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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting. Selections based on a good track.

17. Pictor has dual accepted in first two races and does look hard to beat in whichever race he lines up in. Charged from the back to get close to Grand Prairie at his only start at Kensington back in July, Ninja ran third. Expect he’ll be closer from a softer gate and should have a major say in the finish.

Dangers: 6. Fernweh made a handy debut in May running into second over the 1000m at Warwick Farm. Seems an extra 100m will be a plus, slightly tricky draw but if he’s improved he should be competitive. 5. Defiance was expected to win at Hawkesbury last start when a $1.70 favourite but proved disappointing coming back in trip from his heavy track placing on debut. Blinkers go on and could be a big improver. 9. Pierro Lad trialled in the same heat as Fernweh and did a good job running second. That was his first public hitout since a couple of trials back in April. Check betting for a pointer.

How to play it: Pictor WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Pictor runs second at Kensington on July 16

2. Pictor goes on top in this race too, perhaps the slightly longer journey will be a big plus. Carries 1kg more and draws a couple more off the fence which could be significant with the rail out. Hard to fault the form around him so he has to be the starting point.

Dangers: 14. Shangri La Boy has taken a bit of time with trials dating back to November but his latest was his best as he stretched out to win at Randwick a couple of weeks back. Half-brother to Storm Boy and may be hard to run down if he finds the front. 1. Sarapo showed some promise in his first campaign with an eye-catching debut second at Gosford. Excuse his heavy track failure after that. Has had a couple of jump outs in Melbourne and sure to be charging home. 13. Curie didn’t do a bad job in a small field first-up at Gosford, she was shoved off the track coming to the turn and picked up okay to run third. Since trialled and looks an each-way chance.

How to play it: Pictor WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Pictor runs second at Kensington on July 16

7. Just A Journey is very well placed here second-up on the back of a game resumption at Warwick Farm where she was run down by Tuileries. Stuck to the guns nicely and there was a good gap to third. Likely to get some control here and sure to be hard to run down.

Dangers: 1. Captain Maverick will be thereabouts again as he aims to go one better than his four second placings on end. Led and battled on okay on a heavy 9 at Canterbury last week and would be the logical danger. 8. Exclusive Artist showed improvement getting back onto a firmer track second-up when running on behind Island Dream two weeks ago. Expect further progress from her. 2. Perfect Play doesn’t win out of turn but is an honest gelding who should improve on whatever he does here given he's yet to win first-up.

How to play it: Just A Journey WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Just A Journey runs second at Warwick Farm on September 3

4. Sunset Park is a consistent on pacer who won easily second-up then up to Midway grade gave another good account from the front when second at Rosehill. Should get across them to the front again and give them something to catch.

Dangers: 5. Inncourt steps up beyond the mile for the first time after going down as an odds-on favourite at Kembla second-up. He’s been well fancied in all three Australian starts and should run well again. 6. Release Point steps up in class and distance after a hard fought win from outside the leader at Scone two weeks ago. Perhaps more effective from just off the pace and wouldn’t surprise if he measures up. 1. Tastula had his first start since December when a battling eighth at Kensington on a heavy track three weeks back. Did win over this course last time in, drawn well and drier track is in his favour. Likely improver.

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

Sunset Park runs second at Rosehill on August 30

5. Hidden Motive had some handy form around him in his autumn preparation and went out a winner in a tight finish at Randwick in May. Both trials have been excellent, particularly the latest of them, he’s drawn to lead or trail and is hard to go past.

Dangers: 4. Braveheart has been freshened up since placing on a heavy track at Warwick Farm at the end of July. Had been racing okay and interesting to see how he goes on a drier track. 6. Shalaa Gold has missed a place just once in 10 starts and placed in all four runs this time in. Favourite at Warwick Farm two weeks ago and tried hard in a close finish. Sure to be thereabouts again. 1. Huon ran right up to some support when scoring at Kensington first-up on a heavy track. Does like those conditions but competent on top of the ground so in the same grade he can’t be left out of the chances.

How to play it: Hidden Motive WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hidden Motive runs second in a Wyong trial on September 8

10. Maquisa is a maiden but hasn’t had everything go her way of late in both maiden and benchmark races. Gets the blinkers on first time from a draw that should allow her a perfect run just behind the speed. Must give her another chance.

Dangers: 7. Miss Freelove hasn’t raced since a handy fourth at Listed level at Scone in May and her maiden win was at this track before then, on heavy ground. Shaping up nicely in her trials and should be a player. 2. Divine Vicky put two wins together at Gosford with six weeks between them and it’s a handy scenario for her with the claim to hold her form. Each-way hopes. 11. Quein Step started favourite in a 900m scamper at Newcastle when resuming and ran on just behind the placings beaten under a length. Likely improver and a decent market watch.

How to play it: Maquisa WIN ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Maquisa runs fourth at Kensington on August 27

11. Our Queen is a new addition to the Bjorn Baker stable and has looked the part winning her two trials leading into a first-up run. Form around her two wins to date have proven handy and gets every chance from the inside gate to kick off a winner.

Dangers: 12. So You Pence won at Goulburn and Wagga as a short priced favourite before an even effort on a heavy track at Rosehill in BM78 grade back at the end of May. Drawn next to the short priced elect and can be competitive. 3. Sydney Bowler produced some mixed efforts last time in but perhaps it was the prep he needed to get the confidence back after a mishap that saw him off the scene for some time. Both trials good and he’s capable of showing up. 2. Ningaloo Star will be big odds but she’s better than her first-up showing at Rosehill in a BM78 where she was always well back. Does tend to improve second-up and could surprise.

How to play it: Our Queen WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

Our Queen wins a Rosehill trial on September 9

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