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Tips by Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury. The track is expected to be good and the rail is out 3m the entire.

Six of the nine runners are on debut here. It’s one of the first starters that I’m interested in too. God Of Thunder only had one trial and Brenton Avdulla didn’t move a muscle on the colt. What was under the bonnet? We’ll know on Wednesday but the rest of the field were being urged along in the heat while God Of Thunder slipped home under a stranglehold. The More Than Ready youngster is out of a mare the Hawkes camp know well, in Group One placed Jolie Bay. He is hard in the market at $3.80 but was still backed with TAB when prices first went up.

Dangers: Munich is an odds on favourite here courtesy of his second to Lean mean Machine at Warwick Farm two starts back. His latest effort was a sixth in the G3 Kindergarten where he looked to run his race in patches. He was asked to stretch out in a trial since and extended nicely. Snowden and McDonald combine with him. Wary of Chris Waller’s colt Beidi. He’s a half to Sadler’s Lake but with the speed injection of Stryker. The late two-year-old races are historically a very happy hunting ground for Waller.

How to play it: God Of Thunder WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) and BEIDI WIN ($13)

God Of Thunder’s Rosehill trial – May 7

Only five of the 12 in the fillies two-year-old race are unraced. With the raced filly Tell Me after an encouraging debut back in February. She ran fifth in the Listed Lonhro Plat behind Sandbar and Satin Slipper. We haven’t seen her since but with natural improvement from that effort, willing to take her on trust. Trained by Team Hawkes you can go into the race expecting her to bounce off the outing. The barrier doesn’t do her any favours and Brenton Avdulla riding Knockout Girl and not Tell Me might be a hint in itself but the daughter of Choisir is the one I’m with here.

Dangers: Voila had every possible chance on debut behind Like It Easy taking a spot behind the leaders. The 1200m looked a touch beyond her so back to 1100m is perfect for her second crack at racing. Drawn to get a similar run too. The market support suggests Pedicel is primed to run well on debut for Coolmore. James McDonald rode her in both trials and sticks here. She’s a half to Nettoyer.

How to play it: Tell Me WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds)

Tell Me on debut behind Sandbar

Prime Candidate really came onto the radar last start at Wyong. The Bjorn Baker-trained three-year-old slipped home in 33.96s, as revealed by Punters Intel. That was despite leading the race. He had won three of his four starts prior to that, kicking off his career at Goulburn back in September. You see Baker roll through the grades with these types of horses time and time again. The half to Coolring certainly looks up to city class. Another couple of things in his favour is the step out to 1250m and the Canterbury track. He’ll bowl along in his rhythm and looks a real momentum-type horse which will suit the tight circuit. Best bet of the day at the early $4.60.

Dangers: Noble Creed has won both of her starts quite comfortably for Kris Lees and Gooree. Last start the market preferred Poetic Charmer who she meets again here and despite PC being first up there, she went straight past him when the race was there to be won or lost. There were a few hard luck stories behind Dawn Dawn last start but is building a handy little record herself while Intuition will improve sharply off the first up flop.

How to play it: Prime Candidate WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Prime Candidate winning at Wyong last start

Tunero went around in Race 4 at last Wednesday’s meeting and is still waiting to get out. He got shuffled back at a vital point entering the straight when you want your momentum going forward not backwards! Despite never being stop-start down the straight he still finished off, with a few gears still up his sleeve. Out to 1900m should be fine for the Teofilo three-year-old after two runs at the mile. Two back he ran second to gun filly Youngstar before winning at Wyong, beating subsequent city winner Cormac.|

Dangers: Augustus didn’t fire a shot at Rosehill the last time we saw him, when 8 of 10 behind runaway winner Live And Free. He was gelded prior to that run. Perhaps his fitness just slipped away from Chris Waller with the five weeks between runs. Either way, he is better than that. Marabel is building a handy record for Wendy Roche with three wins from nine starts. She was thrown into the deep end in the Dark Jewel last start and ran well. Keep her safe.

How to play it: Tunero WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tunero never got a crack at his rivals last week

Regine was in need of the run first up. Bookies couldn’t write a ticket for her with official fluctuations revealing $11 out to $31. The four-year-old ran well in to finish within two lengths of a blanket finish at Warwick Farm. That was over 1300m and from a midfield spot. All three of her wins have been when she has been able to sit in the first two. With the run under her belt and J-Mac in the saddle, expect her to lead with Maid Marilyn scratched. Has already taken the scalp of Jaunty in the past. In an even race, lean her way.

Dangers: Jaunty is always a chance in this sort of grade. She has been racing well without winning. Very interested in Walk The Streets first up off a year long layoff. Has only had the one trial and her regular rider Brenton Avdulla rides a stablemate which is a red flag but wouldn’t be surpsied to see her run a big race attacking the mile here, which suggests she has a reasonable fitness base. Liked her trial.

How to play it: Regine WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Regine will improve sharply off her first up eighth

Chris Waller has five in the field and they all have their convictions. Have got Jolly Honour on top. Suspect (and hope!) Tye Angland will be very positive from the middle draw to out her right in the firing line. Don’t think there is much between a lot of these so you don’t want to be giving anything a few length’s start if you don’t have to. She was beaten on her merits at Scone last time out but she was first up there. Her second to Moss Trip, albeit in a muddling race at Canterbury, the start before that looks a strong form reference now.

Dangers: Gresham tends to start hard in the market despite having one from 10, and here he is again as the early race favourite. He has returned in reasonable order this time in and kept trying at Warwick Farm last start when six weeks between runs. He’ll be thereabout again. This is the most suitable race Coolcraft has contested in a while. He could be the smokey for Gwenda Markwell. King Hewitt looks short enough at $4.40 but has upside.

How to play it: Jolly Honour EACH WAY ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Jolly Honour’s resumption at Scone

It’s a D-Day of sorts for All From Scrap. He is a city class horse and this is his chance to win one. Luck has deserted him this preparation so far in three runs. He probably should have won first up at Canterbury behind Floki before he ran in two Provincial Championship qualifiers. The first he was set an impossible task from way back before being posted five and six wide throughout at Newcastle. He is seven weeks beaten runs but draws barrier three and David Atkins has made a real bird of it in engaging James McDonald. He is well found in the market but all being equal, it’s his race to lose.

Dangers: The Avenger was stretched out to the mile last preparation but expect him to run well here fresh. He can be a little hit and miss but his best is good enough for this. First up last time in he kicked off over this same track and trip, was crunched into even money, and ran horribly. Two starts later he won at Caulfield over 1400m. Rockafella resumed off a good break (29 weeks) at Warwick Farm last start and did more than enough. That’ll clean him up for this second up assignment.

How to play it: All From Scrap WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

All From Scrap was a brave sixth at Newcastle last time out

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury