By Ray Hickson
Selections based on a good to soft track.
Race 1 – 6:00PM KIA ORA CAPTIVANT HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
4. War Star has trialled well enough to suggest he’s capable of doing something on a debut. He’s settled back in both trials, not let go in the first and worked home strongly late in the second. Draws one and if those trials are an indication he’ll run well.
Dangers: 2. Citizenship might hold the key to the race, he was a $900,000 yearling and trialled back in February last year where he showed some speed and ran third behind Brosnan over 900m. Not seen since. Blinkers on, James McDonald. Respect the market. 1. Boston City bumped into a handy one two starts back when narrowly beaten and rested after another placing at Hawkesbury in mid-August. He’s shown ability so far and is in the mix. 3. Lavish Empire is a stablemate of War Star and comes off a trial win on the synthetic over Julian Rock just before Christmas. One to keep an eye on.
How to play it: War Star E/W. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Canterbury will host an eight-race card on Friday night.Credit:Bradley Photos
Race 2 – 6:30PM TOO DARN HOT FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
11. Queen Of Dragons has shown some promise at the trials, and you had to like the way she moved home into second behind Empire Of Japan in the latest last month. She draws to get every chance and is well worth keeping safe. Check betting for any push.
Dangers: 8. Cigar Flick just has a tricky alley to negotiate but he appears to have something on the evidence of his only trial appearance to date. Finds James McDonald to ride as he did in the trial and commands respect. 3. Fameux is a very well bred colt out of Group 1 winner Daysee Doom and he’s taken a few trials to make it to the races but did it well to win the latest at Warwick Farm. Has to be considered. 5. Ravenclaw ran second in the same trial, his first outing, and worked to the line OK there. Wide gate suggests he’ll go back and look to find the line so may be one for the future.
How to play it: Queen Of Dragons E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 3 – 7:00PM RANVET HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
1. Coriolis is clearly the horse to beat on exposed form after a very game second at Randwick on Boxing Day. Travelled wide throughout there and while no match for Ramones he beat the rest easily. Drawn nicely, JMac rides and unless there’s a smart first starter he goes very close.
Dangers: 12. Graceful Force debuted on a heavy 10 back in July and that can be forgiven. Nice little trial leading into this, draws favourably, and she shapes as an improver on what she showed last time in. 6. Divots did the job quite nicely at her only public trial a month ago, showing speed then edging away late for an easy win. Imagine she’ll look to go forward and with early luck she’s a contender. 7. Electric Avenue ran a handy second in that trial behind Divots and has been around again since running a close fourth in a Hawkesbury trial. Has the advantage of gate one and could surprise.
How to play it: Coriolis WIN; Trifecta 1/ 6,7,12/6,7,12. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 – 7:30PM TAB HANDICAP – NIGHT SPRINT SERIES – HEAT 1 (1100 METRES)
2. French Marine rarely runs a bad race and he did it easily first up under 61.5kg on a soft 6 at Newcastle to say he’s come back in good order. Raced well during the winter and seems to like some sting out of the ground, with the claim and a strong second-up record he should be competitive again.
Dangers: 1. The Big Easy moved home stylishly in his trial before Christmas and while he has the 62.5kg to contend with he’s a big watch fresh. Managed to beat Shades Of Rose back in July giving her 3kg. While his strike rate isn’t high he could ambush these late. 5. Sparring is a promising gelding who might have a say in the speed here. Overcame a wide gate to score at Moonee Valley after going under first up at $1.50 at Canberra, with some excuses. Go well. 7. The Great Houdini won on debut at Geelong on a heavy track and was narrowly beaten at Sale at his only other start back in July. Solid trial effort at Rosehill last week and while up in class is worth including in the chances.
How to play it: French Marine WIN; Trifecta 2/15,7/1,5,7. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 5 – 8:00PM FURPHY HANDICAP (1250 METRES)
4. Twilight Affair looks to get an uncontested lead here and that will make her very hard to beat. Yet to win first up but did match motors with Shades Of Rose fresh last time in before winning here second up. Been over a month since her trial, a small query, but she’s entitled to perform.
Dangers: 7. Twig returned from a break with a nice effort to win at Goulburn and gets into this race nicely with the claim. Ran well in a Highway before a spell and given her consistent record she’s one to include in the chances. 3. Sunborn is fitter for two runs back and found herself in front when midfield behind Sunshine In Paris in a BM78. Comes back in class and draws to get a soft run so she can improve. 5. Grace Bay might be getting back to form after a handy second at Wyong when well supported. Ran OK behind I Am Me at Rosehill in November and has each-way claims.
How to play it: Twilight Affair WIN; Trifecta 4/3,5,7/3,5,7. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 – 8:30PM PHIL GILBERT KIA EVENING STAR (1550 METRES)
7. Unrelenting isn’t far off a win and if he has any early luck getting into a position somewhere on speed he has a solid chance. Tried hard to go with Too Much Caviar at Warwick Farm last time and only succumbed late, that form has held up. Definite chance.
Dangers: 1. Dimaggio will go forward, which may aid Unrelenting, from his wide gate and he showed a lot of fight to score over this course three weeks ago. Up 2kg but racing well and sure to give a good account again. 2. Savoury is racing well without winning, he ran third behind Dimaggio two starts back then up in class he acquitted himself OK behind Jojo Was A Man on Christmas Eve at Randwick. Always a chance. 3. Chateaux Park is fitter for a handy return behind Kanazawa at Randwick and while he doesn’t win out of turn if they overdo it up front he’ll likely be stalking the speed. Sting out of the track a help to him too.
How to play it: Unrelenting E/W. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 7 – 9:00PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1550 METRES)
1. Chenin has a big weight but it’s a high limit and she’s much better suited here than in Group 3 company last time at Gosford. He BM72 form from her previous couple of starts should hold up well in this, she’ll likely lead and it’s a matter of how much pressure is applied. Should run well.
Dangers: 9. Semana backs up after going down narrowly to stablemate Glowing Gold on Sunday but does get a 3kg rise for coming back to fillies and mares grade. Will be on speed somewhere and the fight she showed when challenged last time suggests she is a filly on the up. 5. Beirut Miss is another up and comer and she posted her maiden win at Newcastle a few weeks ago overcoming the outside gate and staving off the challengers. Form hasn’t really held up yet but she’s lightly raced and well drawn. 3. Vittoriosa is back from a winter campaign in Victoria and while she didn’t win last prep she was rarely far away. Trialled twice, like to see some support for her but have to keep her safe.
How to play it: Chenin WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 8 – 9:30PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1900 METRES)
5. Taraashoq looks a good each-way chance stepping back up in distance and based on his nice closing work last start he’s looking for it now. Form around him is good, with Duke Of Buckingham and Too Much Caviar and in a race which might have solid pace he gets the chance to pounce.
Dangers: 8. Whangaehu has been threatening for a while and only went down by the bob of the head here three weeks ago over this course. A little better off at the weights and sure to be in the finish somewhere again. 4. Fuller was the winner of that race and he goes up 1.5kg for his trouble. Interesting to see if he can back it up from a different set-up but has to be included. 7. Travelling Kate also comes through that race where she loomed as the winner halfway down the straight before finishing a close third. Can go forward or back so tactics will be interesting from the wide gate. Each-way.
How to play it: Taraashoq E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
