Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 – 6:15PM AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB PLATE (1550 METRES)
5. Frascati Miss showed plenty of improvement into her second start at Hawkesbury where she was held out by Hostwin Epanoui who has run well since. Wouldnt surprise to see her closer in the run from a handy barrier and she looks to still have upside. In a race up for grabs shes a good chance.
Dangers: 2. Cest Davinchi has been runner-up in five of his seven starts and perhaps hes looking for the extra distance based on how he finished off 1280m last start full of running. That was at Muswellbrook and theres a bit more depth here but if its the ground he wants then he has his chance. 4. Jonjos Comet was only getting warm late when running into fourth at Hawkesbury over 1300m first-up. Blinkers go on and hes one to keep a close eye on. 1. Aeecee Delighted is a chance of having an easy lead here and he was up 500m when placed at Gosford second-up. With that under his belt he might be a bit stronger here.
How to play it: Frascati Miss WIN.
Advertisement
There are eight races scheduled at Canterbury Park today.Credit:AAP
Race 2 – 6:45PM FRIDAY NIGHT RACING PLATE (1550 METRES)
6. Secret Legend ran an even race on debut then had no luck at Randwick behind Nordicus in what might be a strong maiden but still found the line well. With the increase in distance and an ideal gate he should enjoy a smoother run and looks very hard to beat.
Dangers: 3. De Valera settled back and ran on when the race was all over behind Wolfe, who has since won again, at Kembla on debut. There has to be some upside to him and in a smaller field perhaps he wont concede such a start. Danger. 4. Flying Mojo really turned himself around at Randwick last start and was a bit unlucky not to finish closer than the two lengths from Napoleon Solo. If he can back up the effort here then hes a strong contender. 7. Collectively was excellent at Newcastle over a mile then up in distance she had no favours when a battling fourth here last month. Hard in the market on that night so shes well worth another chance.
How to play it: Secret Legend WIN; Quinella 3 & 6
Race 3 – 7:15PM CANTERBURY FOODIES MARKETS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
9. Sixes is worth a look each-way on debut on the back of quite a nice trial win at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago. There appears to be a bit of speed on paper in this race and if that eventuates she can enjoy a nice run around midfield and have her chance to let down. She was held together in her trial win. Any support close to the race would be significant too.
Dangers: 3. Zouologist produced a promising debut behind Nordicus at Randwick on the back of one trial on the synthetic. Hes a big fellow drawn inside again but much better for the race experience and he has to have improvement in him. Keep safe. 5. Reelem In Ruby started a warm favourite on debut back in June and tried hard on a heavy track holding second in a decent form race. Recent trial winner and interesting to see what she can do on top of the ground. Must be respected. 1. River Bird failed to beat one home first-up but was found to have cardiac arrythmia so the run can be overlooked. Shes been back to the trials and shed only have to produce some of her form from last prep to be competitive.
How to play it: Sixes E/W.
Race 4 – 7.45PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
3. Taniko won a lesser race first-up at Gosford but it was more like a barrier trial for her as she sat off the pace and sprinted home, looking strong late over the 1000m. Lightly raced mare who romped in second-up last prep and wasnt beaten far in her two other starts before a spell. In a tough race shell be hard to hold out.
Dangers: 11. Tell Me had all the favours leading all the way when breaking through second-up over this course. Shes not going to get those breaks this time from the wide gate but a good track is key to her and with any luck shes a threat. 10. Moccasin Miss is finding it a bit hard to win but shes a consistent mare who, with the right run, is capable of featuring again. Just missed at Randwick last time and only recent failure was on a heavy track. Each-way. 4. Whiskey Shooter defied a betting drift to lead most of the way when resuming at Randwick. Shell jump onto the pace again from an inside gate and her chances will be decided by how much pressure goes on her from those drawn further out.
How to play it: Taniko E/W.
