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By Ray Hickson

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

Lots of trial form here so betting will be key. 3. Intrepidacious looked the goods winning her only trial at Warwick Farm earlier this month. She led, was challenged and broke away late to win quite easily. On that showing she should be hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Ready’s Girl has the race experience on her side and while she was safely held by Anaheed at Randwick she was strong late and didn’t give up the chase. Suspect an improved track will be in her favour and if she runs up to that debut then she’s a big threat. 6. Sally’s Day is a well bred filly who rounded them up well to win her only public trial at Warwick Farm, on the synthetic track, last week. Definitely one to keep safe. 1. Chelsea Reign also contested a synthetic trial and closed it off okay. In top stable so best not to underestimate.

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

Intrepidacious easily wins her trial at Warwick Farm on October 8

Important race for 3. Terminology who finds herself in the easiest race of her four start career to date. Outclassed last time but go back to February and she led until the shadows behind Cristobal and Miss Fabulass at Rosehill. Predictably easy trial winner recently, she should lead and take plenty of running down.

Dangers: 1. River Bird gets back in her races but the small field might offset that somewhat. Has form around Gem Song, Diplomatico and Ronstar from last time in so if they soften up the leader she’ll be the one powering late. 5. Tell Me has been very disappointing so far and the only excuse I can find from her failure at Warwick Farm first-up is she didn’t get through the heavy 10 at all. She’ll handle the much better conditions here and she could turn things around. 4. Home Scene didn’t do a lot last time we saw her when she failed to beat one home behind Charge at the Farm in August. Trialled well on the synthetic recently, she’s always trialled well, and she’s entitled to improve a bit.

How to play it: Terminology WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Terminology wins her trial at Randwick on September 28

4. Stardome is set up a lot better for this race than he was second-up at Warwick Farm jumping 500m. He was a significant drifter in betting that day too but kept coming to be beaten 1.5 lengths. Ultimately he will excel over a bit more ground, on the promise he has shown is entitled to take this out.

Dangers: 1. Bring It Back was far too bad to be true on debut at Kembla, he didn’t how any speed and was always well back. Perhaps it was the heavy track that wasn’t to his liking so he can improve here and if he races closer to the speed, like the stable prefers, he can be competitive. 7. Heavenly Thunder contested the same Kembla race and hit the line well to go down narrowly, something she has done a few times to date. In a race that is up for grabs she’s one of the main chances. 2. Costas was safely held on debut placing behind Diplomatico on the Kensington track. Back to the trials and up in distance look to be pluses so he is capable of improvement.

How to play it: Stardome WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Stardome boxes on for a close fourth at Warwick Farm on October 3

Happy to stay with 4. Destiny’s Own who is just about ready to win now after two solid runs back from a spell. Left in front last time at Warwick Farm on a heavy 10 under 61kg and didn’t give it up. Drops in weight and both his wins have come over this track and distance. Should get the run of the race and is hard to beat.

Dangers: 1. Omineca had no luck at all last start on the Kensington track and arguably should have won. He was well supported there and didn’t get a crack at them at any stage, going down 1.3 lengths. Commands some respect. 2. Arraignment wound up favourite at Randwick last Saturday and led but was quickly beaten. Interesting that he’s backing up quickly and on his previous form he’s more than capable of turning it around. 5. Danzie had his chance in the same race as Destiny’s Own third-up and couldn’t match him. He’s been a rung below his previous prep so far this time in and can only include him in the place hopes.

How to play it: Destiny’s Own WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Quinella 1 & 4.

Destiny’s Own’s last start third at Warwick Farm on October 10

7. Invictus Warrior is an improver who hasn’t done a lot wrong in three starts. Interesting he’s stepping out in distance beyond a mile as his siblings (Red Tracer, Counterattack, Shellscrape) were better known up to that trip. He led last time at Warwick Farm and tried very hard and he bumped into a smart one prior to that. If he gets the right run he’s a good chance.

Dangers: 10. Collectively sprung to life up in distance with a very fast finishing second at Newcastle over a mile. Based on that she’ll relish the step up further and if she can improve again she’ll feature here. 8. Mangione is another up and comer who was only warming up at the finish when runner-up at Newcastle over 1500m on the same day. Bred to appreciate a staying trip so he’s another to keep an eye on. 6. Costa Zou has been no match for the winner at his last two starts but stuck on well to hold second. No harder here and is capable of another placing.

How to play it: Invictus Warrior WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Invictus Warrior holds on for third at Warwick Farm on October 3

2. Miss Shanti finally steps up in distance after three runs around the 1500m mark this time in. No match for Savacool last time at Randwick, though she did cart the winner into the rce three wide, but she’s down in class on that and with even luck in running from a tricky gate she has a good chance to break through.

Dangers: 7. Fast Train smashed his rivals to win a maiden at Hawkesbury then wasn’t himself at Wyong when unplaced as a $1.55 favourite. He’s much better than that suggests and on a bit firmer surface he’s well worth another chance. 5. Semper Fidelis is enjoying a good preparation and she proved a little too good for stablemate 4. Plagiarist at Newcastle over a similar trip. Both horses are genuine chances here.

How to play it: Miss Shanti E/W ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Miss Shanti runs second to Savacool at Randwick on October 17

3. Kool Vinnie has a habit of being unlucky but this race might pan out well for him. There looks to be some speed and he’s drawn a soft barrier, it’s just a matter of holding him up and hoping he can get into the clear at the right time. He’s had two trials, not sure he’s a great trialler, and he performs well fresh.

Dangers: 11. Ferniehirst has been racing well and puts herself on the speed in her races. Too slick at Newcastle before a game effort in open company at Port Macquarie. She can give a good sight. 8. Arties Dreamwinner disappointed at Randwick after seemingly having her chance with the rider suspecting she didn’t stretch out in the Sydney direction. If that’s an issue for her then this won’t be a lot easier but a slight gear change might help. Worth the benefit of the doubt. 10. Budderoo Knight was competitive in this company three starts back and has since won at Kembla and placed at Moruya. He's led in those two starts and is sure to give a sight with the field falling away.

How to play it: Kool Vinnie E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Kool Vinnie’s latest trial at Newcastle on October 9

4. Sedition is as good a chance as any in a tough final event. He’s an honest sprinter who performed well fresh last time in and went on to win at Rosehill in May. Fitter for one trial where he finished close up and he’ll make his own luck in or near the lead. Each-way chance but sure to give a good sight.

Dangers: 8. Pierina was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday and she bears close watching here fresh. Looked good winning her first two runs last time in then failed on a heavy 9 at Randwick. She’s since had throat surgery so there’s likely an excuse there aside from the track. Recent trial winner and pay to keep safe. 10. Deft is a lightly raced mare who will excel when she gets out towards a mile but she can run a nice race fresh. Not beaten far behind some good trailers at Warwick Farm earlier this month and is in the mix. 6. Excellent Design pulled up with a cough when she failed behind Resin at Rosehill last month so there was an excuse for the big beaten margin. Beat a handy one prior to that and if she has any luck from the wide gate she can feature.

How to play it: Sedition E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Sedition’s trial at Warwick Farm on October 8

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