Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail out 3m:

The first evening meeting of the year kicks off with a very competitive two-year-old sprint on a surface likely just into soft range. Among a vast majority of first starters, Written Tycoon filly 7. Mrs Maree starts with a key gear addition behind two winning trials, the latest in Soft 6 going for the Clarry Conners stable. Likely to settle just off the speed and off the fence before unleashing from the 350m.

Dangers: With a solid close-up run under her belt, 3. Miss Piera will be hard to hold out, although wouldn't be diving into anything too short with that debut on a Heavy 9. Watch the betting closely on debutant filly 6. Good Sort by Tassort who has been fitted with two comfortable trials for the Chris Waller yard; while well-bred Godolphin filly 10. Voile has been freshened via a forward trial for her second start; and Russian Revolution filly 4. Bronco Revolution looks the best of the long-shots from the inside draw

How to play it: Mrs Maree to win

Very challenging and open sprint here for the fillies, but good value around another first starter in 3. Fickle by prolific I Am Invincible for the Snowden stable. Been kept fresh after progressing into a strong second trial, winning with something in hand after tracking the speed over 1050m.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with the Chris Waller-trained Capitalist-sired 6. Speed Personified who opens her career behind two encouraging trials, and purported to have plenty of ability. Include Godolphin-based 5. Setombe, who draws wide on debut, but is bred for speed by Harry Angel, and looked sharp enough winning a recent trial in soft ground. The Waterhouse-Bott trained 7. Tycoon Deshauna by Written Tycoon debuts behind two wInning trials, and heads the rest.

How to play it: Fickle to win

More likely to go this maiden, 10. Yvette is well placed to break through at her second start. Was backed from $3.40 into $2.60 when closing off late on debut, and should find an ideal trail just behind the speed here.

Dangers: Keep safe Per Incanto four-year-old 1. Magic Leprechaun on debut for the Michael Freedman stable behind two very progressive trials. Lightly raced mare 9. Decisively is first-up off two trials; while 6. Ausbred Mimosa second-up can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Yvette to win

Now the older mares lock horns, and it stacks up ideally for talented country six-year-old 2. Molly Nails back in grade fifth-up, with winkers going on. Found the line late in consecutive runs at Rosehill before settling further back and hitting the line hard in a deeper race at `Randwick. Senior metro jockey hops aboard, and is drawn to get plenty of cover off speed. The clear one to beat.

Dangers: Drawn the fence, and hard fit deep into the prep, honest 3. Look Only was beaten under a length here in similar company three weeks ago, and can run the quinella. Lightly raced 1. Edna resuming with a 3kg claim behind a forward trial; and 6. Wolves second-up; can fight for the minor money.

How to play it: Molly Nails to win

Out of a much longer journey here, and no reason why progressive provincial-based 1. Roma Avenue can't make it three on the bounce stepping up in grade. Handled the rise to a conditional BM 68 at hawkesbury with ease, leading all the way to score by a space, and carries only 1kg more here from the same low draw on a course that should serve even better. Thrives on any rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Consistent 2. Edmond rises in trip fourth-up, and shapes over the odds early fourth-up, with top rider taking over. Hard to believe tough on-speeder 5. Monarchs Brae opened near double figure odds after consecutive wins here in BM 72 company, although does shoot up in weight. Include 4. Heika off a dominant country BM 74 win; and 7. The Englishman who is drawn better second-up off a five week break; when playing the trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Roma Avenue to win

Generally tactical and tempo-related battles over this distance. Confident lightly raced and progressive filly 6. Bangetta can make it three wins from her last four for the Kris Lees yard. Was freshened up before sweeping home to easily win a handy CL1 at Scone, and while this is tougher, she's still on an upward curve, and suited from a midfield trail over 150m further.

Dangers: Naturally, promising filly 8. Mare Of Mt Buller is a big threat from a low draw after defying a betting drift to charge home & claim a handy provincial Super Maiden at her first run in NSW. Track the betting on progressive and talented 4. Cirebon who finished strong to claim a country BM 66 second-up; while 5. Gold Pattern fourth-up; and 1. Star Impact third-up; are both each way value.

How to play it: Bangetta to win

Even trickier affair here over the same trip, and like the set-up for improving mare 8. Sophia's Magic second-up. Worked home okay in a smarter race when resuming on Boxing Day, drops 2kg for this, and a superior jockey takes over.

Dangers: Back in grade and with blinkers added, 3. Taraashoq is right in the race fourth-up from a handy trailing draw; so too is well-bred stallion 4. The Big Short who drew the inside third-up with gear changes off a long break; while 6. Black Duke deep into the prep can run into the money.

How to play it: Sophia's Magic to win

Keen at the value on resuming mare 9. Wingardium having her first run for the Bjorn Baker stable since mid July. Fitted with two easy trials, drawn to get cover just off speed, loves soft ground, and blinkers coming off is a strong stable sign.

Dangers: Another one resuming 12. Dakota Vroom has also trialled quietly, and boasts a smart fresh record. Both 1. Oxford Vision fourth-up with a 3kg claim off-setting the big weight; and good strike rate mare 3. Amnesty dropping in grade second-up; are over the odds and represent value.

How to play it: Wingardium each way

BEST BETS:
R3 10. YVETTE
R4 2. MOLLY NAILS

BEST VALUE:
R2 3. FICKLE

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