Only six races will be run and won and Canterbury on Wednesday.
Plenty of rain in the greater Sydney Metropolitan region recently has led to the Canterbury track being rated in the ‘heavy’ range, while the rail will be set out three metres around the entire course.
Brutality has stripped fitter for two starts back from a spell and is ready to win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The Shamus Award gelding flew home to only just miss when first-up at Newcastle and was last seen finishing a couple of lengths behind Irish Angel here at Canterbury.
Third-up and from the inside draw, he might not be offered a better opportunity to win in town.
2 Units Brutality
Oregon looks to be a horse of ability and can break his maiden at Canterbury this week.
The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained colt ran home well to fill the minors behind Concealed here on debut and was last seen finishing fourth over 1400m at Randwick.
Fitter third-up, I don’t think that the drop in trip will be an issue.
4 Units Oregon
This looks to be the hardest race that Tastebud has so-far contested, but she’s improved for two career starts and does loom as a live each-way chance of winning.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained filly finished midfield on debut at Randwick-Kensington and took up the running at Bathurst last time out, unlucky to just be pipped late.
She can go straight to the lead again on Wednesday and will give them something to chase.
1 Unit E/W Tastebud
Assault’n’Bathory has returned to competitive form and strikes a winnable city race on Wednesday.
The six-year-old son of Murtajill has been set for a series of Country Cups this campaign, finishing third in the Parkes Cup and second in a mile race at the Sapphire Coast most notably.
He’s rock-hard fit and will be steered by Nash Rawiller.
1 Unit E.W Assault’n’Bathory
Lancaster Bomber will take winning form into the fifth at Canterbury and can make it two in a row.
The Denman gelding has been a good horse for Richard Litt’s stable throughout his career and has clearly returned to the track in good condition this time, having won two of four starts.
He is a horse that typically performs far better with the sting out of the ground, he’s drawn ideally in barrier 5 and will get some relief in the weights with a claiming apprentice aboard.
2 Units E/W Lancaster Bomber
Lando Bay has gone to another level and will take plenty of beating in the last on Wednesday.
The Sebring gelding hasn’t missed a place in five starts back from a spell and has continued to improve with racing and as the bar has been raised – breaking his maiden at Wyong second-up and recording consecutive wins at Newcastle and Randwick most recently.
He looks to be at peak fitness for this race and can continue his rise through the grades.
4 Units Lando Bay