Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
Following a luckless defeat on debut, a Team Hawkes-trained filly can make amends when she heads to Canterbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.
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
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 8: Makarena
The Team Hawkes-trained filly was held up for a run until passing the 200m before hitting the line strongly when runner-up to Nadal on debut. Ready to go one better.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 1: Tashi
Blinkers went on for the first time last start and she dashed away for a big win over this track and distance. Can go back-to-back.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 5: Jedibeel
Game in defeat behind Dancing Alone after a tough run then blitzed his rivals at Wyong last start. Drawn out but racing full of confidence.
BEST EXOTIC
Daily Double (R5 and R7) 1st Leg No. 1. 2nd Leg No. 14
QUADDIE
Race 4: 3, 10, 11
Race 5: 1, 4, 8
Race 6: 1, 2, 5
Race 7: 10, 12, 13, 14
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Zac Lloyd has some nice rides for the day and can bookend the meeting with Makarena and Capital Heart.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY
RACE 1
Makarena was caught behind the leaders in a bunched field and flashed late for second behind Nadal on debut on the Kensington back on Aug 23. She had been very impressive in his trials prior to that and can go one better this time out. Ostraka finished his first campaign with a second to Celestial Legend at Rosehill on May 20. Closed off smartly when second to Inca Trail in his Rosehill trial on Sept 5. Countyourblessings made a little ground when second behind all-the-way winner Solar System as an odds-on fav on debut at Wyong on Aug 27. Will take improvement from the run. Omelette is a home-bred for Hermitage by The Autumn Sun and is the only foal of Group 1 winner Egg Tart. Trialling nicely. Watch betting.
Bet: Makarena to win
RACE 2
Travelling Kate was off her game when fading to finish Wineglass Bay in a Bm 78 over 2000m at Rosehill Aug 26. Prior to that, she won over this track and distance and followed up with a handy win over Wineglass Bay at Rosehill. Back in grade and gets a 3kg claim from Jett Stanley. State Of America followed a second to Mountain Guest over 1600m at Newcastle second-up with a big win from Our Maryanne over 2000m at Hawkesbury on Sept 2. Lyrical Lady settled last and was held up rounding the bend while Oakfield Redgum skipped away. She worked home for second and will be improved by the run. Our Maryanne is racing well and can figure in the finish.
Bet: Travelling Kate to win
RACE 3
Convincebility kicked off his campaign with impressive back-to-back wins in at Taree and Coffs Harbour. Stepped up to midweek grade with a second behind the capable Strombus on the Kensington on Aug 23. Goes to 1550m for the first time. Dimaggio was a half-length off Forecaster at Randwick back in July and seventh to Strait Acer in a Midway before beating all bar Amor Victorious over this trip on the Kensington last start. Has had three starts at this trip for a win and two placings. River Snitty resumed from a long break at Hawkesbury on Aug 17 and came from back in the field and widest on bend to hold out Razors. Got clear passing 300m when seventh to Silvanito on the Kensington second-up. Byron Belle will appreciate stepping up in trip here third-up.
Bet: Convincebility to win
RACE 4
Kundalini debuted with a fighting second to Don Corleone at Randwick in January before a game third to hi-class fillies Learning To Fly and Blanc De Blanc in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick in February. Trials have been good but wide gate is the challenge. Lost had a tough run on debut when racing keenly out three and four wide when fourth to Nadal and Makarena. Will be better for the experience. Groundrush is a Team Hawkes debutant by Trapeze Artist. Smart win in his Rosehill trial last December. Goes into this without an official trial this time in but must be respected. Midnight Harry has placed two of three and worth including in the exotics.
Bet: Kundalini to win
RACE 5
Tashi enjoyed a nice run along the fence before storming home for a big win over Little Baia at this same track, distance and grade last start. Goes up 2.5kg but looks a great chance again. Loving Gaby’s sister, Greece, failed on debut at her only Sydney start in the Reisling Stakes last year before showing much better form with a four length win when resuming as a three-year-old in Victoria and placing her next two. Wasn’t pushed when a close second in her Gosford trial last month. Sweet Baby Corn appreciated the blinkers going back on second-up when she held out Spicy Hotpot on the Kensington three weeks ago. Drawn the pole and gets a 3kg claim from Amy McLucas. Smart Little Miss has been freshened since her third to Strombus over 1400m on the Kensington on Aug 23 and drops back to 1200m here.
Bet: Tashi to win
RACE 6
Jedibeel was very good in running the previously unbeaten Dancing Alone to a short neck when resuming at Kembla on Aug 12 before scoring a smart two length win at Wyong on Sept 1. Has the outside gate to overcome but is a progressive sprinter. Xpresso drops back in grade from Midway races at Rosehill where he was runner-up behind Hard To Say first-up and fourth to behind Xtravagant Star last start. He is a winner at his only run this track and distance. Way To The Stars is looking to maintain his perfect first-up record when he resumes here. Wasn’t knocked about when third to Overpass and Red Card in his Rosehill trial on Sept 5. Untouchable Legend broke her maiden here two runs back before tackling the Group 3 San Domenico last start.
Bet: Jedibeel each-way
RACE 7
Capital Heart placed in three of his first four starts including a third to the talented Libertad. Kicked off this campaign with a win at Kembla before a close second to Stanislaus at Gosford. The Swooper meets Whinchat 2.5kg better after finishing runner-up behind him over this track and distance last start on Aug 16. Will be in the finish again. Whinchat was given an easy trial at Rosehill last week when a close second to keep him up to the mark. McHale was held up for a run until passing the 100m before bursting between runners to score a smart win on debut this track and distance back on July 12. Never off the bit in his Rosehill trial behind Ozzmosis last week.
Bet: Capital Heart to win
Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury
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