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By John Schell

Selections based on a heavy track

2. Gatekeeper is a well-bred gelding on debut here for the Waller stable. He was down the track in a trial in May of last year and has since had two trials leading into this. He finished second in the latest hitout at Rosehill and has the benefit of the inside alley here. 1. Automne Tree is a stablemate of Gatekeeper and has had two trials leading into his debut, accounting for Gatekeeper in the latest of them. 3. Signor Tortoni debuted with a fourth at Randwick when beaten less than a length and he should have derived plenty of benefit from that effort. 8. Homeric was having his first start when finishing fourth on the Beaumont track at Newcastle. He can run into the money here.

How to play it: Gatekeeper WIN.

4. Shanoni is a filly on debut here and she has had two trials in preparation. She wasn’t beaten too far when tailing the field home in the first trial and then finished second in the latest of them. She’s drawn well and should be poised to run a bold race. 5. The Stars is also on debut and is a stablemate of Shanoni. She won her latest trial and has also drawn well. 2. Scalable is having her first start and has had three trials in total, with a win and a second in the latest recent two. 3. Sensational Wind debuted with a fifth at Rosehill in July and resumes here on the back of a recent trial.

How to play it: Shanoni EACH WAY.

6. Rickythesteamboat hit the line well to score a strong win on the Beaumont track at Newcastle two starts ago and then followed that up with a solid enough effort when midfield at Kembla Grange. He’s racing well enough to give this a shake. 9. Lough Eske was specked in the market when debuting with a strong win at Newcastle on the Beaumont track when fighting to the line well. 11. Swelter started favourite when scoring a last start Kembla Grange victory and has gate one here. 10. Pretty Powerful ran well on debut on the Kensington track before scoring a strong win on the Beaumont track at Newcastle at his only other start.

How to play it: Rickythesteamboat WIN.

4. Smart Legend was close-up when fourth at Warwick Farm two starts ago then did the job well to score here as favourite when last produced. He’s rarely far away and has solid claims again here. 3. Kirikan has been racing well with a couple of placings here being followed by a last start fifth at Randwick. This looks a nice race for him. 7. Luskaire won at Newcastle and then ran second there before a last start fourth at this track. 6. Verbek has been thereabouts of late and has place claims despite the wide barrier.

How to play it: Smart Legend WIN.

11. Stagnum had looked good in his trials before debuting and starting double figure odds when charging to victory at Canterbury. He couldn’t have impressed more in that effort and while he’s drawn wide here there is no reason he can’t go on with the job. 8. Walkin’Talkin’ was back to his best when leading throughout to score at this track when last produced. He can be prominent again from the inside gate. 5. Roussillon hit the line well for a third at Wyong when second-up from a spell and he should be ready to peak here. 2. Capital Asset was midfield at Randwick when resuming and can figure here without surprising.

How to play it: Stagnum WIN.

6. Spirit Of Varanasi has struck winning form again of late with success on the Kensington track at Randwick before scoring again at Kembla Grange. She’s been racing close to the speed and has drawn well enough again here to take up a forward position. 12. Sass ‘N’ Cheek fought to the line strongly to score in Highway grade at Rosehill two starts ago, and since ran well enough again when fourth at Randwick. 9. Spicy Hotpot justified favouritism to score a win on the Beaumont track at Newcastle when last produced and has claims again, while 3. Bindi’s Choice has solid formlines and warrants some thought.

How to play it: Spirit Of Varanasi EACH WAY.

4. Storm The Ramparts is a well performed sprinter that had solid form before being spelled including a win at Warwick Farm on a heavy track. He started as a well-backed, short-priced favourite at Randwick when resuming from a spell and finished a solid enough fourth. He’s drawn ideally here and should get every chance to bounce back. 7. Perigean has had two starts since resuming from a spell and has won each of them. This is a step up in grade, but he looks up to the task. 10. Wind Of Change is a former New Zealander that was a winner at Ellerslie at her latest start last month. She’s had a trial here and ran second in that at Canterbury. She should be primed to run well. 11. Mawjood resumed from a spell with a solid third at Randwick and this looks well within his reach.

How to play it: Storm The Ramparts WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 3 (6) Rickythesteamboat.
Race 4 (4) Smart Legend.

Best Value:
Race 2 (4) Shanoni.

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Canterbury meeting