Race-by-race preview and tips for Canterbury on Wednesday

Selections based on a heavy track.

Race 1 - 12:50PM DUNDEEL AT ARROWFIELD PLATE (1200 METRES)

9. Rybakina is an improving type, and she would have benefited from the race experience at this track a fortnight ago when running second. The filly, tracked wide with cover, wasn’t suited to the race shape, but she built momentum and hit the line hard. Further, she ran one of the meeting’s fastest final 200m splits and can only step off this effort. The Chris Waller-trained runner maps to have all favours, is proven on the rain-affected ground, and any improvement off her last start figure will make her hard to hold out.

Canterbury will host a seven-race meeting on Wednesday.Credit: Getty

Dangers: 2. Cinsault comes through the same race as Rybakina and ran an honest third. She SPed favourite and receives a 1.5kg swing in her favour. Expect her to roll forward, have first use of the track, and be hard to run down. Debutante 7. Retainer will appreciate the 1200m, and she found the line well after being ridden in a recent trial at Hawkesbury on a heavy-rated surface. 5. Extremely Hardys has shown acceleration in her trials and 3. Darn Cute is a knockout chance.
How to play it: Rybakina to win.

Race 2 - 1:25PM DRINKWISE PLATE (1200 METRES)

6. Khaznah was rock solid in the market at this track a fortnight ago and was brave in defeat, running second. The filly led her rivals up at an even tempo, sprinted off the turn and went down fighting. She has a positive race set-up here, and the blinkers go on for the first time. In addition, she maps to control the speed from the inside gate, is rock-hard fit and will take catching.
Dangers: 8. Oh Diamond Lil will have benefited from her debut run and the rise in trip suits. 2. Maracaibo Sun maps to have all favours, and the rain-affected ground is ideal.
How to play it: Khaznah to win.

Race 3 - 2:00PM PAULELE @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1550 METRES)

Like 4. O’ziggy, who brings strong form lines to this event, and the blinkers go back on here. He’s raced solidly this campaign and was honest in defeat last start at Hawkesbury when running third. The step back in distance suits, his heavy track ratings line up well against his rivals and expect an aggressive ride early with the booking of Tim Clark.
Dangers: 8. Autumnmation is a last-start winner and 1. Magnatear gets Nash Rawiller back on board. 7. Emancipist is rock-hard fit and maps well.
How to play it: O’ziggy WIN.

Race 4 - 2:35PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1250 METRES)

10. Merchant Lady always indicated she would return improved in her second preparation, and she broke through for her maiden win first-up at Newcastle. The lightly raced galloper had every chance but accelerated hard before she peaked on her run and still maintained a strong finishing speed, clocking one of the meeting’s fastest final 200m splits. Further, that was a career peak figure on a heavy 10-rated surface. She has untapped ability, will undoubtedly be fitter and can blend into the race, and use her turn of foot to sprint over the top of her rivals.
Dangers: 7. Kitty Chat resumes off a 172-day spell and has had two trials leading into this, giving her a solid platform. She was heavily backed first-up last prep at this track and won easily. The Waterhouse and Bott galloper can roll forward and be hard to catch. Add 1. Diamond Model who has proven heavy track form/figures and 5. Llanddwyn maps to have all favours.
How to play it: Merchant Lady to win.

Race 5 - 3:10PM JAMES SQUIRE HANDICAP (1250 METRES)

3. Oakfield Duke is in career-best form and brings a fitness edge relative to some of his key rivals. The five-year-old has been racing well/consistently and has gone to a new level in his past two starts in high-rating events. Further, he hit the line hard in his last start at this track/distance and repeating that figure will put him in the finish. He is suited to heavy surfaces, and the blinkers go on for the first time. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Amnesty can bounce back after racing flat second-up at this track. Before that start, her effort had sectional merit, and she is undefeated on heavy ground. 4. Silentsar profiles well from the inside draw, and his career-peak figure came at this track/distance. Market watch 5. Yasuke, who resumes, and 9. The Extreme Cat is a knockout chance.
How to play it: Oakfield Duke each-way.

Race 6 - 3:45PM TAB HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

Keen on 5. Chief Conductor, whose first-up run was full of merit in a high-rating race, and that form reference has since been proven. The five-year-old caught the eye after having too much to do with the race shape against, and he savaged the line, clocking the meeting’s fastest final 400m/200m splits. He can improve sharply here with a much more positive race setup, and jockey Tim Clark has multiple options from the inside draw. The Sara Ryan trained galloper’s peak figure came at this track/distance, and he holds a formidable second-up record. Likeable profile.
Dangers: 1. Direct needed the run first-up at Sandown but still raced well and will be fitter for that effort. He gets in well after the claim, drops significantly in grade and relishes wet ground. 8. Oceans One tried hard in defeat after always facing the breeze last start at Kembla Grange, and a senior rider goes third up. 10. Pokerjack is a knockout chance.
How to play it: Chief Conductor to win.

Race 7 - 4:20PM ALL TOO HARD @ VINERY STUD HANDICAP (1550 METRES)

Like 10. She’s Unusual, who profiles well for this, and all key indicators suggest she can make the step-in grade here. She resumed at Newcastle 18 days ago when heavily backed, bolted in, and the clock backed up the visuals. She is still learning after wanting to change stride and get on the wrong leg, but she still went through the line full of energy. The mare is open to improvement with her peak figures coming on heavy surfaces; she’s an adaptable type and gets the key booking of Kerrin McEvoy.

Dangers: 1. The Creator put his rivals away easily first-up at this track/distance, and although having every chance, he ran fast closing splits. He can bounce off that effort and will roll forward. 6. Enotis has trialled well and went through the line full of energy in a recent heat at Rosehill. Prefer 3. The Little Pumper on a drier surface, but he can give a sight and 5. Dr Evil is a knockout chance.
How to play it: She’s Unusual to win.

Best Bet: Race 6 # 5 – Chief Conductor
Next Best: Race 7 # 10 – She’s Unusual

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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au