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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury Park. The track is rated a Good 4.

From a spring point of view the opener is the most interesting race of the day though the number of scratchings is disappointing. The return of the very promising 4. Miss Fabulass since that outstanding debut back in February where she came from nowhere on the turn to run Cristobal to a neck or so. Punters Intel shows her last 600m was a stunning 33.58 and a last 200m in 11.25 and both clearly the best of the race. There was plenty to like about her only trial this time in and the fact she’s only had the one says she’s been kept a bit fresh to sprint the 1100m. So long as she’s not standing them as much start as she did on debut she can mow them down and stamp herself as a contender for some better races.

Dangers: 1. Ranier appears to be no slouch and he could well be a threat to the boom filly. We’ve only seen him once as well and he finished ahead of Sunlight at Flemington back in October last year. He’s trialled on two occasions and he’s shaped well in both. If he has the tactical speed to take advantage of the gate he could give Miss Fabulass something to run down. 5. Bring The Magic faces a stiff task on debut against a couple of promising ones. Under normal circumstances there's nothing wrong with her recent trials and she is trained by Chris Waller but she'll need to be good to upset the two favourites.

How to play it: Miss Fabulass WIN ($1.65 TAB Fixed Odds).

Miss Fabulass hits the line nicely in her Gosford trial on August 6

Good race and could be a tactical affair. 1. Bubbles’n’troubles has had a freshen up since her close third to a couple of smart ones in Toulouse and Dio D’Oro at the end of June. She was dominant on debut and I did like the way she found the line in a strong trial at Rosehill behind Performer and Fiesta. I doubt she’ll be forced to lead here and if she takes that stalking run third or fourth she’ll be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 2. Echo Gem will likely have some control in front this time around unlike when she drew 11 at the Farm and was worn down by Osorno after hitting the front on the turn. If she does dictate then she could repeat her win from July 4 at this track. 7. Gentle Persuasion couldn’t have been more impressive in her debut win at Wyong where she unleashed a nice turn of foot from worse than midfield and had a bit in hand on the line. Bit tougher here of course but who knows how much upside she has. Must be respected. 5. Quadriga finished alongside Charge at his last run back in April and I thought his recent trial at Rosehill had some merit. He’ll get a cushy run from barrier four and it wouldn’t surprise to see him in the finish somewhere.

How to play it: Bubbles’n’troubles WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bubbles’n’troubles finishes just behind the placings in her Rosehill trial on August 7

I found this one very tricky so going to take the punt that Godolphin has 1. Kennedy back on track after a couple of failures in Melbourne this time in. He didn’t have a lot of luck at Caulfield but didn’t go a yard at Flemington. Go back to last prep and he was super consistent, and unlucky a couple of times, and his recent trial back in Sydney was a bit more like it. There’s enough speed here for him to settle and at the price he’s worth a look each-way.

Dangers: 6. Stephan caught the eye at Rosehill behind Sharpe Hussler and the barrier draw could see him settle a lot closer than his last few. Note he led when winning at Canberra on June 8 from the inside alley. I don’t think he will lead but if he runs up to his latest effort he has a very good chance. 3. Bella Vella is going to need some luck from a wide gate but she is a go forward horse and has the speed to find a position. Game behind Intuition at Randwick last start and she’s been right around the mark all prep so far. Hard to leave her out. 7. Tarabai showed plenty of promise in his first three starts, for two wins, before failing at Listed level in the autumn. Showed in his recent trial that he’s in good order, not sure where he gets to from the barrier but with even luck he is capable of featuring prominently. Like to see support for him though.

How to play it: Kennedy E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Kennedy runs a close second in a Rosehill trial on August 7

I do wonder if this race has upset written all over it? There are some convictions and question marks over most of the field so tread warily. That said, I’m going with the likely leader in 6. Falcon Island despite his 19 length defeat over 2000m at Rosehill last month. It was reported he may have got the tongue over the bit and a tongue tie goes on here. His best form has been around a mile and showed he’s still in order with an easy trial win. Should give a good sight.

