Australian racing tips – Wednesday 20 April 2022 – Canterbury Park

Best Bet: HAMERON (Race 6)

Value Bet: ARRANMORE (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R54.00  

Race 5

ZA CEIBAS jumped awkwardly and came four wide into the home straight before hitting the front at the 200M mark to put three lengths between himself and the opposition to win last time out over 1500M. He was returning from an 18 week break that day and whilst drawn wideish in gate eight, he looks to be the one to side with here.

THIS’LLBETHEONE missed out on his hat-trick after victories over seven furlongs and 1500M when finishing fourth last time out over 1300M, two and a half lengths back from the winner, when returning from a slightly longer 19 week rest. He also jumped awkwardly and came four wide into the home stretch, but he made good late progress over the closing stages. He is drawn one outside the top choice and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

BARRICHELLO is the stable companion to the top choice who made solid improvement to win his maiden race last time out over this c&d by 2.8L. He is yet another who jumped awkwardly, but raced just off the leaders before kicking clear of the field at the entrance to the home straight. He has cracked pole position and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and makes a solid back-up for the powerful Chris Waller yard.

Race 6

The day’s best bet, HAMERON won over a mile when making his debut and then found a powerful finish to end up in second place next time out over the same trip, 1.3L behind the winner, suggesting that he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding jumps from a wideish draw eight, but he could prove hard to topple in this line-up.

ITA is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action, finishing second in her latest outing over 2100M, 0.8L behind the winner. She came the widest of them all into the home straight that day, but stayed on well over the latter stages. She is drawn one inside the top pick and will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

MONEY FROM THE SKY followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a ninth place finish next time out over nine furlongs, just under six and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but he jumped awkwardly and was eased back from a wide draw, but then gave himself far too much to do turning into the home straight. He faces draw nine, but on the plus side, he will have 1.5kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice and should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

BROKEN HILL has only had the three runs to date, finishing third on debut and then winning his penultimate run over six furlongs before finishing nineth last time out over the same sprint distance, 7.2L behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was bumped at the start and never really got into the race, so that effort is best ignored. He has finished second in a subsequent barrier trial and from draw seven, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home with the slight preference going to RAPID RESPONSE who has cracked pole position and who had his consistency rewarded with a head win last time out over five furlongs, notwithstanding coming the widest of them all into the home straight. She kicked clear at the 250M marl that day and was just able to keep the late challengers at bay. She has her peak run since returning from a 33 week absence and should keep the top pick honest.

RUBINOCCHI on the other hand is drawn wide out in gate ten, but she had finished second twice prior to ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1100M, just under five lengths off the winner and was immediately rested for 16 weeks. It should however be noted that she had to be eased at the 600M mark that day. She returns here after having had two barrier trials, winning the latest to showcase her well-being.

Race 8

With the late scratching of one of her main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet ARRANMORE to chalk up her second career victory. She is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but her last three runs have yielded one second and two third place finishes, the latest over six furlongs, 3.8L back from the winner, but she stayed on well that day and should appreciate the extra ground offer for today’s race. She is drawn the widest of them all, now in gate eleven, but given her style of racing, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the closing stages of the race. She is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card and could close off the day’s Jackpot for the Chris Waller stable.

THE ART OF FLYING jumped awkwardly before recovering well to set the pace and going on to win his last start over six furlongs by 2.3L. He gets gate seven and will be having his peak run after returning from a 38 week absence.

KA BLING won his penultimate outing over six furlongs and then finished seventh next time out over the same trip, three and a half lengths behind the winner, but he was crowded at the start that day and then overraced in the early and middle stages. Understandable he had nothing much to offer over the latter stages of the contest, but the form of that race has been franked. Now from gate five, he should be included in all bets.