Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Canterbury on Wednesday, June 5th.
There's seven races on today's card, with the track rated a Soft 6 and the rail out 6m. There is more rain predicted so monitor track conditions.
We've previewed the entire meeting, with tips and comments for every race below.
Canterbury Racing Tips: Wednesday, June 5th
Best Bet: Race 3 - (10) Funstar
Best Value Bet: Race 4 - (5) Captain Mannering to place $21
Race 1
Looks a win here for (1) Milunka, who was narrowly defeated first up over 1400m at Warwick Farm. She'd only had one trial leading into that race so she's sure to have come on from that fitness-wise, especially given she tackled the 1400m straight away. Up in trip, drawn the inside and gets winkers on for the first time. $1.50 is well and truly short enough but it's hard to see her getting beat.
Race 2
Competitive race. (1) Blazing Miss should find the front here, just as she did first up when run down late at Wyong. Much better suited here at Canterbury with the short straight. The form out of her first up race looks very solid with the winner being Exceedence, who could be anything. She meets (2) Shielded again, who finished in front of her at Wyong, but she's clearly the better suited of the two today given Shielded draws barrier 12 and will get a long way back. Despite all that, I've gone with (5) L'cosmo on top. She ran 2nd to Maddi Rocks first up over 1250m here. The drop back to 1100m is some sort of query but she's drawn well in barrier 2 and should get the sit on the leaders' heels. JMac is booked for (12) Zouriana and is riding at 54.5kg so I wouldn't be letting her go around at $5.50 without something on. She's first up from a 14-week break and hasn't had any public trials, which is strange from the Waller camp. Last time we saw her, she was a well-backed favourite in a similar race. I expect her to be firm in the market and a strong winning chance from the barrier.
Race 3
Only two I'm interested in here. (10) Funstar quite clearly goes on top. She's entered for two races today but she's likely to run here. She's had three trials leading into her debut today and all three have been very nice. Robbie Dolan takes 2kg off so she gets in very light with 52kg. Drawn a touch awkwardly in barrier 8 but I doubt that will matter. With even luck she looks the winner. The only danger I see to her, and the value in the race, is (6) Skyann at $8.50. She raced twice in November last year and was very well backed on both occasions. On debut she was $3.40 into $3.10 and then at her second run she was $6.00 into $4.20. Both of those were similar races to today's. Obviously she has some ability and typical of this stable, they've been very patient with her. She's trialled well enough leading into this to suggest she can run a good race. Wouldn't be letting her go around at that price, at least as a saver.
Race 4
Not overly keen to bet up here but (3) Loveisili goes on top. I don't normally rate Newcastle or Hawkesbury form when horses make the jump to metro class, but this is a European import with just two Australian starts under the belt and has plenty of room to improve. The drop back from 2100m to 1900m is another little query, but there's not a great deal that stands out to beat him. (11) Austria is an interesting runner. She's a former Kiwi that's now had three starts in Australia. She was a firm $2.50 favourite last start but could only manage 4th. She'll get a fair way back from barrier 13 and she just might not be very good, but the one thing that saves her from being completely sacked is the fact she steps up from 1550m to 1900m today. It could just be that she needs more ground and if that's the case, she gets her chance to win today. (7) Mellors has placed in eight of his 10 career starts and both career wins have come this prep, prior to a big run in defeat last start. He was trapped three-wide without cover with 60.5kg and still went down in a head-bobbing finish, so he's clearly found out how to win. He'll roll forward from the wide gate and the stable have four winners from 12 runners at Canterbury this season. Respect him. (1) Keep Up can show some sharp improvement second up. The complete blowout is the rank outsider (5) Captain Mannering at $101. His run wasn't too bad in the Nowra Cup last start and he's placed in five of his six starts when third up from a spell. At $21 to place, he's not the worst bet.
Value: (5) Captain Mannering to place $21
Race 5
Another tricky little race with several hopes but few standouts. (4) I'm A Legend has found out how to win this prep, with two wins from as many starts after placing in seven of his nine previous starts. His two wins were at Goulburn and Wyong but he's performed at this level in the past, so he's not completely devoid of metropolitan form. In fact, he's placed in all three runs here at Canterbury. (3) Rafha's Choice was luckless in defeat at this track and distance last start, trapped five-wide without cover throughout. He was beaten just 0.4L despite that, and hsi two runs prior to that were both good, so he's clearly returned in good order. He looms as a big danger. (9) Bentley Magic is another that's returned in good order and should be peaking third up, but he'll get a long way back from barrier 10 and may not be suited. (12) The Patrician could turn its form around. He's never won from 18 starts on good ground but has two wins and five placings from nine starts on wet ground. Gets blinkers reapplied today too so $34 could be a big price. JMac gets on (1) Generalissimo, who was another that was luckless in the same race as Rafha's Choice here at this track and distance last start. Drawn well but carries 61.5kg and has never won from eight starts at this distance, so I'll take him on.
Race 6
(11) Licko'paint was dominant in breaking her maiden first up last prep in Melbourne and she returns to the races having trialled well at Rosehill recently. She should go forward from the barrier and take up a position on speed, and this stable have had four winners from 12 runners at Canterbury this season. This is their best track in Sydney by a margin, so I'll back her to get the job done here. (3) Tycoon Street is a value chance. She was a good winner first up and comes into this second up. Second up last prep she won by more than four lengths. Granted, it was at Tuncurry, but she was competitive in midweek metro company after that so she's shown enough to warrant consideration here. (6) Echo Gem should lead and you can forgive her for her failure last start when caught wide without cover on the speed. She was well backed to win that race so if you backed her that day, you probably should consider sticking with her at double figure odds today. (7) Walk The Runway draws well and comes out of a strong form race behind Gododdin. She's done nothing wrong in three starts to date so she rates highly. (8) Amorita hasn't had much luck lately and can go well.
Race 7
I really can't see much challenging the two favourites here. (4) Sonaree was very tough when winning over this track and distance last start. He sat three-wide without cover on the speed and fought on tenaciously in the straight, despite stumbling at the 200m. He goes up in weight today and draws wide, but he might be able to slide across and take up a spot outside the leader. There's no reason he can't go very close again today. (8) Guipure is third up and should be ready to fire. McDonald has stuck with her all prep so there must be a reason he's not jumped off, and her last start was encouraging. Should be ready to win today. Perhaps (12) McMahon could be the value, coming off a first up win at Hawkesbury. McEvoy takes the ride and the wet ground won't worry him.
