I’ve come up with a mixed bag of tips for Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting where I’m keen on a short one, pre-empting a return to form by a mare I think’s best is better than midweek grade and one at big odds I believe is a horse going places.
COCOEXCEL (Canterbury Race 2 No 2)
This daughter of Exceed And Excel somewhat lost her way after an encouraging start to her career last year. She won on debut beating handy fillies Savvan and Red Hearts before the stable strangely stepped her up from 1100 to 1400m for her second start and she was beaten a fair way from home. They then freshened her and she finished a close second to the handy Suspenders before spelling. Last prep she copped a few heavy tracks early in the campaign and was only plain before striking a blow at Kembla in May. She returns again on Wednesday and was jogging along in a recent trial. I think she’s a fast sprinter and the 1100m here is right up her alley. She’ll race on the speed and give them something to catch.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5 @ CrownBet, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, Luxbet, William Hill, PalmerBet, Unibet
IN TIMES OF WAR (Canterbury Race 5 No 4)
Saturday class, maybe even a bit higher, sprinting mare resuming from a spell that looks well placed on Wednesday. The rail is out 6m and with a firm track it’s fair to expect the on-pacers to be favoured. In Times Of War last prep resumed with a close second to Miss Debutante, who at her next run scored an easy win in the Scone 3YO fillies Listed race in May. In Times Of War then progressed and was a close-up second behind Bonny O’reilly before winning a Saturday benchmark 76 against her own sex. She goes forward and either leads or tags the speed and her trials indicate she’s back as good as she left off last prep which should be good enough for this.
BET: WIN
ODDS $2.60 @ Ladbrokes
EERISED (Canterbury Race 8 No 6)
I have a bit of time for this progressive stayer but I will concede I’d prefer him at a bigger track. In saying that he’s the right odds to be having a crack and I’ve no doubt he’s got as much, if not more ability than this lot. Last prep he was doing plenty wrong but showed what he was capable of when fourth behind Mongolian Wolf in the Frank Packer Plate. This prep he worked home gamely first-up in a slowly run race then found the dead ends last time out in a 1600m race at Warwick Farm. Now gets to a suitable trip and they look like they’ll roll along which will suit him. If he gets the breaks from the 500m, he’ll be charging.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $19 @ Bet365
