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By Neil Evans

The track is rated a Soft 7 with the rail in the True position.

The baby girls get first crack on an improving track and there are many chances. Loved the second of two trials from Choisir first starter 4. Santorini Sun ($13 on TAB) who sat back a long last but worked home strongly under a hold behind the flying In The Congo who rubber-stamped that trial by winning on debut.

Dangers: More Than Ready-sired 3. Neoma ($23) debuts in blinkers from a nice draw off two forward trials, the latest going back to last before making up plenty of ground pushed out into a place. Astern-sired 2. Divina ($2.60 favourite) returns for a second start. Travelled easily behind the speed in a recent trial, although didn't really pick up under late pressure. A daughter of American Pharoah, 1. Decisive Move ($3.50) held her ground on debut at the provincials and drew the inside. Improving More Than Ready youngster 6. Completion ($5) will appreciate the step up in trip after working home late at Kembla, while Pride Of Dubai-sired 7. Forzanini ($5.50) was only fair first-up in that same race at Kembla and can improve.

How to play it: Santorini Sun to win and first four 3,4/1,2,3,4,6,7/1,2,3,4,6,7/1,2,3,4,6,7
Odds and Evens: Split

Now for a tough baby boys' edition, with nearly all the field on debut. One of them, Written Tycoon colt 8. Penciled ($3.70) was impressive in a recent trial, trucking wide under a hold to win with plenty up his sleeve. Is out of an Exceed And Excel mare and looks a powerful performer in the making. Has drawn the inside.

Dangers: After a few stop-start trial preps, Vancouver colt 2. Cape Breton ($3.40 fav) faces the starter for the first time. Hasn't been knocked around at the trials and any improvement in the track is a plus. Capitalist gelding 11. Stick To Your Guns ($3.80) debuts off two progressive trials, winning the latest and draws to get lovely cover, while Epaulette gelding 12. Tuhinga ($9.50) also commences his career off two steady trials from a good draw.

How to play it: Penciled to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Convinced high-class provincial mare 1. Azarmin ($2.60 fav) can go right on with it here, after rounding them up easily in heavy ground at Warwick Farm. Has paid for that with a hefty weight rise, but the leading rider sticks and she's a superior wet tracker. Should have won a similar race here prior too when held up badly in the straight.

Dangers: Improving mare 4. Off Her Roca ($8) hit the line nicely resuming in a weaker grade and while this is a step up in class, she's already a second-up winner. Include in the exotics three-year-old fillies 6. Canadian Spice ($4.40) who drops to the limit weight from a soft draw and 8. Wild Irish ($6.50) who has found the line in three runs this prep and bred to thrive in soft ground.

How to play it: Azarmin to win
Odds and Evens: Split a special

Improving three-year-old 2. Fastconi ($4.40) is ready to win third-up after probably hitting the front too early last start when making a wide and sustained run from well before the turn behind a moderate tempo. Will again be forced back from the outside barrier, but less depth here and he's destined for bigger targets.

Dangers: Progressive gelding 1. Osamu ($3.70 fav) bypassed a race last week to run here, with winkers going on. After a string of career placings, broke through as a hot favourite at Newcastle and big weight has been off-set with a 1.5kg claimer aboard. Promising filly and stablemate to the top selection, 10. Comporta ($4.60) resumes from the inside gate off two progressive trials, while keeping safe another filly first-up off two trials, 9. Zou De Moon ($5) who ran Azarmin to a head on Boxing Day, and that mare is a huge chance in the previous race.

How to play it: Fastconi to win and box exacta 1,2,10
Odds and Evens: Split

The older horses do battle in an even and open affair over the same distance. Liked the way four-year-old 3. Ranges ($6) responded when challenged down the straight second-up at Newcastle. He's been kept on the fresher side since and sheds 2kg for this tougher test.

Dangers: Plenty of them. The record of 4. Derbari ($4.60 fav) doesn't do his ability justice and he had little luck resuming over a shorter trip in heavy ground. Boasts a 66% place rate from 15 starts and is bound to improve over more ground on a drying surface. Consistent four-year-old 2. O'Mudgee ($5) has only been out of a place once in his last four. Attacked the line late in both the Soldier's Saddle at Bathurst and the Country Cup at Scone, and only concern is dropping back in trip under a heftier weight. Include in exotics two four-year-old mares 1. Willowheart ($8) fourth-up and bottom weight 10. Chervil ($7) third-up.

How to play it: Ranges to win and box exacta 2,3,4
Odds and Evens: Split

Tough race with a stack of hopes. Capable five-year-old mare 7. Dream Maiden ($10) is well over the odds after hitting the line late in a similar race here three weeks ago. Sneaks further down in the weights after a 3kg claim and loves rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Ex-Kiwi staying five-year-old 5. Sir Aglowvale ($5) had little luck in his first Australian run off a lengthy break. Up sharply in weight from a wide gate, but this is weaker and getting closer to his preferred distance. Improving three-year-old 6. Vigorous Flow ($3.40 fav) comes back to town off three provincial runs, winning the middle one when leading all the way. Gets blinkers for the first time and a senior metro rider is back on. Keep safe 4. Raptures ($10) who was okay through the line in that same race as the top selection, while 10. Squanto ($6.50) will enjoy the longer journey fourth-up with some weight relief.

How to play it: Dream Maiden each-way and trifecta 5,6,7/4,5,6,7,10/4,5,6,7,10
Odds and Evens: Split

Improving four-year-old 5. Nyami ($2.40 fav) hit the line third-up at big odds in a handy BM 72 on the Kensington Track. Stays at the distance and at his best on soft ground.

Dangers: Dubbo eight-year-old 1. Magic Zariz ($5.50) comes to town off two strong closing country wins. Big weight offset with a 3kg claim and he has a 50% winning strike rate from 10 starts on soft ground.

How to play it: Nyami to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS
R2 8. PENCILED ($3.70)
R3 1. AZARMIN ($2.60)

BEST VALUE
R6 7. DREAM MAIDEN ($10)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Canterbury Park here