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By Ray Hickson

Ray Hickson’s tips and insights for Wednesday’s Canterbury Park meeting.
The track is a Soft 5 and the rail is in the true position.

It's a shame She Knows had to come out, leaving us with three runners. 2. Easy Eddie delivered a very easy maiden win at Wyong at his third start, rewarding favourite backers who'd supported him on each occasion. He will lead early with the inside alley and it's a matter of whether Corey Brown hands up or wants to control. Either way he should be hard to beat.

Dangers: 1. Marishka was effective when coming from off the speed at Kembla turning around a couple of very disappointing failures in September. She will have the last crack at them. 4. Cuban Sizzle is obviously a chance backing up from a game third at the Farm last week though coming back 100m might not be ideal. Still, with only the two rivals that shouldn't be an excuse.

How to play it: Easy Eddie WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Easy Eddie leads all the way to win at Wyong – October 22

The form around 5. Sky Boy appeals in another tricky race. After beating a subsequent city winner at Kembla he was thrown in the deep end against Kaonic and Luvaluva (both set to run next at the Flemington carnival) at Randwick and was right on the placegetters’ tails running fourth with a big gap to the rest of the field. Coming back to a midweek BM70 with five rivals gives him every chance to be right in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Red Zephyr has been impressive leading all the way to win a maiden and a Class 1 at provincial level and the form around him is standing up quite well too. He may assume control again and is the logical threat. 3. Aonair beat Cuba three starts back and wasn’t disgraced up to Saturday company at her next start. She had a wide on pace run in the Reginald Allen and knocked up so that run can be overlooked. 6. Laussel had little opposition when breaking her maiden at start two though she did chase home Woman on debut at Canterbury in September.

How to play it: Sky Boy WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Quinella with Red Zephyr.

Sky Boy runs a sound fourth to Kaonic at Randwick – October 21

I can’t get keen at all on the two favourites so I’m going around them. 5. Rosettas Whey has been very solid in her last two runs in town, closing off strongly into the placings. She was up to 1900m for the first time when runner-up to Token Of Love, who has since run well in Melbourne, and while taking on the boys here she’d only have to hold her form to be in the finish.

Dangers: 4. Braces had been working up to something when he endured a wide run to win narrowly over this course a couple of weeks ago and the form has certainly been strengthened since then with the placegetters finishing 2-1 (respectively) at Randwick last weekend. Similar sort of race and he’s one of the chances again. 6. Shield Wall is under the odds for mine but she did find the line nicely enough behind I Am Serious third-up from a break. Yet to try this trip and only one win from 12 starts are little negatives for me. 1. Wu Gok was excellent fresh then plain second-up in Saturday company. Could bounce back but it’d be a reversal from Randwick where he was never likely.

How to play it: Rosettas Whey E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Rosettas Whey runs second to Token Of Love at Canterbury – October 4

1. Intueri was scratched from the night meeting last Friday and lands in a similarly winnable race. Reacted well to the blinkers in sweeping home to score easily over the same course back on October 4 and the gap between runs is no issue given that win was off a five week break. There looks to be enough speed on paper to allow him to settle in the second half and run on.
Punter’s Intel:

Dangers: 2. Bravissimo has won two races and both have been when he’s been able to lead and dictate. He hasn’t been a factor in his other five starts. Confidence boosting win last time out at Wyong and he should find the fence in front early here so he’s capable of giving a sight. 4. Mate Story has also led at his past two starts and from the wider alley you’d expect him to look to cross and either lead or sit outside. Battled on quite well behind Intueri last time and I have him in the mix. 5. Hiroken has been excellent in two runs back and I wouldn’t leave him out of the multiples.

How to play it: Intueri WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Intueri’s impressive win at Canterbury – October 4

Scratchings have knocked this race about a bit. 4. Cosmic Engine was outstanding in his first two runs back last prep, downing Suncraze first-up at Newcastle of a cheeky quiet trial. Found Arbeitsam a bit too good when he stepped up in class but wasn’t disgraced. He trialled strongly enough at Rosehill recently to suggest he has come back in good order and he should take holding out.

Dangers: The Godolphin pair have their chance. 3. Drachenfels momentarily looked the winner at Farm when he darted through on the inside 200m out before High Mist ran him down. Back in trip probably suits and he’s worth another chance. 5. Dissolute ran on without threatening in the White Moss race almost a month ago and is the other winning hope for mine.

How to play it: Cosmic Engine WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds)

Cosmic Engine’s trial at Rosehill – October 20

1. Good Time Charlie makes a lot of appeal from a much better gate and there’s a heap to like about the form around him too. Hit the line well behind Latin Boy and To Excess (won and placed in Saturday grade since) then had to go too far back before making late ground again behind Best Guess. There’s less depth in this race and is he can make a little use of gate two he should be very hard to hold out.
Punter's Intel: Good Time Charlie ran the fastest last 200m of 11.83 last start and his last 600m in 35.37 was second only to the winner.

Dangers: 5. Golden Organic is the big query runner. Only the one start last time in failed quite badly at Randwick without any real excuse. His two trials this time in have been fine and he did take on some handy ones in his first three starts, performing well. If there’s some support he might feature. 4. Fanning is a horse I find hard to catch despite only having 10 starts to his name. Led and battled on behind Best Guess second-up so should be close to a peak now and has each-way claims. 3. Prince Mayted is a consistent sprinter and I thought he’s had his chance in his placings at Port Macquarie and Coonabarabran but he’s hard to completely rule out.

How to play it: Good Time Charlie WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Good Time Charlie’s eye-catching sixth behind Best Guess – October 18

Very tough way to finish off. 4. Cymbalism is a lightly raced mare resuming and she showed enough promise in that first preparation to warrant some thought here fresh – if there’s a bit of support for her. Bumped into Slow Burn on debut and broke through at start three during the Scone carnival. She settled handy in her trial and wasn’t extended at all so take no notice of the finishing position. She can sit just off the speed and I’d expect her to run well.

Dangers: 1. Hillary Step was unwanted in betting second-up but ran on gamely behind Zonk at the Farm a few weeks ago. This is certainly no harder and if she can take another step from that performance she’s in the finish. 11. Call Me Tess puzzles me a little from a price angle. She has taken on better company, largely, but at the same time been quite safely held. Her two trials for Peter Robl have been solid but it’s been more than a month since the latest. Goes in on suspicion with Shinn riding and an inside gate. Market will tell you. 3. The Wasp did enough first-up at Cessnock and she does have a solid second-up record to recommend her. Inside barrier and The Gun to ride are pluses for here.

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

Cymbalism’s quiet trial at Rosehill – October 3

All the fields, form and replays at Canterbury Park on Wednesday