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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 soft track.

1. Central Coast made a promising debut despite going down as an odds-on favourite just over a week ago. Sprinted like the winner only to be grabbed late by a stablemate who jumped out of the ground. He’d have to be better for the experience and unless one of the first starters is well above average he gets his chance.

Dangers: 2. Caviar is a Frankel colt on debut for the Waterhouse/Bott stable and he seemed to improve at his second trial when up a bit in distance. Likely he’ll improve further under race conditions and is a big watch. 8. Crossbow has raced experience having debuted at Rosehill in January in the race won by Wodeton. Returns as a gelding and both trials have been more than acceptable. One to keep an eye on. 7. Saint Aldwyn showed a bit more in his second trial when runner-up at Rosehill just under two weeks ago in a 900m heat. Any support would be significant.

How to play it: Central Coast WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Central Coast runs second at Canterbury on June 9

6. Straight Sets is a nicely bred filly on debut and she’s looked the part winning both her trials. Led the first trial when scoring narrowly then sat last and finished strongly to win the latest over 1030m. Well drawn and looks a good chance to kick off with a win.

Dangers: 1. Ernaux was a huge drifter in betting first-up at Warwick Farm and she worked home pretty well at the end of 1100m to run second. Shapes as though the extra ground will be in her favour and she has to be considered. 2. Avenue Montaigne and 4. Kakadu Sunset are stablemates from the Waterhouse/Bott yard and both have trialled handily enough to suggest they could produce something first-up. The former has had the trial over 1030m which may be to her advantage.

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

Straight Sets wins a Rosehill trial on June 6

7. Pierro’s Girl was unwanted in betting when she resumed at Warwick Farm but she found the line well late to run into third over the 1300m in what looks likely to be a solid form race. Better for the extra ground and has struck a winnable race if she can reproduce.

Dangers: 3. Sleuth is an 11 start maiden but there was enough in her first-up run at Kembla Grange when in the market to say she’s come back well and can lift from it. Nice weight drop with the 3kg claim and another who will appreciate the trip. Go well. 2. Righteous Legend has been a little disappointing even though he was second in his first two runs back. Last time out had his chance and weakened when fifth at Kembla Grange. Have to include but it’s something of a D-Day. 4. So Long Farewell didn’t finish the race off as expected at Kembla last time out either but if he can get back to his previous effort when second at Kensington he’s in the mix.

How to play it: Pierro’s Girl EACH-WAY ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Pierro’s Girl runs third at Warwick Farm on June 4

8. Cinsault has registered six placings from as many starts and might have bumped into a smart one when resuming at Warwick Farm. Still ran well with a handy gap to third and this looks a suitable race for her to break through. Entitled to take some beating.

Dangers: 2. Dyami was solid in the betting first-up at Warwick Farm when beaten into third in a close finish over 1100m. Fitter for that and might well appreciate that extra bit of ground now. Appears the logical danger. 10. Miss Jones had some support when resuming in the same race and she was just a bit soft late when running fourth. Fitter for it and she’s shown enough to say she can improve, particularly if the track continues to dry out a bit. 3. Glorious Moments is a big query first-up as a gelding off a long break having tackled two strong races as a two-year-old in the early part of last year. Big winner of his latest trial by nine lengths and he’s a market watch.

How to play it: Cinsault WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Cinsault runs second at Warwick Farm on June 4

10. Natural Deduction ran a nice race when resuming then had a torrid run over this trip three weeks ago and dropped out. He’s much better than that and now third-up from a long layoff, drawn well and down in the weights he can be a big improver at each-way odds.

Dangers: 11. Anderson Bridge is a shade enigmatic but he comes off a forgive run behind Half Yours at Rosehill where he was left flat footed when the sprint went on. He’d been poking around behind the placings prior to that and has each-way claims. 5. Fioprospero has been freshened up since a fair effort over 2200m at the Gold Coast about five weeks ago. Past couple of wins have been around the 1800m range and he has every chance to bounce back from an inside gate. 3. Guzumped ran a pleasing race over 1500m when resuming at Rosehill, making some late ground from well back. Down in class and up in trip and won two of three second-up so is open to improvement.

How to play it: Natural Deduction EACH-WAY ($15 TAB Fixed Odds).

Natural Deduction’s first-up run at Warwick Farm on May 7

10. Harry’s Bar is as honest as they come and she did a pretty handy job when a close third first-up at Rosehill. She looked a bit flat footed early in the straight but rallied late. Fitter, won over this track and distance at her last attempt and drawn to be in a prominent spot. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 4. Hanau is an interesting one resuming since early September where his form was a bit mixed. Latest of two trials was promising and while drawn out he’s a winner at this track and can show up fresh. 11. La Signora Dane has won three of her four starts this time in including a three weeks ago at this track and in similar grade. Up 2kg but drawn well and is hard to leave out of the hopes. 5. First Person has the speed to offset the gate and she’s been racing in great form of late. Run down at Rosehill last time in BM78 grade on the back of successive heavy 10 wins. Each-way.

How to play it: Harry’s Bar WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Harry’s Bar runs third at Rosehill on May 31

1. No Drama was too slick around this course two starts back and pay to forgive last start on that testing track at Randwick that brought plenty undone. Back in class hence the 62kg but he’ll put himself right on the speed, if not in front, and is capable of bouncing back.

Dangers: 6. Captain Maverick has trialled up nicely to run a handy race fresh. Likely will improve on whatever he does here but it’d be a surprise if he’s not finding the line with purpose late. 3. High Dandy has given a bit better sight in his past two starts but has still been reeled in. Freshened up since Scone with a trial and he has the blinkers back on. Can show more here but needs to. 8. Nana’s Wish has been just behind the placings in her two runs back in Victoria and should be just about ready to produce a peak. Usually thereabouts and if things go her way she can be in the finish.

How to play it: No Drama WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

No Drama wins at Canterbury on April 30

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