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Selections by Neil Evans

The rail is out 2m the entire circumference with the track rated a Heavy 9 but an upgrade is anticipated. Following a sunny and warm Tuesday, a similar day is forecast for Wednesday with clear skies and a top of 19 degrees for raceday.

Wednesday 6th August – CANTERBURY PARK

5. BURMA STAR ($4.60) is an ex-Godolphin colt by renowned wet track sprint sire Exceed And Excel having his first outing for the Chris Waller stable. Has had two trials, the latest settling well back before taken to the outside and sweeping home impressively under a hold. Drawn to get cover in this. 8. Barbarossa ($4.40 favourite on TAB) is another former Godolphin colt having his first run for the Ciaron Maher yard off an 18-week break. Drawn off the track but won the second of two lead-up trials in smart fashion. 6. Miss Jones ($9.50) is bursting to break through and should have won fourth-up when missing by a neck after being caught wide with no cover. Drawn out again, but sneaks further down in the weights and has placed five times from eight. 13. Spice Prawn ($5.50) caught the eye when resuming, charging home to miss by a long neck when first-up since late March. 1. Cobra Club ($10) from the Waterhouse-Bott stable is a betting watch resuming behind two trials, so too 10. Iniesta ($10), a colt by Farnan in the O’Shea-Charlton stable, debuting off two progressive trials.

How to play it: Burma Star to win

2. CROSS TASMAN ($2.30 fav) is an emerging stallion primed to claim a second win at his fourth start. Tracked the speed and went  home best in a handy provincial maiden before chasing hard to miss by a long neck at Kembla. Drawn to park right behind the speed over a suitably longer trip, top jockey takes over and is bred to thrive in soft or heavy. 1. Delrico ($6) improved sharply third-up when hitting the late after being ridden quieter, and weight hike has been off-set with the booking of a 2kg claimer. Stablemate 3. Island Dream ($5.50), improving second-up over more ground, and another Waller-trained runner 5. Starry Desert (9) coming off a fresh provincial win at his first Australian start can both figure in the minor money. 4. Noises ($19) second-up heads the rest.

How to play it: Cross Tasman to win

9. KARINSKA ($6) is lightly raced Spirit Of Boom filly resuming off two trials on rain-affected going for the premiership winning trainer-rider combination, and was accepted to run at Rosehill last Saturday. Charged late to win at this track on debut in soft ground as a two-year-old before taking on Group company over the autumn carnival. Like the way she’s trialled steadily in preparation for this and drawn to get to the outside late. Emerges as the best value in the race. 13. Southern Heiress ($3.40 fav) is well placed to to make it two from two after thrashing provincial opposition on debut as an easing favourite. Drawn to find a trail, although wouldn’t be diving into too short a price first time in the going and jumping significantly in grade. 1. Infusion ($4.60) reloads after digging deep to win here on debut in heavy ground, although did have to survive a protest and draws much wider this time carrying more weight. 11. Maquisa ($7.50), a stablemate of the top selection, has placed in all three runs this prep from just off speed although another one drawn off the track and weighted up. 6. Plaza ($101) can run in the minor money second-up at big odds.

How to play it: Karinska to win

4. THE ENCHANTER ($4) is a promising four-year-old who can return off a 27-week break with a bang behind two trials, especially if the track continues to dry out and gets back into soft range. Always parked on speed last prep, capping a consistent run by landing his maiden here and drawn to stalk the pace again before given his head early in the straight. 2. Shalaa Gold ($3.90 fav) is an improver second-up and relishes the going, but faces a task jumping from the outside barrier. 9. Stormland ($5.50) resuming for just his third start off two progressive trials can run into the money, while 5. Against The Law ($7.50) with gear changes comes off a narrow provincial BM 64 win second-up.

How to play it: The Enchanter to win

3. BAT OUT OF HELL ($3.30 fav) is right at peak fitness and ready to win again deep into the prep. Worked across and sat in the breeze here last start before being over-run by a couple finishing in better ground. 5. Seven’s ($5.50) is an intriguing runner for the Annabel & Rob Archibald yard, resuming off two trials over a middle distance. Drawn to get a handy on-speed trail, comes to hand early in the prep and is right at home in the going. Won twice at weight-for-age in Europe last year before heading Down Under so watch the market closely. 11. Sting In The Tail ($6) steps up from a strong closing second-up run in lesser provincial company, and naturally gets weight relief back in the city. 1. No Drama ($5) is an honest country six-year-old who sticks to the same grade and trip after boxing on okay from the front here a fortnight back when having his first run in five weeks. Again draws to dictate.

How to play it: Bat Out Of Hell to win

8. SLINKY ($3 fav) was very good fourth-up on a tough surface in higher Saturday grade, running home from well back to be beaten just over a length. Back up in weight on a tighter circuit, but the leading rider takes over, she relishes wet tracks and boasts a superior closing 300m surge. 3. Winston Hills ($4.40) is a serious market watch resuming behind two trials. Both wins so far from 10 starts have come first-up and he is suited settling back off the speed and getting out to the middle late. Be surprised if anything else wins, but 2. Unstopabull ($6) deep into the prep from a low draw and coming through the same race as the top selection, and at bigger odds 11. Catahoula ($8.50) drawn better, can fight for the minor prize.

How to play it: Slinky to win

10. UNUSUAL PROSPECT ($3.20 fav) is a progressive five-year-old who hasn’t quite lived up to his true potential this prep, despite winning two from three as a red-hot favourite, but very capable of taking this bigger step first run in tougher metropolitan class. Didn’t let down in a provincial BM 64 two runs ago, but reacted nicely finishing best when parking closer for a comfortable win at Hawkesbury 17 days ago. Naturally meeting some better ones, but the extra 300m is a big bonus. 4. The Years ($4) is the immediate threat from a soft trailing draw and over further, coming off a third-up heavy track win at the mile. 9. Bright Red ($4.60) gets a timely class drop from Saturday company deep into the prep. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Misterkipchoge ($6.50) who has been up for a long time and blinkers finally come off.

How to play it: Unusual Prospect to win

BEST BETS
Race 6, No.8 - SLINKY ($3 fav on TAB)
Race 7, No.10 - UNUSUAL PROSPECT ($3.20 fav)

VALUE
Race 4, No.4 - THE ENCHANTER ($4)

View final fields with full form & race replays for Canterbury Park here