Shuhood will take good improvement into her second campaign start and is ready to break her maiden at Canterbury on Friday. The I Am Invincible filly was settled off the pace when resuming at Warwick Farm and mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to run on for second; recording the best 800m-200m sections of the race. The small field will suit and she’ll have the bonus of Tim Clark in the saddle.
3 Units Shuhood
Space Is Deep has improved for two career starts and is ready to win at Canterbury this week. The Chris Waller-trained filly stamped herself as one to watch when she filled the minors at Wyong on debut and improved noticeably to finish less than a length second to Lady Legend last time out. She harbours further improvement and even stepping up in class, looks tough to beat.
2 Units Space Is Deep
Corncrake returned a pleasing effort in his Australian debut two weeks ago and looks primed to win the third at Canterbury tonight. The Mastercraftsman entire concluded his British tenure with three wins in succession and hit the line well to finish third over 1550m here at Canterbury. He’ll enjoy good improvement for that effort, the rise in trip and a likely rain-affected track. Jay Ford has options in transit from the rails draw and with even luck, this looks a lovely race for him.
3 Units Corncrake
This looks like being a race in two between the resuming Willowheart and impressive debut winner Phemonoe, and I am eager to have something on the latter at her current price ($5 at publish). Phemonoe showed ability at the trials prior to debut and franked that when she made light work of a field of maidens at this track and distance. This is obviously harder, but she looks to have plenty of upside and can continue her rise through the grades.
2 Units Phemonoe
Island Missile has stripped fitter for two starts since resuming and looks ready to do something third-up at Canterbury, at a lovely price ($11 at publish). The Smart Missile gelding worked home well but needed the run when fourth here at Canterbury, before another fair effort that was plagued with bad luck when he was caught wide at Warwick Farm last time out. The rise in trip should suit at this point of his preparation and Kerrin McEvoy stays in the saddle.
1 Unit E/W Island Missile
Missybeel is unlucky not to be chasing a hat-trick of wins when she steps out in the sixth at Canterbury on Friday but does look well placed for a return to winning form. The Savabeel mare didn’t show a lot when first-up for a spell but responded with a four-length win in BM70 company at Warwick Farm, before being pipped on the line in a tougher race at Randwick last time out. She looks ready to peak fourth-up and will be hard to run down.
4 Units Missybeel
He’s A Hotshot has been finding it difficult to return to winning form since resuming, but he also rarely runs a bad race and perhaps won’t be offered a better opportunity to strike in city company than he gets here. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has placed in four of his five starts since resuming and is on the seven-day back up from a credible third placing here last week. I’m happy to give him another chance at around the $4 mark.
2 Units He’s A Hotshot
I was trying to find something to beat race favourite Texas Forever on Friday, but I think that he has a class edge over the lion’s share of these and can win again. The Deep Field colt was a fair performer without setting the industry on fire during his debut prep and led throughout before recording a narrow win here when resuming. He’ll only improve for that effort and can go straight to the lead again tonight, with one of the country’s best pace jockeys in Tim Clark engaged to ride.
4 Units Texas Forever