Seven of the best will be run and won at Sydney’s Canterbury Racecourse this Wednesday, August 5th.
I’ve run the rule over the program to provide my complete Canterbury preview and best bets below.
PHANTOM MAJOR is second up and primed to strike at Canterbury.
The Snitzel entire showed promise at the trials prior to debuting and couldn’t have done a lot more without winning at Newcastle last month.
With natural improvement this week, Chris Waller and James McDonald can combine for yet another victory.
| 2. Phantom Major (6) J: James McDonald 59.5kg 2T: Chris Waller |
GLISSANDO takes winning form into another nice race at Canterbury.
Having performed fairly without threatening on debut at Randwick-Kensington last month, Glissando took plenty of improvement into a dominant win at Kembla Grange most recently.
This is harder, but she has plenty of upside and is another boosted by the booking of James McDonald this week.
| 7. Glissando (1) J: James McDonald 58kg 51T: Chris Waller |
GAMBLER is third up into an open race at Canterbury.
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding was too bad to be true in his first run back from a break but enjoyed plenty of improvement into a far better performance in BM64 company last time out, finishing on the placegetters’ heels.
With a case to be made for many of them in this field, he’s one that appeals at each way odds and has options in the run this week from the rails draw.
| 2. Gambler (1) J: Regan Bayliss 61kg 17×04T: Peter Snowden |
Matt Smith holds a strong hand in this contest, headlined by odds-on favourite AETHELWULF.
Aethelwulf has won two of three starts back this time, including a near seven-length romp at Kembla Grange last time out.
He’s a fitting favourite and I think he’ll win, but I’m going to pump up my odds with one of Smith’s other gallopers, SCALEXTRICS, running into the first three.
Scalextrics has improved with racing recently, culminating in a tough victory over 1580m here last time out.
In peak order this week, he looks well placed getting further out in trip.
Same Race Multi selections:
- 6 Aethelwulf (Win)
- 4 Scalextrics (Top 3)
| 6. Aethelwulf (6) J: Zac Lloyd 58kg 2×151T: Matthew Smith |
STUBBORN EMMELIE resumes in an open race at Canterbury this week.
We haven’t seen the daughter of Hellbent at the races since April, but she turned in some fine performances during her debut prep, breaking her maiden before a tough run at Hawkesbury saw curtains drawn on her campaign.
Having had the benefit of a trial ahead of this week’s return, she gets into the race well in a low draw and we can have an each way play at the quote.
| 14. Stubborn Emmelie (3) J: Tom Sherry 58kg 219xT: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | |||
| Resuming. Not seen since she finished last of 9 at Hawkesbury 3yo Bm64 April 8 over 1100m, 11 len behind La Basilique carrying 56.5kg at $26. On debut second in a small field at Wyong 3yo Mdn February 21 over 1000m, 1.1 len behind Premium carrying 57kg at $2.10. Should be ready to run well. | |||
SNACK BAR is the class engaged in the penultimate race at Canterbury on Wednesday.
While yet to strike in four runs back from a break, Snack Bar has only just been denied in stronger races at Rosehill at his last two starts, finding form around some strong opposition in the process.
In peak order today, he need only hold his form to take a power of beating in something like this.
| 1. Snack Bar (1) J: James McDonald 61.5kg x5032T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run came from midfield; 2nd of 10 at Rosehill Cg&E Bm78 on July 18 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 0.5 len behind Columbia Blue carrying 57kg at $4.60. The start before that made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 13 at Rosehill Bm78 on June 27 over 1200m, slow going 1.5 len behind Ready To Shine with 57kg at $12. Has lost most of his friends but can redeem himself back in midweek company. | |||
I’m happy to give SISTER DAAE another chance in the last at Canterbury this week.
Sister Daae hasn’t won a race this time in, but she also hasn’t been far away on any occasion and was last seen finishing off well to place behind Satono Jasmine at Warwick Farm.
The form has been franked, Sister Daae is down in the weights, and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
| 11. Sister Daae (6) J: Tommy Berry 55.5kg 42533T: Chris Waller | |||
| At the latest run ran on strongly from last on the turn; 3rd of 10 at Warwick Farm F&M Bm72 on July 15 over 1600m, 1.75 len behind Satono Jasmine with 57.5kg at $11. The race before that came home strongly from last on the turn; 3rd of 7 at Randwick Kensington 3&4yo Bm64 on July 1 over 1550m, on heavy track; 1.4 len behind Ballpark with 59.5kg at $6. Good enough to win if she puts it all together. | |||