Latest News

By Ray Hickson

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

7. Papal Warrior debuted with a solid effort on a soft track in February at 1200m and has looked the goods in his two trials leading into a return. Has the outside gate to contend with but with even luck he should take plenty of beating.

Dangers: 2. Frosty Rocks showed good speed to lead his latest trial and kicked clear for an impressive win. Expect he’ll be on the pace here, bred to handle the wet and if he runs up to his trial then he’s a threat. 1. Exceed The Stars has been hard in the market at all three starts and performed fairly but he’s back as a gelding so that could change things. Two trials, the latest a quiet one before being allowed to run home late. He’ll be more prominent from the good gate and has to be respected. 4. Mercury trialled very well before failing as a well supported favourite a few weeks back where he looked to have few if any excuses. Again trialled well so worth one more chance but you’re entitled to better odds than first-up.

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

Papal Warrior wins a trial at Rosehill on June 7

12. Mini Boom backs up from a solid second at Warwick Farm last week where she didn’t get things her way and was left a sitting shot for the winner. Held the rest comfortably, has the blinkers on here and she’ll take running down.

Dangers: 5. Egyptian Missile has settled back and run on nicely in both starts in solid form races and kept ticking over with a trial win at Rosehill two weeks ago. Blinkers on, not sure where she gets to in the run from the outside gate but she’s well worth respecting. 1. Aquitaine had support on debut and tried hard when runner-up here two weeks ago in a blanket finish. Protested unsuccessfully against the winner there. Will need luck from the wide gate but if she gets it she’ll go close. 4. Earth Song was one of the better runs behind the placings in the same race, she settled back and wide with cover but hit the line well beaten less than a length. No surprise to see her improve from that.

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

Mini Boom runs second at Warwick Farm on June 12

1. Matowi has unappealing form on face value but he’s had no luck at all at his last two, particularly last time where he was sure to be in the finish but wound up ninth. He’s drawn well, should be okay in the wet and if he gets any luck this time has a good chance to break through.

Dangers: 11. Milunka was a bit too good as a $1.18 favourite two weeks ago beating an average field after being held up for a run. Form through her first-up run is also so-so but she’s a filly on the up with a light weight and a good gate so she will have every chance to make the grade. 2. Pop Girl backs up after getting the job done over a mile last week at Warwick Farm and it was an effort that suggested she should be fine with the extra trip. Must be considered. 4. Guise brings some Brisbane form back to Sydney and he’s done nothing wrong up there in five starts including his three wins being on wet tracks. Beaten as an odds-on favourite at Ipswich last time so it’ll be interesting to see how the form measures up.

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

Take a look at the stewards vision of Matowi’s last run at Randwick on June 10

D-Day for 7. Austria who has been costly at her last couple of starts but with the blinkers on the stable’s getting serious. Well ridden from the back into a close third over this course two weeks back and the form has held up nicely. Less depth here and she’s entitled to go close.

Dangers: 1. Sonaree steps up to the 1900m after a couple of solid efforts here in the past month. No match for the winner late last time over 1550m but he’s an on pacer in top form and is sure to give a good account again. 2. Balmain Boy battled away okay in the same race as Sonaree at his second run back and he’s proven over this course on a wet track. Finds it hard to win them but will be thereabouts as usual. 3. Dylan’s Romance gave nothing else a chance leading all the way at Gosford last week and given he likes it wet he has to be thrown in the mix. If they forget about him up front he can take catching.

How to play it: Austria WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Austria runs third at Canterbury on June 4

4. Aim For Perfection is arguably the most promising horse racing all day and she’s looked very smart in her two wins at Newcastle. Sat back and swooped on debut then controlled from outside the leader last time. She was strong late running 11.61 for her last 200m (Punter's Intelligence). Bred to handle the wet and she looks to have some quality. Read trainer Mark Newnham's comments here.

Dangers: 1. Echo Gem is the likely leader as she did when too slick over this course two weeks ago. If they leave her along she’ll be hard to catch but this looks a bit harder and she’s up 2kg. 10. Chilled Rose blew the start by five lengths and was beaten two at Gosford last start as a short priced favourite. Likely should have won that, if she gets away with them she’s shown enough to suggest she shouldn’t be overlooked. 7. Misteed has a Canterbury heavy track win to her name but any improvement would be in her favour. Trialling up okay though probably fair to say she's yet to live up to expectation. Each-way.

How to play it: Aim For Perfection WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Aim For Perfection wins at Newcastle on June 8

3. Above And Beyond comes back in class on his last couple, he had no luck two runs back then an even run behind England at Rosehill. Drawn to get a nice run off what looks a good tempo and he’s entitled to be in the finish somewhere if that occurs.

Dangers: 8. Accelerato showed improvement second-up when well supported and arrives here with the blinkers on. Wet track form for previous stable was handy and he might be set to peak here. 5. Embracer backs up after finishing a close third at Warwick Farm last week after leading. Stacking them up didn’t seem to work there so perhaps he’ll run along a bit. Has to be included in the chances. 2. Rafha’s Choice is impossible to leave out though he will need the breaks from the wide alley given he generally races in the first few. Up 2kg on that dominant win last time and he loves it wet too. 4. Bravissimo is worth a mention too, missed the start behind Rafha’s Choice and charged late to run third.

How to play it: Above And Beyond E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Above And Beyond’s last start fifth at Rosehill on June 1

One for the brave here with 8. Plenty in a very suitable race if he can settle in the run. Amazing performance last start after going too hard again in front to be beaten less than a length by a couple of handy types. There are some ‘ifs’ involved, but if he does everything right he’ll take beating.

Dangers: 9. Travancore has put two honest runs together for the new stable and we know he is good enough on his best to be competitive in midweek company. He should get a nice soft run and if they’re overdoing it up front he could be the swooper. 10. Weekend Affair hit the line well into second behind Rafha’s Choice when resuming and might have a similar scenario here from an inside gate. Handles the wet okay and while he doesn’t win out of turn he can show up. 6. Guipure worked through the field and ran on okay behind Be Mindful over this course two weeks ago. She’s been doing that all prep so far and would be aided by a generous speed up front. Each-way.

How to play it: Plenty WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Plenty holds on for fourth at Randwick on June 10

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