Track likely soft 5 and rail out 3m, so again expected fairly on-pace before levelling out late.
RACE 1 – 6.15PM: TAB VENUE MODE HANDICAP (1100m)
Kicking off with the youngsters, and it shapes as an intriguing battle. Godolphin colt and former Victorian 1. Jerle had a testing first run in Sydney battling on after leading in the heavy at Warwick Farm, but that was a handy pointer for this, and back on firmer footing will be hard to beat from the inside draw. Was close up in two black-type sprints at Flemington in spring.
Friday evening is the final night racing meeting at Canterbury until next summer.Credit:AAP
Dangers: Randwick filly 2. Dubai Star resumes for the Waterhouse-Bott stable, and is the one with superior potential after two smart efforts late last year. Was less than two lengths off Hanseatic on debut in listed grade, but first time on this track from a tricky draw will be a test. Expect Chris Waller-trained colt 3. Castlecomer to improve on firmer footing at only third start after outclassed in a group 3 at Caulfield, and finished off well in a trial with a gap back to the third horse while another filly resuming from two runs in spring, Snowden-trained 6. Close To Me, has looked forward enough in two trials, and gets the blinkers on.
How to play it: Jerle to win and box trifecta 1,2,3,6.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 2 – 6.45PM: VINERY YEARLINGS HANDICAP (1200m)
Now the three-year-olds’ turn over slightly longer trip, and it’s a good quality contest. The Freedman-trained filly 4. Juan Diva can grab a second win at only her fourth start. Careered away to win her maiden second-up before sticking on strong here on a heavy 9. Should get a nice trail just off the speed, and seemingly has more scope than the rest.
Dangers: Watch the betting closely on resuming Warwick Farm filly 7. Steel Diamond who hasn’t started since well beaten in the group 2 Silver Shadow last August, but two recent trials in strong company have been good. Rival Farm colt 1. Quiet Riot is drawn to be in the finish again after a strong debut win before battling on in a BM64 here two weeks back that aided those on the speed. Better ground this time is a plus. Randwick colt 3. Warfare has found the line well in last two at BM64 level, although a little disappointing last time after a charmed run. Back to own age, and again drawn to get a soft run behind the speed. Kembla filly 6. Electric Girl won her maiden on the Kensington track two runs back before no match for the star fillies in the group 2 Light Fingers, but this is obviously a big drop in class.
How to play it: Juan Diva to win and first four 1,4,7/1,3,4,6,7/1,3,4,6,7/1,3,4,6,7.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 3 – 7.15PM: LONHRO @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1550m)
Competitive race over that renowned tactical distance, and it’s rewind time on the quick back-up for five-year-old mare and perennial bridesmaid 8. Austria who was a certainty beat here over the same trip last Friday night when bailed up behind the leaders all the way down the straight, and only got out when they were virtually on the line. Again looks beautifully placed from the inside draw, and more aggressive rider back on is a big plus.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old Rosehill gelding and ex-UK stayer 2. Yonkers relished the heavy track and inside draw resuming here three weeks ago. Firmer track, wider draw, and up in weight all combine to bring him back to the field, although won second-up in first Australian prep last spring. Progressive three-year-old gelding 4. Olympic Legend controlled the race and won accordingly on the Kensington track at only third start, but getting the on-speed favours here will be tougher from a wider draw.
How to play it: Austria to win.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 4 – 7.45PM: THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1900m)
Wide open affair with plenty of chances, but well-bred Waller-trained colt 2. Impactful looks headed for bigger prizes after a terrific maiden win here at only his second start a fortnight ago powering home completely against the pattern. Will be forced a long way back from wide barrier again, but extra distance looks ideal. Is by Japanese super sire Deep Impact out of Lucky Racquie who won the 2014 Black Opal in Canberra.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old Newcastle gelding 7. Bedivere is working towards another win, and looks suited here fourth-up. Finished hard in a class 2 at Kembla before working home OK this track a fortnight ago when winning from well off the speed was extremely tough. Will also go back from a wide draw, but should be right at his peak. Progressive three-year-old filly 9. Off Her Roca takes on stronger after winning her last two at Goulburn in tidy fashion, and draws to find a good spot. Randwick gelding 1. Frenzied can figure fourth-up, although looks harshly treated under 61kg for a horse whose only win in more than nine months was the Bong Bong Cup. Three-year-old filly 10. Happy Candy from the Mark Newnham stable also faces a tougher test after dominant maiden win and close-up in a class 1 at the provincials, with form apprentice taking 1.5kg off.
