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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday's Canterbury meeting. Selections based on a good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Leaning towards 1. Thermodynamic who raced well first-up at Kensington 30 days ago. The gelding had every chance but tried hard in defeat to finish third, and his ratings/sectional profile suggests he can only step off that performance. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and the margins throughout confirmed the quality. The Chris Waller galloper has come in on a strong base figure, and expect him to improve sharply from the soft draw with Nash Rawiller riding.

Dangers: 4. Mogwai, who deserves favouritism, has gone to a new level this prep since being gelded and is coming out of time/sectional merit races. He brings a strong SP profile into this event and maps to have all favours with James McDonald riding. Key indicators suggested 5. Northern Eyes would benefit from his first-up at Kensington, and he'll be more suited out to the 1550m. Add 9. Miss Reilly to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Thermodynamic WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Thermodynamic runs third at Kensington on October 18

1. Jagjit resumes as a gelding and has had two trials leading into this assignment. The three-year-old is still learning, but he put his rivals away easily in a recent heat at Randwick and looks wound up for this event. He brings a strong Canterbury profile; Tim Clark rides, and expect him to take some catching. In addition, he brings formlines around the likes of smart gallopers Celestial Legend and Group 1 winner Griff.

Dangers: 5. New Forest brings a key fitness edge and is ready to peak third-up. The gelding's effort last start was full of merit in a high-rating race at Gosford when running second. Moreover, he led at a fast pace, accelerated off the turn and was just worn down over the concluding stages with a big gap to third. Debutant 3. Determination is a nice type and hit the line well in a recent trial at Randwick. He is a key late market watch and can be in the finish with even luck. 6. Reggae Fire was run to suit first-up at Newcastle 13 days ago, but he ran on solidly and would have improved from that effort.

How to play it: Jagjit WIN ($1.75 TAB Fixed Odds).

Jagjit wins a trial at Randwick on November 3

5. Power Ballard is wound up for this event after two solid trials, and she has a solid platform. First-up last prep, her run had merit; she had to work early in a genuine tempo and stuck on well in a fast-time race. Expect her to be ridden aggressively early with Nash Rawiller riding, and she'll take some catching.

Dangers: 9. Miss Emma produced a career peak figure first-up at Kensington 16 days ago, and her run was full of merit. Further, she had the pace/bias against her and still reeled off some of the meeting's fastest closing sectionals to run second. The Chris Waller galloper does tend to be slow out of the barriers, but if she jumps well, expect her to be hard to hold out. 12. Zouphoria, who resumes, has won three recent trials and will race on the speed. Add 4. Nefertari to wider exotics.

How to play it: Power Ballard WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Power Ballard runs second in a trial at Randwick on November 3

2. Willinga Freefall was specked $13-$8 late in the trade last at Kensington, and he ran an honest third after having excuses. The five-year-old had to chase a fast tempo throughout and was checked/blocked at a critical stage, losing momentum, but he picked up well. He's well placed here, bringing strong form lines/figures to this event and his ratings/sectional profile suggests he's ready to peak third-up. Additionally, expect him to improve with Tim Clark sticking, and he'll roll forward from the awkward draw.

Dangers: 4. Jumeirah Beach is in career-best form and won in style last start at Hawkesbury. Further, he ran fast time relative to the day and reproducing that effort here can put him in the finish. 1. Money From The Sky returns off a 163-day break and has had two solid hit-outs at the trials leading into this assignment. First-up last prep, his run had merit after having too much to do, and his fresh record is solid. Market watch on import 3. Western Front, who enters his second Australian prep and the 1550m first-up suits.

How to play it: Willinga Freefall WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Willinga Freefall runs third at Kensington on November 1

All key indicators suggest 5. Genetic Freak is ready to peak third-up, and the rise in trip looks ideal. The four-year-old wasn't suited to the race shape first-up at Newcastle, but he ran on well and clocked solid closing splits. Second-up, he was honest in defeat at Gosford in a strong time race, and expect him to improve sharply off that effort. The Chris Waller galloper has multiple winning figures for this event; James McDonald takes over the riding duties, and he can roll forward from the wide gate.

Dangers: 4. Condrieu is racing well and can bounce back into the winner's stall here. She maps to have all favours from an inside gate, the winkers go on for the first time, and she is proven in this grade. Forget 11. Counter's last start, where he was stirred up pre-race and was a savage drifter in the betting. He is still relatively lightly raced and can win. 3. Invincible Dash is a last-start winner and add 6. Silvakia to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Genetic Freak WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

Genetic Freak runs second at Gosford on November 2

Leaning towards 2. Stromboli, who is racing in career-best form this preparation, and his run had merit last start at Randwick when finishing second. The five-year-old was checked/blocked at a critical stage, losing his momentum, but once clear, he picked up well and hit the line hard, recording one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting. He brings consistent figures that will put him in the finish in this event, and the fast anticipated race shape suits where he produces his peak performances.

Dangers: 9. Master Showman returns as a gelding here off a 125-day spell and has trialled well in a recent fast-time heat at Rosehill. He has a positive race setup from the inside draw and multiple winning ratings for this assignment. Expecting 8. Dodi to bounce off his first-up performance where his work past the post had merit, and the rise in trip is ideal here. 4. Gundy Bridge raced below market expectations last campaign but has always possessed ability. He looks to have returned in good order after winning a recent trial in style. Add 5. Port Albert who is a last-start winner and will roll forward.

How to play it: Stromboli WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Stromboli runs second at Randwick on October 21

6. Walkin'talkin' is now at optimal fitness and has a strong record at this track. He always faced the breeze last start at Kensington in a genuine tempo and battled on ok to finish fifth. The gelding will appreciate the rise in trip where he can build into a more natural rhythm and brings a key fitness edge. Further, he can rate to win and will take some catching.

Dangers: NZ import 5. Louisville is resuming and entering his second Australian prep for Chris Waller. The gelding showed improvement last campaign and was on an upwards ratings spiral before having too much to do in his final prep run. He's had a quiet trial leading into this but sets up well from a soft draw with James McDonald riding. 3. For Real Life, who is an interesting runner, can bounce back here and is a critical late-market watch. Add 1. Classy Jaybee to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Walkin'talkin' WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Walkin'talkin' last start at Kensington on November 1

10. Pink Baroque hasn't been suited in recent runs and had excuses last start at Kensington. The four-year-old overraced in a slow tempo and was checked/blocked at a critical stage in the straight. However, once clear, she hit the line well and indicated she could bounce back here with even luck. In addition, she excels in high-pressure races, and all her peak figures have come in the anticipated race shape.

Dangers: 6. Rocketeer Girl comes through the same race as Pink Baroque and was resuming after a long break. Expect her to improve sharply, and she will roll forward. 3. Ningaloo Star is in career-best form, and she ran time when winning 10 days ago at Randwick. Add 7. Welcome Gypsy to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Pink Baroque WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Pink Baroque last start at Kensington on November 1

Best Bet: Race 4 # 2 – Willinga Freefall

Next Best: Race 1 # 1 - Thermodynamic

Best Value: Race 8 # 10 – Pink Baroque

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