Tips and race-by-race guide for Canterbury on Monday

Sydney Morning Herald

12 hours ago

How to play it: Blue Willow to win.
Race 4
3. Bengal Boy is an underrated provincial-based five-year-old which impressed when surging home from well back to win a BM 68 at Newcastle third-up. Thrives in the ground for a race that isn't much harder, and any extra trip is a plus being a typical son of Dundeel. 2. Naval Commission was very disappointing second-up over the mile after being well backed. Gets some weight relief, again from an ideal trailing draw, but suggesting he's under the odds stepping up in distance. 1. Monarch's Brae can improve sharply third-up over more ground, especially if the track improves a couple of ratings, after drifting a mile back in two runs so far this campaign. Finds a weaker race here, but a query whether he'll get enough speed on to run over them. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Fay's Angels, an honest country mare who is well into her campaign.
How to play it: Bengal Boy to win.
Race 5
Not much between several runners here, but 1. First Mission can make it two wins from three starts this prep, coming back 150m in distance. Landed a good betting move when a comfortable winner against similar opposition when resuming. He was then taken to the front in deeper Saturday Midway company and boxed on OK behind a smart winner. Distance and track are the keys, despite being asked to carry 61kg. 2. Gatekeeper is a big watch first up behind two improving trials, and returning to where he won on debut in mid-January after being backed from $6 into $4.40. Keep safe 9. Spaceballs, a talented filly which comes to hand quickly, and draws the inside resuming off a quiet trial. 8. Queen's Rhapsody scored an overdue and dominant first-up win at Hawkesbury as a hot favourite and drops in weight, but has to get in from a wide barrier.
How to play it: First Mission to win.
Race 6
3. Apex is a smart son of Exceedance who can put two wins together having easily got the maiden out of the way when resuming at Warwick Farm 19 days ago. Always shown ability, right at home on rain-affected ground, and the extra 150m is no concern. 4. Puntin resumes from the inside draw behind two trials. Has natural speed and won three straight up to BM 64 grade last prep before a game unplaced effort when trying to lead over a mile in much tougher company at Randwick. Would likely prefer the track a little drier, but sure to give a big sight. 9. Metaphorically is a big market watch at good odds, resuming as a gelding for the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton camp off two progressive trials. Stablemate 10. Straand Beauty is also right in the mix rolling forward, having missed narrowly in two runs back in weaker grade.
How to play it: Apex to win.
Race 7
7. The Black Cloud is a smart mare, and terrific value resuming off an easy trial. Has already won twice from four attempts fresh and is unbeaten on soft ground from three starts. Drawn to get a cosy run with cover right behind the speed and just needs a clear crack at them from the 300m. 4. Zealously is a talented customer which fought on strong to claim a BM 78 third-up on the stand-alone Saturday meeting at Scone. Carries a kilo less here, but this is a deeper race and he has a task on this tighter track getting over from near the outside draw. 13. Dollar Magic chased home the former at Scone first-up and wasn't far away from pulling off a big-value move firming from $7.50 into $5.50. Normally holds her form into the next run and from a handy draw is right up to this. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but 6. Flying Destiny, down sharply in weight first-up behind two trials, and 11. World Alliance, five weeks between runs via a trial win; are both capable of running into the money at good odds.
How to play it: Black Cloud to win.
Race 8
3. Who Ever Thought is a tough country-based six-year-old which has earnt a start in a metropolitan race second-up. Dug in hard from the front to claim the Country Cup on Scone Cup day 24 days ago and will carry only 1.5kg over the minimum weight after the jockey's claim in what is a suitably much smaller field. 2. Pink Shalala chased home a smart winner here second-up in heavy ground and has the conditions and the draw to suit again. 6. Sacredarro is a lightly raced and progressive four-year-old stepping up in grade and distance from a dominant country Class 1 win when resuming. 1. Forecaster is over the odds dropping in grade fourth-up. 7. Line Of Fire is the best of the rest deep into the prep with blinkers back on.