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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.

3. Spanish Fox has performed above market expectations in his two runs this campaign and is ready to peak third-up. The gelding had excuses last start at Warwick Farm when being checked/blocked at a critical stage, halting his momentum, but he picked himself up well and hit the line solidly. Further, his final 200m split had merit, and everything about his sectional profile suggests the rise in trip is ideal. The Michael Freedman trained galloper maps to have all favours, will appreciate the anticipated genuine race shape, and represents value.

Dangers: 8. Seafall is another one at odds who was mathematically out of the race on debut at Kembla and expect sharp improvement here. 2. Miss Chenery deserves favouritism after running second to an improving type in Misterkipchoge, and she maps to have all favours. The Chris Waller trained runner brings the clear best last start figure and is on the quick backup. 1. Pasima has been honest all prep and brings an SP edge over some of his key rivals.

How to play it: Spanish Fox WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Spanish Fox last start at Warwick Farm on January 26

Keen on 1. Don Pedro, who brings a dominant ratings profile, and everything points towards a peak performance in this event. The Bjorn Baker trained runner was well-backed 13 days ago in a stronger-grade race at Randwick, but he had no luck. Further, he was checked/blocked for a run for most of the straight and went to the line, never fully tested. The gelding was honest in his prior start in a high-rating race at Randwick, and reproducing that performance/figure will make him hard to beat. He can roll forward with Tim Clark riding for the first time and is at optimal fitness.

Dangers: 5. Surreal I Am started a short-price favourite last start at Doomben, and he broke through for his maiden win. He's proven at the trip and maps to have all favours. 2. Turned Down was a solid winner at this track on debut 21 days ago and responded well under pressure. Some query on the overall time, but he indicated that 1550m would be much more suitable.

How to play it: Don Pedro WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Don Pedro's last start at Randwick on January 27

2. Les Vampires, who returns from a 167-day spell, has trialled well and shown adaptability in his two heats. The lightly raced galloper always indicated that he would come back improved in his second prep, and he raced well last campaign. Further, he broke through for his maiden win in style, then rose sharply in grade to start a well-fancied $3.20 favourite in the Group 3 Up & Coming (1300m), which was won by subsequent Group 1 galloper Tom Kitten. He brings a solid platform into this, and expect him to roll forward from the wide gate under the guidance of Adam Hyeronimus, who has a strong affiliation with him.

Dangers: 3. Ballet Desprit is an improving type, and she smashed the clock when winning last start at Kensington, even after adjusting for the first use of the track. She brings a fitness and tactical map edge over her key rivals, and the 1250m looks like no issue. Expect 4. Bolero Belle to bounce off her first-up run after she wasn't suited to the detoriating track but still ran an honest race. The filly has strong closing speed and will be savaging the line. Add 1. The Years, who gets in well with the claim and is another on-pace runner.

How to play it: Les Vampires WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Les Vampires runs second in his latest trial at Randwick on January 22

4. Bootscooter is in career-best form, and although run to suit last start, she hit the line hard to score at Rosehill. All key indicators suggest she can improve again and can be within striking distance on the final turn.

Dangers: 3. Sonora mixes her form but maps to have every possible chance in this assignment and can control the pace. Tommy Berry suits and she has past dominant figures relative to her rivals. Add 8. Buba, who is racing consistently.

How to play it: Bootscooter WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Decadent Tale last start at Randwick on January 27

NZ import 4. Unusual Legacy is an improving type on an upwards ratings spiral, and he was heavily backed into a $1.50 favourite last start at Newcastle. Further, the gelding had every chance, but he put his rivals away easily, running slick time, and went through the line full of energy. The Chris Waller trained gallopers' late strength/profile suggests he can make the step in grade and deserves to be a short-price favourite.

Dangers: 7. Ring Ahoy bounced back into the winner's stall last start at this track/distance seven days ago and savaged the line. He had the race shape against but built through his gears well and clocked one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. The gelding produces all his peak figures at Canterbury, and he maps well. 3. Notabadbuy is yet to be proven beyond 1600m, but his first-up win at Gosford was solid. He had all favours but responded well under pressure and held off the late challengers. Add 1. Malabar to wider exotics.

How to play it: Unusual Legacy WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Unusual Legacy wins last start at Newcastle on January 27

D-day for 2. Dehorned Unicorn, who had every chance last start, but he wasn't suited to the Flemington straight. Prior to that start, he had no luck in a high-rating race at Randwick, and he should've finished much closer. This is the easiest race he's contested for some time, and his ratings/SP profile lines up well against his rivals. Additionally, a tongue tie goes on and is a definite chance.

Dangers: 8. Rupertaar was run to suit last start at Randwick, but she found the line well and has strong form lines for this assignment. She maps to get the perfect run in transit and can rate to win. 7. Winning Verse has taken a few runs to get fit and is ready to peak here third-up with a positive map. 9. Ellettrica can sprint fresh and 1. Dyanmic Impact is undefeated at this track.

How to play it: Dehorned Unicorn WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Dehorned Unicorn two starts ago at Randwick on January 6

Tricky race. 10. Little Baia has taken a couple of runs to get fit, and she gets a positive race setup here. The mare wasn't suited to the race shape last start at Goulburn but ran on well into second, and all key indicators suggest a peak performance. Expect her to roll forward, and she can give a sight in a race that lacks genuine tempo. Each-way.

Dangers: 7. Always In raced wide last start at Newcastle and sprinted well but peaked late. She is racing consistently, and the step back in distance suits. 1. Capitol Queen has trialled well enough and raced well first-up last prep in a high-rating race. Add 5. Royal Invader and 12. Riva Damor to trifectas/first fours.

How to play it: Little Baia E/W ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Little Baia runs second at Goulburn on January 30

8. Roussillon returns off a short 69-day spell and trialled well in a recent heat at Hawkesbury behind Zapateo. First-up last prep, his effort had hidden merit at Rosehill, where he ran one of the meeting's fastest 600m-200m splits before being checked/blocked over the final furlong, halting his momentum. The Godolphin galloper will need a touch of luck, but he has the key attributes of acceleration/closing speed and brings strong past 2&3YO form lines. Expect him to sprint fresh, and he brings multiple winning figures.

Dangers: 14. Mon Pierre has been slow out in his past two starts, but his runs have had sectional merit. The four-year-old had the race shape against last start at Warwick Farm, but he ran on well, clocking one of the meeting's fastest final 600m splits. He's taken a few runs to get fit, and expect him to peak here. 11. Remedies has had 279 days off the scene and has trialled well enough. She has tactical speed and can rate to win. 6. Shalailedis suited back to 1100m, and 10. Wingardium can bounce back after a flat second-up run.

How to play it: Roussillon WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Roussillon's latest trial at Hawkesbury on February 1

Best Bet: Race 2 # 1 – Don Pedro

Best Bet: Race 8 # 8 – Roussillon

Best Value: Race 1 # 3 – Spanish Fox

Quaddie:
Leg 1: 4-7
Leg 2: 2-8-7-9
Leg 3: 10-7-1-5
Leg 4: 8-14-6

96 Combinations.

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