidr Dawn to win

RACE 6

What an open race this is on paper. Watch Me Rumble was doing her best work late over a shorter trip first-up and she’s already got a second-up win to her name. Has competed in tougher events than this one. She should sit one off the fence a few pairs back and stalk the speed. Super Riff has drawn alongside her and should be near her all the easy in the run. He’s very fit now and won on a Heavy 9 two back and is up to this challenge even though he doesn’t win out of turn. Buzz ‘N’ Joe flies fresh with three wins from five first-up runs but has drawn awkward and hasn’t seen this track before.

Bet: Super Riff to win

Another One can find his best form from a good gate at Gundagai on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Another One will look better in the parade yard here and from barrier three, he gets all the favours to box seat at his pet trip so look for a better result. The barrier (11) might beat Ten Bells if she runs in this race. She could go to Newcastle on Saturday instead. Mensa Missile should be in this for a long way given his form this time in but a bog track is the query. Irish Songs, on his day, could just come out and blow them away from off the speed. He’s a frustrating horse because his natural ability should’ve carried him to more than the six wins he’s registered to date. Super Helpful is also looking well placed given his form on wet ground.

Bet: Another One to win

RACE 8

Tsunami Sam beat Delacour fair and square last start and has a much better gate than his rival now. But only carriers 2kg less this time compared to 5kg less when they met last start. Mouse Almighty hasn’t drawn poor for some time but comes up with gate 11 under a 3kg claiming apprentice. Bombdiggity races well fresh and is coming off a six-week break. The only time he ran here he won. He does need to find form again to win though.

Bet: Tsunami Sam to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 5

Game Theory always improves second-up so he’s got to be right in this based on what he did fresh when just getting beat late at Warwick Farm. He’s ready to go one better. Akasawa had been winning in the bush last year but is now back from a long break so might be under the odds at around $3.80 even if he possesses a fine fresh record. The ride from Amy McLucas went a long way to Pokerjack winning a Highway race last start and from another wide draw, she’ll have to ride him just as well to keep the winning run going.

Bet: Game Theory to win

RACE 6

Mission Phoenix produced his usual gritty run when third first-up on the Kensington track. He’ll appreciate a little extra distance at a track that should suit his pattern as he steps onto it for the first time. Shohei gets in with just 52kg thanks to a claim. She’s drawn a little better now and won here two back and the 1550m looks ideal for her third-up. Look for a better result for Too Much Caviar now after he faded fresh.

Bet: Shohei to win

Talented apprentice Zac Lloyd rides Shohei at Canterbury. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Huon hasn’t missed a placing to date as James Cummings takes him through the grades at the provincial level. He’s coming to town at the right time second-up off a fresh win at Hawkesbury. He gets in here with a cushy gate and leading rider now on so it’s a good set up. Fielding has drawn out but can take a sit and rattle home and he’s a super consistent horse. Amortal should push forward from the wide gate and the tight track should be handled by him with the tongue tie on for the first time.

Bet: Fielding to win

RACE 8

Left Reeling bounced back with a win last start after disappointing punters the run before. She’s building a fine record but it will be interesting to see how she handles the track after previously running on much bigger circuits. Sally Pope is an outsider but has run in stronger races than this so she may run above her odds. Always On Show won here two back in devastating fashion but is the track too firm?

Bet: Left Reeling to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury, Gundagai