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Chris Scholtz previews the Canterbury meeting on April 17 with best bets and selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
CANTERBURY April 17
Best Bets
RACE 4 (2) HOLLYWOOD HERO: Eye catcher when resuming in higher grade. Well placed this class and distance.
RACE 5 (4) EARTH DANCE: Not much went this import's way when making his Australian debut. Sure to improve over this longer distance.
For Value
RACE 6 (5) ANAGAIN: Group performer fitter for good first-up placing. Can get home hard if the breaks go her way.
RACE 7 (8) STANISLAUS: Back to the trials since fair effort first-up. Expect improvement.
RACE 8 (6) RHETTARA: Lightly raced mare with plenty of upside. Trials point to a bold fresh performance.
Selections
RACE 1: (1) LITTLE JEANIE; (6) Glebe; (4) Kotaishi; (2) Kings Valley
RACE 2: (6) LADY NIKSTER; (3) Aye Aye Captain; (1) Canara; (2) Trafalgar Square
RACE 3: (2) IMPERIAL FORCE; (11) Willie Oppa; (4) Dark Arts; (1) Catoggio
RACE 4: (2) HOLLYWOOD HERO; (4) Huesca; (6) Tavs; (8) Terrestar
RACE 5: (4) EARTH DANCE; (11) Natural Deduction; (7) For Victory; (10) Smart Legend
RACE 6: (5) ANAGAIN; (12) Balkans; (10) Yiska; (13) Briasa
RACE 7: (8) STANISLAUS; (7) Smashing Eagle; (1) Gold Revolver; (6) Salisano
RACE 8: (16) RHETTARA; (3) Queen Of The Mile; (13) Impulsiviity; (5) Sicilian
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – April 17
CANTERBURY Wednesday: Lady Nikster (R2); Dark Arts (R3); Willie Oppa (R3); Balkans (R6); Stanislaus (R7); Audette (R7); Salisano (R7); Queen Of The Mile (R8); Rhettara (R8)
HAWKESBURY THURSDAY: Battle Of Vienna (R7); Joey D'Or (R7)
ORANGE FRIDAY: Piggyback; Zoubaby
RANDWICK SATURDAY: City Of Lights; Vilana; Excelladus; Jojo Was A Man; Kazou; Waterford; Wategos; Mars Mission; Kalinol New Energy; Private Eye; Southport Tycoon; Rise Of The Masses
ASCOT SATURDAY: Overpass
KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Piggyback; Itsacircus
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Celestial Legend; Espionage; Diva Las Vegas; Physical Graffiti; Inquisitive Legend; Rantan; Froebel Star; Killcare Beachgirl; Gringotts; Another Wil; Linebacker; More Territories; Lady Of Camelot; Growing Empire; Left Field; Commemorative; Canamble; Empress Of Japan; Red Card; Cassiel; Hallet; Holmes A Court; Short Shorts
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM April 12: A big set where the longer 1207m heats stirred the most interest as they featured a G1 winner, interesting imports and some rising talents. Australian Guineas winner SOUTHPORT TYCOON trialled for the second time in Sydney since his Flemington win and never came off the bit to finish an easy third in the quickest of the three 1207m heats (72.34; 35.64). He bypassed the heavy track in the Doncaster and can still make an impact on the Sydney carnival on the final day. COSMIC VEGA and NEW ENERGY are imports to keep tabs on as they progress into their campaigns after pleasing efforts in their 1207m trials. The promising CITY OF LIGHTS also took the eye working home easily for an impressive fourth in her heat (73.43; 35.59). The G1 star PRIVATE EYE was back on his game beating an inferior lot in his 822m heat (48.41; 33.31), an effort that gave the clear impression he wants to get back to racing over distances that suit him better than recent short sprints.
WARWICK FARM April 5 Polytrack: A small set on the polytrack with James Cummings winning the fastest short course heat over 740m with BALKANS (44.12; 33.61). Stablemate STANISLAUS had an easy time in his heat effort of runner-up DARK ARTS in the 2YO heat took the eye.
RANDWICK March 22: Talented 3YO filly QUEEN OF THE MILE has won three races and should be adding to that record in her coming prep after a classy return in her first trial since November. Shared the lead before slipping them on the turn under the coldest of rides from Tom Sherry. She was under no pressure to extend her margin at the finish more than four lengths in fast time (43.10; 32.72).
WARWICK FARM MARCH 26: Australian Guineas winner SOUTHPORT TYCOON had an easy time in his first Sydney trial, working home under a big hold for a soft second in his 1200m heat (72.86; 34.91). The Guineas form is outstanding.
ROSEHILL March 18: A smart win by talented Zoustar mare KAZOU in her first trial since November. Cleared out from the start under no pressure to open a big lead and coast home by almost nine lengths in the fastest heat over 900m (53.73; 34.25), being the only winner to go under 54 seconds. Seems a formality for her to add to her record of four wins from only eight starts. Group One star OVERPASS won a strong 900m heat in good time (54.34; 34.17) in a trial that will bring him on nicely in fitness for his pending return to Perth. With first use of the track in the first heat he made his own pace.
ROSEHILL December 5: Zoustar filly ZOUBABY made an impression winning her 900m heat by more than three lengths in fast time for the session (54.26; 35.03), leading with ease and doing it with style through the line. This was her second trial and if she carries on with this rate of improvement she is sure to be winning races.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – April 17
CANTERBURY WEDNESDAY: Hollywood Hero (R4)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Quothquan; Circle Of Fire; Miss Joelene; Terra Mater; He's Our Bonneval; Riff Rocket; Elettrica; Strawberry Rock; Fearless; Commemorative; Illative; Etna Rosso; Pasima; Sir Atlas; Territory Express; Dolphin Skin; Cadetship; Celestial Legend; Gently Rolled; Dark Journey; Our Maryanne
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected April 13
(Follow for next 3 starts)
COLSRIDGE; EL MORZILLO; LETSBEFRANKBABY; MISTERKIPCHOGE; PORT LOCKROY; SNAPPED
