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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury. Selections based on a soft to heavy track.

Hard to go past 1. Milunka on the back up from a game second at Warwick Farm last week. She was narrowly beaten by a horse with race fitness and the quick turnaround is a sign she’s come through well. Placed on a soft track on debut and is the one to beat.

Dangers: 4. Costa Zou isn’t far off a win in the right race and while he’s probably bumped into a more progressive type here he should be in the mix. Attacked the line nicely at Gosford last time and has seemed to handle the wet okay. 5. The Summit has had a couple of runs at 1800m which should stand her in good stead for a tough 1550m. Just the one run on a seriously wet track and was spelled straight away so inclined to give her another chance. 8. Zenardini led them up as a short priced favourite in the same race as Costa Zou and finished third. On pacer who could give a sight but is probably playing for minor money.

How to play it: Milunka WIN ($1.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Milunka runs second at Warwick Farm on May 29

1. Blazing Miss has had the misfortune of bumping into some smart ones so far and that was again the case first-up at Wyong. She went way too hard in front in the blinkers and was swamped by Exceedance who has proven very smart. Blinkers off, handles the wet and should take beating here.

Dangers: 2. Shielded had some support in the same race and just nabbed Blazing Miss for second on the line there at Wyong. Wide gate a minus and I thought the filly’s run was better under the circumstances. But that formline looks the way to go so he’s right in this again. 7. Aquitaine is worth keeping very safe on debut on the back of two nice trials, the latest a solid win at Rosehill over Rotator. There’s some stoutness in her pedigree and no surprise to see her go close. 12. Zouriana hasn’t raced since going under as favourite here back in February on a soft track. Had every chance there but showed on debut she has some talent and James McDonald sticking is a good pointer. Definite shance.

How to play it: Blazing Miss WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Blazing Miss runs third behind Exceedance at Wyong on May 16

10. Funstar looked very promising winning her latest trial at Rosehill and if that is the case then she goes very close on debut here. Half-sister to Youngstar, so should be okay in the wet, and the trip is ideal first-up. Smartly placed with the claim.

Dangers: 9. Zakat has the race experience and he boxed on okay when fourth behind Exceedance on debut. Trialled okay on a wet track and looks an each-way chance. 6. Skyann has been hard in the market at both starts and disappointed but she’s back with a sound trial performance under her belt and if she lives up to the early promise she took into those first two starts she can feature. Check betting for a pointer. 7. Tawaret backs up after having every chance behind Sedgemoor last week but on her handy second to England at Scone prior she’d have to be some chance.

How to play it: Funstar WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Funstar wins her trial at Rosehill on May 24

11. Austria went under as a short priced favourite two weeks ago but is well worth another chance up in distance and at a better price. She was outsprinted at the 1550m last time despite having a nice run, drawn wide is okay as she can be ridden cold and she’ll be hitting the line strongly.

Dangers: 3. Loveisili is a promising import who took control on the turn at Hawkesbury and proved a bit too strong. Back 200m but the wet track probably negates that and he’s all upside. No surprise to see him go close. 12. Frascati Miss probably looks outgraded at the moment but she should have won at Newcastle last week and third-up is ready to produce a peak run. Should be okay on a wet track, so long as it’s not bottomless, and is a good each-way hope. 7. Mellors is a little hard to line up with no exposure to a wet track but he’s a consistent on pacer who will roll forward from the wide gate and if left alone could take catching.

How to play it: Austria E/W ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Austria’s last start fourth at Canterbury on May 22

3. Rafha’s Choice had no luck at all when beaten in a blanket finish here two weeks ago and has a very good chance to atone. Normally an on-pacer he found himself back and wide and was game holding onto fourth. Loves the wet and should be hard to beat. Read trainer Graeme Murray's comments here.

Dangers: 4. I’m A Legend is coming through the grades well with strong finishing wins at Goulburn and Wyong this time in. Placed on heavy ground and yet to miss top three at this track. Sure to run well again. 1. Generalissimo didn’t have the best of luck when held up behind them in the same race as Rafha’s Choice and is a little worse off at the weights. On his best he’s a huge threat, probably not going quite as well as he can but has the chance to feature here. 9. Bentley Magic is yet to prove himself on a wet track but his two runs back have been excellent and he was closing late at Warwick Farm last time when a firmer in the betting. Couldn’t leave him out of the chances.

How to play it: Rafha’s Choice WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Rafha’s Choice runs fourth at Canterbury on May 22

7. Walk The Runway should be okay on a wet track on pedigree and she wasn’t disgraced running third here a month ago. Drawn well and she only has to hold her form to be in the finish.

Dangers: 10. Seles is a first-up winner in the past and has handled a heavy track okay. She’s had the one quiet trial and if there’s a bit of support for her I could see her running a cheeky race. 11. Licko’paint is an interesting runner who looked the goods easily winning a Rosehill trial recently. Yet to see a wet track but did win impressively fresh at Sandown last time in and is worth keeping safe. 9. Elm Court is on the way up with two strong wins this preparation. Beaten a length at her only run in the wet and did hit the front in that race. Each-way.

How to play it: Walk The Runway WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Walk The Runway finishes third at Canterbury on May 8

5. Balmain Boy doesn’t win out of turn but he ran a cheeky race fresh at Warwick Farm and is getting out to his preferred distance range. Given an easy trial between runs and his wet track form is fine without winning. Go well.

Dangers: 4. Sonaree held off Tim’s Principal to score here last start and goes up 2.5kg. Placed on a soft track at Sandown two starts ago and with a bit of luck from the wide gate he’s not to be overlooked. 8. Guipure should be ready to fire now after two solid runs in behind the placings back from a spell. Her wet track win was a soft 6 at Moe and she’s city placed at 1700m so the extra ground suits. Entitled to figure. 7. Bringagem ran a nice race first-up, better than it looks on paper, then never in it though not beaten far at Warwick Farm. Likes a wet track and he has a chance to improve.

How to play it: Balmain Boy E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Balmain Boy runs fifth at Warwick Farm on May 15

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