Midweek racing returns to Canterbury on Wednesday, August 30th for a seven-race meeting and a few good betting races. For those looking, we also have Sandown Hillside betting tips for today here.
The track is currently a Good 3 with the rail out 3 meters, which should favour front-runners, but there is a slight bit of rain predicted so we may see that give the ground a bit of moisture.
Check out our racing tips for all seven races below!
Canterbury Racing Tips for Wednesday, August 30th
Best Value: Serious Hoffa (Race 3)
Best Bet: Malahat (Race 6)
Race 1
Good little race but with only seven runners there isn't much value in the prices. I'm very tentatively with HONG QIGONG, but again, the $2.90 isn't a price I'm very keen on. On debut he ran 2nd behind Pierata (who went on to be competitive in Group 1 and Group 2 company in Brisbane) and then failed behind Malahat. Resumes from a spell here and his trial was very nice, slicing through the field under no pressure to get up on the line. He'll go back from the draw, and the only concern I'd have is whether he's going to be sharp enough over 1100m or be better over a longer trip. FAEGER gets the blinkers on for the first time here for the Snowdens and comes out of two decent races this prep behind Beacon and Songlike. Can win. LIGHTZ steps back heavily in grade here and probably should be winning this on best form, but I just question whether the horse is going that well. The trials were good leading into the first up run but all the race day form we've seen this prep and last prep has been disappointing. If he were to bring his best he'd win. HIGH DIVE is first up for Waller/Bowman and is another obvious hope. Not a confident start to the day.
TIP: Hong Qigong
Race 2
Keen to be on the Snowden first-starter here, MARISHKA. Has had two recent trials leading into this which were both good, the last one of which she won. Raced up on speed in that latest trial so we should see her go forward from the good gate. The early price has been taken but $3.50 is still reasonable. Interestingly, Kerrin McEvoy rode her in both recent trials but instead rides WILD ABOUT HER for Waller here. Wild About her started huge odds on debut and didn't get the clearest of runs but still finished 4th, beaten 1.6L. I just struggle to take $4 here when she was $51 on debut. Bowman rides CADENCIA on debut for Waller so you'd think that is the stable elect. FIFTH AFFAIR has the most experience and most exposed form and at her best she would be competitive.
TIP: Marishka
Race 3
Terrible race in terms of quality but I think it's a decent betting race because there's two I'm pretty keen to back here. The first is FOUR CARAT for Waller. He's done absolutely zero so far this prep but he's sure to be at his peak now with four runs under his belt and gets a massive drop in class from Saturday horses to midweekers that have been competing at Newcastle and the likes. Has won over 2600m so really has no excuses over 2700m here from the inside gate with McEvoy on. Most of the other horses have been up forever, but he's only having his fifth start this prep so he's ready to peak. $5.50 is a good enough price for the class horse in the field. The second horse is SERIOUS HOFFA. All of his best form has been on good tracks, so if you take out his runs on soft tracks this prep, he actually looks fairly good on paper. His last two runs on good ground that have been over a suitable distance have been wins, and last start he carried 61kg on a soft track when 3rd behind NAPOLEAN. Down significantly in weight here and gets a small weight swing on Napolean, but the key is getting back on to good ground here. At $7 I'll be backing him. The firmer track doesn't suit RED DREAM.
TIP: Four Carat / Serious Hoffa EW (Best Value)
Race 4
Two horses I'm interested in here and backing both. Keen to take on the favourite TAIKOMOCHI, who has won his past two at Wyong and Gosford but steps up in class here. ESTIKHRAAJ won well over this track and distance four starts ago before running in some better races. Returned to the track and distance last start when held up for runs before getting clear at the 200m. Was checked late in the race and was only beaten one length, so should have gone close. Only goes up 1kg to 59kg here and from the inside barrier should get a good run. Happy with $5. TOKEN OF LOVE won in Canberra two starts ago before running 2nd over this track and distance behind Chatelard last start. That was Chatelard's third win from three starts, and he then came out on Saturday and ran 2nd to Alward, which I think is a very good form line for this. Draws well in barrier 2, carries 52.5kg after the claim and must rate a huge chance here at $6. Backing both Estikhraaj and Token Of Love.
TIP: Estikhraaj / Token Of Love EW
Race 5
Had this between NO PUSHOVER and NOTIO, who both finished alongside each other at their latest start behind the impressive Up 'N' Rolling. NO PUSHOVER started the campaign with two good wins at Muroya and Sapphire Coast, before running 3rd last start, while NOTIO has run 2nd in four of his last five starts. Notio raced keen throughout the run last start and took over the lead half way through the race, while No Pushover had a charmed run in 4th. He will get a similar run today from barrier 4, while Notio should be able to find a bit of cover from barrier 3 with a bit of speed on up front. Notio gets in 1kg better off at the weights today and comes through a very strong race from two starts ago behind Special Missile, who has now won five straight including two in Saturday grade. I think based on the effort last start, and the slight weight relief today, he goes in just ahead of No Pushover. I'll be backing him each way at the $6 mark and saving on No Pushover at $4.60. The early money has definitely been for No Pushover though. FORTENSKY has continued to run consistently well without winning. He gets weight relief today with the 3kg apprentice on board, but Magorrian doesn't win races and barrier 11 will make it tough. Waller's other runner is MIDNIGHT DELIGHT with Kerrin McEvoy on board. She broke her maiden last start at Newcastle and has had some support here, but I really think she'll need to improve to win this. Backing both No Pushover and Notio here but Notio each way the official play.
TIP: Notio EW
Race 6
I think this is MALAHAT's race but there's some good horses behind him! He resumed with a 3rd placing over 1100m at this track, beaten a nose, when settling a long way back and running home to just miss on the line. The extra 1000m really suits here, and his only win came over this track and distance. Bowman takes over which is a huge plus, and barrier 1 should see him sit much closer (he led when he won). Very keen. ROCKAFELLA resumed with a decent run behind Clear The Beach. Should have improved from that run and should be thereabouts. GAUGUIN is a talented horse that James Cummings had a big opinion of in his first prep. Resumes from a decent spell here but has had two recent trials behind some good horses leading into this. INTUERI looks well over the odds at $21. Has a win and three placings from five starts, and you just have to ignore his first up run when he was trapped wide the entire race before dropping back through the field. That was a decent race with Awoke and The Pharaoh involved, and he did beat Fragonard last prep. Trialled since, Avdulla takes over the draws well so could bounce back.
TIP: Malahat (Best Bet)
Race 7
Nice race to finish off. MISSILE CODA has won three from four and the one she lost she got too far back behind runners. They changed the tactics last start, sending her straight to the front and she ended up bolting in by over four lengths. She goes up in the weights now and carries 59kg here, and while I think she's pretty good, I think that may be too big a task for her. REGIMEN is two from two and actually won over the same track and distance as Missile Coda last start in a different race on the same day. Her time was 1:13.40 compared to Missile Coda's 1:13.27, so Missile Coda ran the quicker time clearly. But Missile Coda rises 3kg here, Regimen drops 2.5kg, so there's a 5.5kg weight turnaround. WOuld rather take the $4.20 for Regimen than the $2.50 for Missile Coda. PRINCESS POSH looks a nice chance. Resumed with a good run behind Cudabeen when she had a few excuses. Only got clear at the 200m mark and chased well to get within 1.5L. Won her only second up start previously and draws well so at $8 she could be a value chance. The other value chance is DEVOLVING at $15. Finished 3rd behind Regimen and drops 5.5kg from that race. SEXY EYES and HIGH LOW BET two Waller runners to keep safe.
TIP: Regimen / Princess Posh EW
_ _ _
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