Dangers: 3. Gauguin was probably aided by the on pace pattern in his all the way win back on July 25 and he’ll have to adopt different tactics as I can’t see him holding out Falcon Island for the lead. If he can adapt and stalk he’ll be the one challenging on the turn. 10. Sepoy Acheva almost went on top but she has only won once in 19 starts and will likely be giving away a decent start, something she’s shown she hasn’t been able to overcome hence the strike rate. It’s entirely possible that the two leaders cut at each other and are left a sitting shot and under those circumstances she could blouse them. But her record says it’s an ask. Include but can’t be confident. 7. Tenorino has put a couple of nice efforts together and he didn’t really get a chance to wind up until the race was over at the Farm two weeks ago so the effort was solid. Each-way claims.

How to play it: Falcon Island WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Falcon Island’s easy all the way win at Wyong two starts ago on July 14

Could this be the day for 1. Zonk to post an overdue win? It does seem to set up pretty well for this consistent mare who I thought was outstanding in running a close second to Sweet Scandal at the Farm a month ago. She had no favours, raced wide without cover and was still coming on the line. Her last 600m of 35.28 matched the winner and she ran the best last 200m in 11.98 (Punters Intel). Drawn ideally, Rachel Hunt has ridden her a couple of times now and I can see her getting a perfect run on or near the pace. Very hard to beat for mine though she is getting to be a bit short.

Dangers: 6. Speedway is likely to run a cheeky race fresh if her latest trial is anything to go on. It was won by Trekking and she was going at least as well as the third placed Esperance (who was a good thing beaten last start) as she finished just behind them. Her best form is around a mile but look for her to hit the line. 12. Lady I Am showed she’s up to a race like this last start when running on from well back into third behind Sweet Scandal on August 1 (different race to Zonk). At her peak and capable of racing handy if need be so is well worth including. 4. Royal Fashion showed sharp improvement third-up behind Sweet Scandal in the same race as Lady I Am, running second, though she was $51 there. In the market at her previous two so if she holds form now she's capable of being in the finish.

How to play it: Zonk WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Zonk finishes a brave second to Sweet Scandal at Warwick Farm on July 11

With a stroke of better luck than he’s had in recent starts I’m sure 9. Bochy is going well enough to break through in town. Last week he was enjoying a perfect run just behind the speed then was badly checked out of the race as he went for a split at the same time as another runner. Two start back he was left flat footed when Jolly Honour sprinted 800m out but kept finding the line. He was excellent over this course three back when drawing out and making a late run along the fence into third. He can land midfield or better here and with a clear run he’s a very good each-way chance.

Dangers: 5. Fantastic Man doesn’t win out of turn but he looks ready to peak fourth-up after a couple of nice on-pace placings in the past month or so. Had his chance over this course last start but stuck on well into third and gets a perfect run in this contest. Go well. 7. Shadal was one of the first hoses struggling in the same race as Fantastic Man three weeks ago. He was a short priced favourite there and was gone before the turn. He’s better than that and considering the price he might be worth another chance. 2. Dalmatia Prince won well here first-up then rose to Saturday company where he wasn’t disgraced second-up then just battled behind Avilius on August 4. Find this a lot more suitable and no surprise to see him in the finish in a very winnable race.

How to play it: Bochy E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

It was a horror show for Bochy supporters at Canterbury last week

You probably already know what I have to say about 11. Star Of The Seas given he’s been accepted and scratched the last couple of Wednesdays. But here goes again. Promising type who romped in when resuming at the Farm a month ago now and while the placegetters have both been beaten since he is a horse with plenty of upside and with the ideal gate he should be able to track them, pull out and storm over the top. That’s the theory anyway.

Dangers: 5. Bull Market does loom as something of a threat though after an excellent, and not surprising, first-up second two weeks ago. While he probably wants 1400m he’d only have to run up to the fresh performance to be right in the mix. 7. Savvan is becoming a little costly to follow but has been going around in reasonably good form races of late. Not beaten far by Smartedge and Metamorphic here three weeks ago and is very hard to leave out of the chances. 1. Veranillo is back from Victoria where he resumed and was well supported in a fair effort at Geelong a month ago. Trialled quite well when just touched out by Seahampton at Randwick recently and he has his chance to regain a bit of form here.

How to play it: Star Of The Seas WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds), Quinella with Bull Market.

Star Of The Seas resumes with an easy win at Warwick Farm on July 18

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury Park