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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.

Keen on 1. Autumnmation who profiles well for this event, and she brings superior ratings relative to her rivals. The filly resumed at this track/distance a fortnight ago after having one soft trial, and although having every chance, her run was full of merit in a high-rating race. Further, she stalked the speed, accelerated and hit the line hard with her visual late strength backed up by the clock. All key indicators suggest she can only step off that effort and expect her to be hard to beat from the soft draw.

Dangers: 4. Rip Off resumed at Kensington 16 days ago, and she was solid in defeat, running fourth. The Godolphin galloper led at a moderate tempo albeit travelled in the inferior grade, and she battled on well. She'll be fitter from that and can roll forward. 6. Overview returns off a 118-day break and has had two trials leading into this assignment. She maps well, can sprint fresh, and James McDonald rides. 2. Jamais performed above market expectations on debut at this track 28 days ago and tried hard to finish second. The four-year-old will appreciate the rise in trip and will have benefited from the race experience.

How to play it: Autumnmation WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Autumnmation runs second at Canterbury on January 19

Leaning towards 2. Caravanserai who trialled well prior to his debut performance at Rosehill, but nothing went right. The Godolphin galloper was never on the track after drawing wide, had to make a long-wide sustained run, copped a bump on the turn and then wanted to get on the wrong leg in the straight. He can improve sharply, smothered away from a kinder draw, and represents value. Each-way.

Dangers: First starter 5. Mellifluent has had the one trial leading into this assignment, and he wasn't extended going through the line full of energy. James McDonald's booking is significant and the colt maps to have all favours. 4. Excelindeed will roll forward in typical Waterhouse & Bott fashion and be very hard to run down after two solid hit-outs at the trials. Add 6. Ride The River, who is suited up in distance and brings race experience.

How to play it: Caravanserai E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Caravanserai on debut at Rosehill on January 20

Hard to get away from 6. Amoreaux who is coming out of an extremely high-rating race and is ready to peak third-up. The filly was heavily backed late in the trade last start at Kensington but had too much to do after getting too far back from a wide gate. Moreover, he had to make a long-sustained run, clocking the meeting's fastest 400m-200m split, but peaked late. The Chris Waller trained galloper gets a much more positive race setup here coming out of the inside draw, and she'll appreciate getting back onto a drier surface. In addition, James McDonald rides, and she brings the clear best last start figure.

Dangers: 2. Marchesi resumes here after having 99 days off the scene, and he has trialled well. He showed speed, travelled well, ran fast closing splits to win a recent heat at Rosehill, and his last few bounds had merit. He can roll forward and is a definite chance. 5. Peaceful Prince was brave on debut at Kembla and maps to have all favours with Chad Schofield riding. Add 3. Midnight Harry, who is rock-hard fit.

How to play it: Amoreaux WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds).

Amoreaux runs third last start at Kensington on January 17

1. Seton Hall was a drifter in the betting first-up at Newcastle and had too much to do but flashed home for fourth in a solid-form race. The four-year-old was restrained from a wide draw, got too far back in a slowly run race and had to make a long-sustained sprint. Further, he clocked the fastest final 400m split of the meeting, albeit peaking late, indicating he could only improve off that effort. The Hawkes trained galloper maps awkwardly but finds a winnable race and brings a dominant rating's profile.

Dangers: 5. Superstitious resumed as a gelding at this track/distance a fortnight ago and was solid when running second. He wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape but built momentum and responded well under pressure, maintaining a strong finishing speed to the line. 3. Master Riley was brave in defeat on debut at Kembla 13 days ago and will have only improved from the race experience. Expect him to roll forward and give a sight. 7. Ferghana was caught three-wide out on a limb throughout last start at Canberra and tried hard to the line to finish third. Additionally, the form of that race has since been proven with two subsequent winners.

How to play it: Seton Hall WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Seton Hall runs fourth at Newcastle on January 11

Tricky race and leaning towards 2. Bacio Del Mist who represents value. The mare brings a different formline and racing much better than the form guide suggests. Her run had more merit than met the eye last start at this track 14 days ago. Further, she had the race shape against, was pushed wide on the turn and then copped a bump at the 200m, halting her momentum, but she still closed off solidly. Expect her to improve out to 1900m and the claim suits for Jett Stanley. Each-way.

Dangers: 5. Smart As Smart has been building towards a peak performance, and his last start effort at Gosford was full of merit. He had the pace against, and once balancing up in the straight, he reeled off the third fastest final 200m split of the meeting to miss in a tight finish. Expecting a colder ride on 8. Sophia's Magic, and she maps to be smothered away and, with even luck, can charge late. 1. Jack Duggan should've finished much closer last start after losing his spot at a key stage. He is rock-hard fit and has a positive race setup.

How to play it: Bacio Del Mist E/W ($11 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bacio Del Mist last start at Canterbury on January 19

Everything points towards a peak performance from 2. Amati here, and she profiles well for this event. The Chris Waller trained galloper has had excuses in her past two races and is ready to win third-up. She was heavily backed last start at this track/distance a fortnight ago but could never get into the race after getting into an awkward opposition. Further, she wasn't suited to the race shape and was checked/blocked at a critical stage, but once clear, she hit the line hard, recording the eighth fastest final 200m split of the meeting. The mare has multiple winning ratings, and expect her to savage the line with the wider draw being a plus.

Dangers: 1. Ella Te Ama always faced the breeze in an even-tempo last start at Rosehill, and she was honest in defeat with the other on-pace runners fading, adding extra merit to her performance. Her peak figures have come third-up and she drops in grade. 4. Cirebon had all favours when winning at this track/distance last start, but she responded well under pressure. She quickly rises in weight but can give a sight. 3. Arale is coming out of a high-pressure race and receives a significant barrier change, allowing her to settle closer.

How to play it: Amati WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Amati last start at Canterbury on January 19

1. Bubba's Bay drops sharply in grade, bringing a solid betting profile to this assignment. She tried hard in defeat when running third last start to improving galloper Our Kobison at Rosehill and expect her to roll forward from the inside draw. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 6. Mr Kennedy is the only last-start winner engaged and can make it back-to-back wins. Forgive 2. Liberty Sun's two runs this prep where he has had no luck and presents as a knockout chance 7. Rebel Dean comes through the same race as Bubba's Bay and is rock-hard fit.

How to play it: Bubba's Bay WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bubba's Bay runs third at Rosehill on January 20

Best Bet: Race 1 # 1 – Autumnmation

Best Bet: Race 6 # 2 – Amati

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