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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 to soft track with a possible thunderstorm forecast.

12. Street Smarts, who has been racing against stronger opposition, represents value after having the pace and bias against her running on ok in the Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill last start. Additionally, there has been two subsequent winners from that race and the winner Queen Of The Ball is the early favourite for Saturday's Fujitsu General Silver Slipper (1100m). She can race in a more prominent position from barrier one with only 52.5kg after the claim for Reece Jones.

Dangers: Forget 8. Psychiatrist’s run in the Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick. He was checked and blocked before being eased down because the rider was unhappy with his action. The colt’s latest trials suggest he’s ready to run well and is wound up for this. 3. Nolan will have to overcome a tricky draw but hit the line well first-up. 4. Okataina was ridden out in his latest trial. He maps to lead and will have first use of the track.

How to play it: Psychiatrist WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Street Smarts WIN ($8.50 TAB FIXED ODDS). Odds & Evens: EVEN.

Street Smarts last start on January 29

D-Day for 3. Devil’s Throat who has been narrowly beaten his past two starts since returning as a gelding. He was heavily backed first-up from $6.5-$3.5 in the Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m), where he just got too far back from an awkward barrier to just miss in the final few bounds. He had all favours in his latest run on the Kensington track leading at a very slow pace but still sprinted the second-fastest last 400/200m sectionals of the entire meeting in 22.56/11.56 with a 2.45 length margin to third. The three-year-old gelding has dominant ratings relative to his rivals and again can race in a prominent position.

Dangers: 1. Barrichello resumes after a solid trial over a fortnight ago with an apprentice on. He was run to suit at this track and distance first-up last preparation when trying hard to run second. James McDonald goes on and looks the main danger. 6. Kahawaty comes out of the same race as Devil's Throat, and the step-up in distance suits second-up. Her trainer Anthony Cummings is in-form with 13 out of his last 100 runners winning, striking at 11% profit on turnover. 2. Aircraftman may be looking for further but has been trialling well and gets Hugh Bowman to ride for the first time.

How to play it: Devil’s Throat WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Devil’s Throat runs second at Kensington on February 2

2. Jungle Book was not suited and had a checkered passage when starting favourite last start at this track, distance, and race class seven days ago. It’s worth noting that some of his career peak rating figures have come on backup runs at Canterbury. He partners with his usual rider Jason Collett who has had 13 rides for a win, two seconds and three thirds when riding him.

Dangers: 1. Mr Gee must carry 61kg after the claim for Reece Jones but does drop in grade after an honest return first-up. He has strong form-lines after contesting a QLD Derby (2400m) last preparation and, if he can get luck, will be hitting the line strongly. 5. Handsome King has progressed well throughout his career but must step to the metropolitan level. 4. Songbird won well last start at Hawkesbury over 1800m and has a positive map.

How to play it: Jungle Book ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Jungle Book runs fourth at Canterbury on February 11

10. Pretty Amazing looks a nice type and an improver after winning impressively at Newcastle first up. She was given every chance from barrier one in a slow pace but really asserted her dominance through the line running 22.60 for her last 400m. The three-year-old filly gets a significant jockey change in James McDonald who rides her for the first time. In addition, although up in grade and drawn wide she has key attributes to make the step.

Dangers: 2. Akahata has been not suited in his two runs since returning this preparation. The step-up in distance suits with Tim Clark riding and looks ready to peak third-up. 4. Supremo was ridden with cover last start and overraced throughout whilst also not having much luck. He gets a senior jockey tonight which can help his manners. 1. I Want One has been winning by big margins on the country circuit and gets his chance at the metropolitan level.

How to play it: Pretty Amazing WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Pretty Amazing wins at Newcastle on January 29

A wide-open contest here with multiple runners resuming from spells and late market moves will be a strong guide. 2. Black Duke is deep into a preparation where he has raced in stronger grade and is coming out of time/sectional merit races. He can use his fitness edge by rolling forward from a favourable draw and be given every chance to run well.

Dangers: 8. Gracilistyla has an improver’s ratings profile who has trialled up well, and expect him to be running on strongly. 1. Vreneli has been wound up for this and suspect an aggressive ride with the blinkers off. His career peak performance came at this track and distance. 3. Sammy’s final run last preparation was in the Silver Eagle (1300m) and before that was winning by big margins on the provincial circuit.

How to play it: Black Duke ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Black Duke runs second at Canterbury on January 28

When relating comparisons and figures relative to other races on the day 5. Embeller is coming out of the highest-rated race on the day from the Warwick Farm meeting back on Australia day this year. The four-year-old mare was honest in that run, and the step back in distance suits. She will need some luck from the draw but has multiple winning ratings for this event.

Dangers: 2. Stormborn led in a fast-tempo last start when fending off late challengers to win at Warwick Farm over 1100m. She has been consistent all preparation and expecting another forward showing here. 4. Hibiscus Lady was every chance running fifth behind subsequent winner Sinba last start but does look the map horse. 9. Designer Maid looks the likely leader and can run a cheeky race at odds.

How to play it: Embeller WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Embeller last start at Warwick Farm on January 26

4. Shadow Bridge mixes his form but his last two runs must be forgiven when sitting wide and working on fast tempos. The prospect of a drier track suits where he can produce his best form. The gelding has past rating figures that align well with his opposition and represents value.

Dangers: 3. Buckin Beauty is first-up who and has drawn ideally to go forward and gets in well at the weights with the claim. 1. Henschel has consistently raced in this grade and any rain will be to his benefit.

How to play it: Shadow Bridge E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Shadow Bridge’s last win back on November 24 last year

2. O’Mudgee had the bias against in a Benchmark 88 at Randwick when running on well six days ago, where he had to make his final run in the inferior ground. He still managed to clock the fastest last 400m sectional of the race in 23.03. The five-year-old gelding is rock-hard fit and, with a significant barrier change, Tyler Schiller can be positive and get him to race more forward.

Dangers: 3. Monegal’s last start had hidden merit after getting too far back in the run on a day where it was hard to make ground. Her final 200m in 11.17 was the third-fastest individual section of any other horse on the entire meeting. 9. Banger has no weight and barrier one. 10. Saint Of Katowice was wide in a fast-pace last start and may be ready to peak third-up from a spell.

How to play it: 2. O’Mudgee WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) & 3. Monegal WIN ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

O’Mudgee in his last start at Randwick on February 12

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