Race 5 – 8.15PM TAB REWARDS HANDICAP (1900 METRES)
1. Danzie has transformed into a solid horse with a couple of dominant performances of late after having many question his resolve earlier this prep. Led all the way to win at Canterbury then sat off them from a wide gate and roared away over the Randwick mile. Up in weight but the distance looks ideal, down in class and drawn well. Hard to go past.
Dangers: 5. Semper Fidelis probably wasnt suited to leading when she was run over at Randwick on the back up from a game win over this course. With a nice soft run in behind them she can finish off much better and pose a threat. 10. Tunero turned a length off Danzie and on his back at Randwick but couldnt sprint with him as he ran on into third second-up. Fitter for that but hard to see him turning the tables even with the extra distance. That said, hes one of the main chances. 2. Gamblestown did what he does best running on behind the smart Sky Boy and Savacool into a placing last month. Drop in class here on that but he doesnt win often so has to be considered an each-way chance.
How to play it: Danzie WIN; Trifecta 1/2,5,10/2,5,10.
Race 6 – 8:45PM THE AGENCY PROJECTS HANDICAP (1550 METRES)
11. Waruna looks a progressive mare and it was an arrogant win by her at Randwick a few weeks back. She sat three wide throughout and was going better than anything on the line. Drawn out here but she can land in a good spot with a bit of luck and if she repeats that last performance shell be winning again.
Dangers: 7. See The Master is a big watch first-up from a spell on the back of a sharp looking trial win. He didnt do a lot last time in but in his first Australian campaign he showed a bit of promise. No surprise at all to see him fire up now hes had a bit of time. 1. Esteem Spirit has been flying with wins on his home track at Kembla in October and has earned a shot in town. Hes come up with a shocking gate, though, and likely has to push forward to offset it quickly. If he can then he could take some beating. 9. Nacho Libre is another on pacer drawn out a bit and hell be going forward onto the speed for sure. Run down in the last stride at Warwick Farm then not disgraced behind Danzie at Randwick. Can give a sight.
How to play it: Waruna WIN; Trifecta 11/1,7,9/1,7,9.
Race 7 – 9:15PM KIA HORNSBY EVENING STAR (1250 METRES)
5. Arancini appeals at each-way odds first-up. Two runs back he had to work overtime to lead from a wide gate then came from well back off another wide gate at Doomben. He wasnt asked for anything in the trial and from a perfect draw hell be right on the back of the leaders and itd be a surprise if hes not competitive at least.
Dangers: 8. Vinnie Power is hard to knock of late with three wins from her last four starts and she responds when challenged. She has to go forward from wide out to get onto the speed here but there doesnt look to be a lot of pace and she has a long run to the first turn. Dont discount. 1. Drachenfels is back a long way in class (though up in weight) after a fair effort behind Cradle Mountain at his first run for Bjorn Baker. If he can reproduce his third in open company two runs back hes a winning chance in this field. 3. Blue Tycoon did all the chasing second-up at Randwick and was still there in a close finish when running fourth. Wont be as much pressure in this event and hes at his peak by now. Gets his chance to show some winning form.
How to play it: Arancini E/W.
Race 8 – 9:45PM TAB HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
5. Pierina was never in the hunt when resuming at this track last month but she did attack the line very hard out wide when it was all over to be beaten a few lengths. With that under her belt, an extra 100m and gate two shell be a big improver in a race with a bit less depth than last time.
Dangers: 6. Medovina produced a promising first-up effort at Randwick over 1100m and appears the logical danger. Where she gets to from the wide gate Im not too sure but if she finishes off as she did fresh then shell take holding out. 3. Excelling proved far too strong in a nice first-up win at Kembla. This isnt any harder and hell probably roll up onto the speed and be there when it gets serious in the home straight. 9. Time Out Of Mind loomed up to win and just couldnt stick the head out when a close second at Randwick, but it was a nice second-up performance. Likely to get back and run on and hes one to include in the trifectas at very least.
How to play it: Pierina E/W; Quinella 5 & 6.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
