Australian racing tips – Friday 11 November 2022 – Canterbury Park

Best Bet: HUON (Race 7)
Value Bet: CHILKO LAKE (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00 

Race 5

AKASAWA completed his hat-trick when winning his last start over 1300M by 1.8L and was immediately rested for 47 weeks. He kicked clear of the field at the 200M mark that day to win going away. The gelding returns here after having had three barrier trials, finishing second in the latest and has a handy draw two, and having 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence suggests that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.

GAME THEORY showed plenty of toe when making marked improvement to finish up in second place last time out over six furlongs, just a short-head behind the winner. He was returning from a shorter 21-week rest that day and was friendless in the betting markets, but from one gate outside the top choice, he makes plenty of appeal.

POKERJACK has won two of his last four outings, the latest over six furlongs by half a length, despite coming four wide into the home straight. He, on the other hand, is drawn the widest of them all in gate ten, but on the plus side, he will get 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

Race 6

Although TOO MUCH CAVIAR is recorded as finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, he was just over three and a half lengths behind the winner, this after jumping awkwardly. The gelding was returning from a 25-week break that day and raced up with the pace. From gate six, he is likely to adopt the same tactics here.

MISSION PHOENIX has finished third twice in his last three outings and put his disappointing penultimate run over twelve furlongs in very heavy going firmly behind him when ending up 1.3L behind the winner over seven furlongs. He made good late progress that day, and from draw three and with 1.5kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

SHOHEI is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she followed up her penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a sixth-place finish last time out over the same sprint trip, just under four and a half lengths back from the winner, notwithstanding being slow away and having to be checked off the heels of other runners at the 1000M pole. She is drawn wide in gate nine, but will be having her peak run after returning from a 22 week absence and will have 3kgs claiming apprentice Zac Lloyd in the irons.

Race 7

The day’s best bet, HUON has won two of his last three starts and finished second in the other, with the latest victory coming over 1100M, albeit by just a short-head and in his five runs to date, he is yet to finish outside the top three. He was returning from a 19-week spell that day and raced wide without cover before his jockey dropped his crop at the 200M mark, and the form of that race has been franked. From a useful draw three, he could prove hard to topple.

AMORTAL has likewise won two of his last three outings, but finished third in the other, the latest win coming over six furlongs by two lengths. He has his first run since a 38-week absence but has had the three barrier trials, winning two and finishing second in the latest to showcase his well-being. The gelding faces a wide draw ten, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.

FIELDING is another who has won two of his last three runs, finishing fourth in the other. He jumped awkwardly and hit the front at the 250M mark in his latest victory over six furlongs and then held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He is drawn one outside the latter, but nevertheless, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

Two 4yr old fillies and a 5yr old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s value bet, CHILKO LAKE is taken to lead the field home. She had to be held up entering the home straight that day but produced a powerful finish to end up in third spot last time out over nine furlongs, failing by just a neck to overhaul the winner. She gets a cosy draw two and 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

LEFT REELING has won three of her last four starts, the latest over nine furlongs by a short-head, but she was bumped at the 600M mark and came three wide into the home stretch, so that effort was encouraging. She has pulled gate four and looks likely to turn in another honest performance today.

ALWAYS ON SHOW won her penultimate run over 1500M and then finished sixth last time out over a mile, 3.2L behind the winner, but she hung out on the home turn and came three wide into the home straight in that contest. She is drawn one inside the latter and should not be lightly dismissed.