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Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Wednesday’s Canterbury Park meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
Race 1 - 12:50PM GRAINSHAKER VODKA HANDICAP (1250 METRES)
Tricky 2YO race to start with first starters engaged and minimal disclosed heavy track form. 1. Arch Of Titus led at an even tempo last start at this track 14 days ago and was honest in defeat. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and he maintained a strong finishing speed running his final 400m split in 25.12. The two-year-old colt will roll forward to have first use of the track, has a race experience edge on some of his rivals and is proven on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Debutant 5. Daicos, who represents value, is coming out of time/sectional merit heats and has trialled well enough. He maps to get all favours and can sprint. The Chris Waller trained 6. Kazalark ran last in a recent trial but was under a vice-like tight grip and not extended by jockey Nash Rawiller. Further, he went through the line full of energy, although he maps to settle worse than midfield expect him to be savaging the line. 8. Never Fails raced wide last start at Randwick 11 days ago and battled on well. He receives a significant barrier change and can settle closer. Add 2. Alberich and 7. Mutafiq to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Arch Of Titus WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) & Daicos WIN ($19 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 2 - 1:25PM TAB HANDICAP (1250 METRES)
5. Gilmore had every chance on debut at Randwick 11 days ago but tried hard in a strong time race. The two-year-old filly trialled well prior to her first-up run and is well placed here down in grade. She maps to get all favours, the step-up in distance suits and gets a key gear change in winkers for the first time. In addition, repeating her last start figure/effort and the prospect of improvement will put her right in the finish. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Maritima got too far back in a slow tempo last start at Canterbury 14 days ago and made considerable ground to hit the line hard. Further, the filly ran the second-fastest final 400m sectional of the entire meeting in 24.15. Expect her to settle closer and run a bold race. Debutante 4. Fairway Star has trialled well and can feature in the finish if she gets luck from the wide draw. Market watch 2. Choose Your Words who returns after a long break and has trialled well enough. Add 1. Lady Harlem and 11. Pinky to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Gilmore E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 3 - 2:00PM RANVET PLATE (1250 METRES)
10. Wolves returns and has trialled well enough in preparation for this assignment. The three-year-old last campaign raced in group company and a repeat of her first-up figure will make the filly hard to beat. She will have a tactical map advantage on her main danger, maps to lead or box seat and the booking of Hugh Bowman shows intent.
Dangers: 3. Roma Avenue was terrific on debut last preparation after getting too far back and hitting the line hard in a high-rating race. Additionally, four subsequent winners have confirmed the form, and his performance was no fluke. The three-year-old gelding then had no luck second-up and was still only narrowly beaten after being well-backed. He resumes and may have to settle worse than midfield from the draw but expect him to be savaging the line. Market watch 8. Pretes who has trialled well and was honest first-up last prep. 1. Cotton Fingers can improve for his new trainers, Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou and add 2. Mr Showman to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Wolves WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 - 2:35PM SCHWEPPES PLATE (1550 METRES)
7. Hide Your Heart is ready to win third-up after two solid performances in time/sectional merit races this preparation. The three-year-old filly got too far back when resuming and ran on hard into second place at an unsuitable distance. Her run had hidden merit 11 days ago at Newcastle when beaten by a potential group-class galloper in Frumos, and she ran fast closing sectionals relative to the day. The Bjorn Baker trained galloper's profile suggests she will step off that performance, maps to get all favours, is on a backup and proven on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: 6. Grecian Lass was not run to suit first-up at Muswellbrook 17 days ago and hit the line hard. The three-year-old filly is suited over further distance and gets a senior rider in Hugh Bowman for the first time. 3. Maralago needs to improve his racing manners but has a strong starting price profile compared to some of his rivals and receives blinkers for the first time. 1. Amen Brother is ready to peak third-up but must make the jump from country grade.
How to play it: Hide Your Heart WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 5 - 3:10PM CITY TATTERSALLS GROUP HANDICAP (1900 METRES)
Tricky/open middle-distance event. Leaning towards 3. Kirkeby who had excuses last start at this track 14 days ago and can bounce back into form. Further, the eventual winner Karlstad has since run well at Rosehill Gardens in a stronger grade last Saturday. The four-year-old gelding has a strong starting price profile, is suited up in distance and has multiple winning figures for this assignment. Each-way.
Dangers: 4. Tidal Creek comes out of the same race and will undoubtedly improve in fitness. The three-year-old colt produced his career peak figure last preparation at this track/distance, and jockey Nash Rawiller jumps back aboard. 7. Sprout Wings is racing well/consistently and maps to have all favours. 5. Dinado has a fitness advantage and is ready to win.
How to play it: Kirkeby E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 - 3:45PM GHAIYYATH @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Forgiving of 8. Showtime Lady who raced flat second-up 28 days ago at Randwick in stronger grade after starting a solid $4.80 favourite. Prior to that start, she won easily at Gosford and produced a career peak figure that is dominant relative to her rivals here. The four-year-old mare has since been back to the trials and won well under light riding in fast time heat relative to the morning. She maps to lead or box seats and can bounce back into the winner's stall with even luck.
Dangers: 6. Stormy Rock, who represents value, has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. The five-year-old gelding is wound up for this and has past ratings that can put him in the finish. 13. Marooniyah broke through for her maiden win at this track last start and ran time with a subsequent winner to confirm the form. Further, she hit the line hard and ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 12.48. The Team Hawkes trained filly has been back to the trials and is proven on rain-affected ground. Market watch 1. Snitzonfire who has strong form lines and add 11. No Laughing Matter to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Showtime Lady WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Stormy Rock WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 7 - 4:20PM VINERY YEARLINGS HANDICAP (1550 METRES)
1. Narrated was suited to sitting outside the leader in a moderate tempo last start at Randwick 25 days ago, but her run had merit, and she beat the rest easily in a fast time race. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors. Additionally, the decisive margins throughout confirmed the quality. The four-year-old got left in front a long way from the finishing line and fought hard in a duel to the line. The mare recorded one of the fastest last 200m splits of the meeting in 12.72 and was strong past the post. Further, her sectional profile suggests she will step off this run, and the step up in distance third-up is ideal. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace trained galloper maps to lead, is proven on rain-affected ground, brings the best last start figure and receives a senior jockey in Nash Rawiller.
Dangers: 4. Kalino trialled impressively before returning this preparation after a long break. The three-year-old gelding had excuses first-up and was solid second-up at Randwick 11 days ago. He'll be fitter and expect an improved performance. 2. Camaguey is racing well/consistently and is rock-hard fit. He maps to get all favours and is on a backup. 10. Kouklara produced her career peak figure at this track/distance last campaign and will be running on strongly.
How to play it: Narrated WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.