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

Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou take the covers off an impressive barrier trial winner who can start his career on a high note. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainers Gerald Ryan (right) and Sterling Alexiou have One Last Shot ready to make a winning debut at Canterbury Park on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury Park.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

CANTERBURY PARK

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 8: ONE LAST SHOT

Promising gelding on debut. He has trialled very stylishly in the lead up and can make a winning start to his career.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 1: DISCOVER

The Chris Waller-trained galloper did more than enough on debut and looks suited by the step up in trip second up.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 6: LITTLE BEGINNINGS

He’s racing in super form in easier grade but deserves his chance in town. Trusting Tim Clark to overcome the tricky wide draw.

BEST EXOTIC

All Up: Race 2 No. 8, Race 3 No. 8

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 4, 6.

Race 5: 1, 3, 8.

Race 6: 2, 3, 6, 8

Race 7: 1, 2, 6, 7.

Tim Clark looks set for a good day at Canterbury Park on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tim Clark sits just outside the top-five in this year’s metropolitan premiership but can close the gap on Wednesday.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY PARK

RACE 1

Tropical Squall is an unraced daughter of former Champagne Stakes and VRC Derby winner Prized Icon so you would expect she will be suited stepping up over further than 1250m in time. With that said, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly has looked impressive in her two trials and comes from the right yard to be competitive on debut. She’s short enough but should win. Kind Words is another first starter that has been well prepared for her debut. She was given a strong recent hit out over 1000m on the Beaumont track that should have her ready to put her best foot forward. Wezza has improved in two showings this time and should be ready to peak third up.

Bet: Tropical Squall to win. Exacta: 3, 1

RACE 2

One Last Shot is a $115,000 yearling purchase making his debut. The son of All Too Hard has only had the one trial in preparation but looks to be a ready-made galloper. He looked to have a bit in hand when leading all the way in that 900m trial on home turf and would only need to replicate that on race day to be very competitive. The Little Pumper showed some potential during his debut preparation which included a debut fourth in the Inglis Nursery. He will go forward and prove too to catch. Royal Trapeze can certainly run well on debut. He gets in well with 54kg after Jett Stanley’s 3kg claim and is drawn to take the shortest route home along the fence.

Bet: One Last Shot to win

Princess Rayaa can break through for her first win at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 3

Princess Rayaa is the obvious pick in a maiden without a lot of depth. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper has finished fourth in all three of his starts, including a fast effort at this track and trip first up from a spell. Tim Clark can settle closer here from a good draw and she will be one of the strongest late. Double Scoop is capable of sharp improvement second up from a break as she did last preparation when she was second at this venue. She‘s the main danger to the odds-on top pick. Dapper Dancer is the best at odds after a couple of placings in recent starts while Sumo Star is always around the money.

Bet: Princess Rayaa to win

RACE 4

Discover is lining up for his second start after doing enough on debut. A son of Reliable Man, he was doing his best work late in a 1250m event at Newcastle and should be suited by the step up in trip to 1550m here. He‘s drawn well and gets the white hot Kerrin McEvoy aboard this time so expecting him to be too strong late. Diva Carolina finished alongside the top pick in the same race. She’s another three-year-old that looks ready for the longer trip now with a couple of runs under the belt. Kapakiri is a stablemate to Discover that has a maiden win in him with placings in three of his seven runs to date.

Bet: Discover to win

RACE 5

Angel Of Light has two wins and four placings from 10 starts. The Hawkes Racing mare added her second win to the tally with a gutsy effort last time when caught wide over 2000m at Kembla Grange. She can capitalise on the better draw here and feature in the finish again. Aristonous was very impressive winning in his Australian debut over the mile at Newcastle. His European form indicates he will lap up the step up to 1900m but has the wide gate to overcome. Stablemate Asgoodassobergets has also been nominated for a race on Saturday but has good enough form to be competitive here if Annabel Neasham heads this way. The sticky draw and big weight might make the decision for her.

Bet: Angel Of Light to win. Quinella 1, 3, 8

Lucky Variety is looking to continue her winning form when she resumes on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

Lucky Variety is a promising filly returning from a 21 week spell. The daughter of Capitalist has three wins and two placings from six starts and went for a break after stringing two together in the summer. Her trials in the lead up have only been fair but trusting she brings her A-game to race day where she is drawn to get every chance. Stolen Jade has won a trial since finishing a solid second in the same grade on the Kensington course last time. She‘s already a two-time winner at this track and trip. King Of Naples should strip fitter second up after peaking on his run fresh from a break over 1100m at this venue earlier in the month.

Bet: Lucky Variety to win

RACE 7

Little Beginnings is a lightly raced talent that‘s going through his grades nicely. He’s put together comfortable wins at his last two at Gunnedah and Newcastle and deserves his crack in town now. The booking of premier frontrunning rider Tim Clark looks ideal to help him overcome the wide gate with a similar forward ride that has proven beneficial at his past two. Flashing Steel made it a winning hat-trick last time and has won his past two over the Canterbury 1550m. He gets in with the same 60kg impost that he carried last time to victory thanks to Jett Stanley’s claim and should be in the finish again. Stablemate Hell Hath No Fury should find this easier than the Saturday assignment she last faced, provided she settles closer.

Bet: Little Beginnings to win

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