How to play it: Impactful and Bedivere both to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 5 – 8.15PM: PHIL GILBERT KIA HANDICAP (1900m)
While the more seasoned gallopers do battle over the same trip, ironically the least experienced and lone three-year-old in the field looks to have their measure on ability alone. John O’Shea-trained gelding 6. Opacity charged home to win his maiden at Gosford before an effortless win in a BM64 when well backed. Still on the up, and draws to get a lovely run in behind. The one to beat.
Dangers: Wyong gelding 3. Seeingisbelieving didn’t run on in the heavy at Warwick Farm last start, but previous form in deeper company was sound. Drawn right off the track, but stable is starting to hit its straps again. Four-year-old gelding 4. Power Lift has swept home to win his last two convincingly in weaker grade, but is up to this class and draws to do little work in behind the speed. Warwick Farm six-year-old 1. Impavado is better than his strike rate suggests and has been freshened up with a trial after a nice closing run in the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast.
How to play it: Opacity to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 8.45PM: MIRVAC HANDICAP (1250m)
Another competitive and open sprint, with a few good ones returning on a path to bigger and longer races. Very keen to see what five-year-old Newcastle gelding 2. Juventus can do first-up off a nice trial. At best over the middle distance, but two of four career wins have come fresh and draws to get a a nice run. Looks way over the odds.
Dangers: Godolphin colt 11. Knickpoint can rebound big here second-up down in weight. Just couldn't produce the big finish from a tougher draw resuming in the heavy as a hot favourite at Warwick Farm. Plenty of eyes on the four-year-old Waterhouse-Bott mare 5. The Art Of The Bar who returns after more than a year off the scene, but two strong recent trials indicates she won’t take long to recapture the form that saw her win three straight late in 2018. Warwick Farm gelding 1. Dio D’oro has been good in four runs this prep against some smart opposition, winning two back this track, but best form is clearly on the heavy and he draws very wide. Trainer has removed the blinkers.
How to play it: Juventus each-way and box trifecta 1,2,5,11.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 7 – 9.15PM: KIA SPRINT SERIES FINAL (1100m)
Strong feature race of the night, with plenty of hopes. Smart four-year-old Rosehill gelding 7. Perigord is asked to step up again, but he’s in terrific form and represents great value. Raced closer than normal when finishing too well at Gosford before charging late to win a BM72 on the heavy here running down Buckin’ Beauty who then won in mares’ company last week.
Dangers: Another talented and emerging three-year-old from the O’Shea yard, 9. Intrepidacious, will be tough to beat over this distance from a useful draw. Missed by a long head resuming this track off a long break, and even stronger second-up off a recent trial win. Lightly raced seven-year-old Gosford mare 1. It’s So Obvious may need the run first-up, but she has a smart fresh record, trialled well in open company, and did win her only previous start on this track; while tough Wyong mare 4. Buckin' Beauty defied all the challengers leading all the way here seven days ago, and will try to dictate from the inside again, but this is harder.
How to play it: Perigord each-way and quinella 7 and 9.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
RACE 8 – 9.45PM: SKY RACING ACTIVE HANDICAP (1200m)
The girls wrap up the meeting in a good quality and wide open sprint. Big fan of emerging three-year-old Hawkes-trained filly 12. Valdostana who strolled up to win a BM64 here two weeks back, but couldn’t finish off in ground that heavily favoured those on the inside. This is a tougher test, but she has real carnival potential.
Dangers: Lightly-raced filly 4. Saas Fee resumes off a two-month break and sharp trial for the Gerald Ryan stable. Made great progress in her first real prep, beaten just over a length in the group 3 Belle Of The Turf, and if she can find some early cover from a wide barrier will be storming home. Smart Warwick Farm filly 9. Turnstyle will need the outside to hold up late in the night drawn right off the track and up significantly in weight. Resumed with a dominant BM64 win before no match for Rubisaki who is top class. Needs obvious luck, but no doubting she has the ability. Another three-year-old filly returning from a good spring prep is Waterhouse-Bott trained 7. Dorothy Of Oz who has been fitted with two trials, and won first-up at Hawkesbury last time in.
How to play it: Valdostana to win and box trifecta 4,7,9,12.
Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS
R3 8. AUSTRIA
R5 6. OPACITY
Tips supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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