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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Friday’s Canterbury night meeting. Selections based on a good to soft track.

4. War Star has trialled well enough to suggest he’s capable of doing something on a debut. He’s settled back in both trials, not let go in the first and worked home strongly late in the second. Draws one and if those trials are an indication he’ll run well.

Dangers: 2. Citizenship might hold the key to the race, he was a $900,000 yearling and trialled back in February last year where he showed some speed and ran third behind Brosnan over 900m. Not seen since. Blinkers on, James McDonald. Respect the market. 3. Lavish Empire is a stablemate of War Star and comes off a trial win on the synthetic over Julian Rock just before Christmas. One to keep an eye on.

How to play it: War Star E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

War Star runs fourth in a Randwick trial on December 13

8. Cigar Flick just has a tricky alley to negotiate but he appears to have something on the evidence of his only trial appearance to date. Finds James McDonald to ride as he did in the trial and commands respect.

Dangers: 3. Fameux is a very well bred colt out of Group 1 winner Daysee Doom and he’s taken a few trials to make it to the races but did it well to win the latest at Warwick Farm. Has to be considered. 6. Altagracia was a month between trials and showed a bit of improvement to run into third at Warwick Farm. If there's any support she could surprise.

How to play it: Cigar Flick WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Cigar Flick runs second in a trial at Rosehill on December 29

1. Coriolis is clearly the horse to beat on exposed form after a very game second at Randwick on Boxing Day. Travelled wide throughout there and while no match for Ramones he beat the rest easily. Drawn nicely, JMac rides and unless there’s a smart first starter he goes very close.

Dangers: 6. Divots did the job quite nicely at her only public trial a month ago, showing speed then edging away late for an easy win. Imagine she’ll look to go forward and with early luck she’s a contender. 7. Electric Avenue ran a handy second in that trial behind Divots and has been around again since running a close fourth in a Hawkesbury trial. Has the advantage of gate one and could surprise.

How to play it: Coriolis WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Coriolis runs second at Randwick on December 26

2. French Marine rarely runs a bad race and he did it easily first-up under 61.5kg on a soft 6 at Newcastle to say he’s come back in good order. Raced well during the winter and seems to like some sting out of the ground, with the claim and a strong second-up record he should be competitive again.

Dangers: 1. The Big Easy moved home stylishly in his trial before Christmas and while he has the 62.5kg to contend with he’s a big watch fresh. Managed to beat Shades Of Rose back in July giving her 3kg. While his strike rate isn’t high he could ambush these late. 6. Oryx took control early at Hawkesbury first-up and held them off. Previous win was on a soft 7 so any rain isn't against him. Has a case. 3. Tawfiq Lass likes the sting out of the ground and she'll be finishing on strongly fresh, as she did in her latest trial.

How to play it: French Marine WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

French Marine wins at Newcastle on December 17

4. Twilight Affair looks to get an uncontested lead here and that will make her very hard to beat. Yet to win first-up but did match motors with Shades Of Rose fresh last time in before winning here second-up. Been over a month since her trial, a small query, but she’s entitled to perform.

Dangers: 3. Sunborn is fitter for two runs back and found herself in front when midfield behind Sunshine In Paris in a BM78. Comes back in class and draws to get a soft run so she can improve. 5. Grace Bay might be getting back to form after a handy second at Wyong when well supported. Ran okay behind I Am Me at Rosehill in November and has each-way claims. 9. Jasiri is coming off a maiden win at Goulburn where she dashed for home and held them off. Up in class but in the small field has to be considered.

How to play it: Twilight Affair WIN ($1.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Twilight Affair runs second in a Canterbury trial on November 29

1. Dimaggio will go forward, which may aid Unrelenting, from his wide gate and he showed a lot of fight to score over this course three weeks ago. Up 2kg but racing well and sure to give a good account again.

Dangers:5. Sonic Tycoon has mixed his form and the blinkers go on after leading and knocking up in the Provincial Summer Final at Hawkesbury. Game prior and could give a sight. 10. Nicochet comes into the race with the wet track, while he doesn't win out of turn his form last prep on soft and heavy was solid. 4. Kobe Rocks has won twice on heavy ground. Even effort at Warwick Farm last time and could be an improver.

How to play it: Dimaggio WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Dimaggio wins at Canterbury on December 16

5. Beirut Miss is another up and comer and she posted her maiden win at Newcastle a few weeks ago overcoming the outside gate and staving off the challengers. Form hasn’t really held up yet but she’s lightly raced and well drawn.

Dangers: 3. Vittoriosa is back from a winter campaign in Victoria and while she didn’t win last prep she was rarely far away. Trialled twice, like to see some support for her but have to keep her safe. 8. Super Chilled comes off a maiden win at Canterbury a few weeks ago where she sat handy and raced clear. Wide gate a question mark given she may not get as easy a run. 7. Spanish Pearl is racing well this time in and was an easy winner at Wyong last start. Could measure up.

How to play it: Beirut Miss WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Beirut Miss wins at Newcastle on December 17

5. Taraashoq looks a good each-way chance stepping back up in distance and based on his nice closing work last start he’s looking for it now. Form around him is good, with Duke Of Buckingham and Too Much Caviar and in a race which might have solid pace he gets the chance to pounce.

Dangers: 8. Whangaehu has been threatening for a while and only went down by the bob of the head here three weeks ago over this course. A little better off at the weights and sure to be in the finish somewhere again. 4. Fuller was the winner of that race and he goes up 1.5kg for his trouble. Interesting to see if he can back it up from a different set up but has to be included. 7. Travelling Kate also comes through that race where she loomed as the winner halfway down the straight before finishing a close third. Can go forward or back so tactics will be interesting from the wide gate. Each-way.

How to play it: Taraashoq E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Taraashoq runs fourth at Warwick Farm on December 21

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