Canterbury, Ballina best bets, inside mail for Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Canterbury and top picks at Ballina on Wednesday.
â– â– â– â– â–
CANTERBURY TIPS
BEST BET
Race 5 No.8: BRAVE ONE
Nice won on debut on a heavy track. Trialling well for his return.
NEXT BEST
Solid effort for second on debut. Can go one better.
VALUE BET
Race 7 No.8: AHURIRI
Was a little unlucky when resuming. Goes well second-up and wet track a bonus.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 8
Race 6: 1, 6, 7, 8
Race 7: 4, 5, 8
Race 8: 1, 2, 4, 5
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
KERRIN McEVOY has a nice book of rides and is a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.
BALLINA TIPS
BEST BET
Race 4 No.2: GUARDED OPTIMIST
Better than his first-up run when back and wide. Drops in class and can turn it around.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.6: GURU CLASS
Boxed on well for a close third in higher grade last start.
â– â– â– â– â–
CANTERBURY INSIDE MAIL
COLD GIN (9) raced three back on the fence and was badly held up in the straight where she went to the line untested at all when sixth to Perle De Chocolate. POISED (4) shared the lead and only run down late when second behind the progressive Declichy Boulevard on debut at Warwick last June. Resumes from a long spell. SURF'S UP (11) went back from a wide gate and closed nicely when a half-length second to Perle De Chocolat on debut at Warwick Farm.
BET: COLD GIN to win.
RACE 2: 2YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m)
MISS FREELOVE (8) was $4.80 into $3.70 on debut at Warwick Farm where she raced keenly and had to be steadied off near the 700m after being crossed. Battled away to finish a half-length third to Perle De Chocolat. Will take improvement from the run. SYLPH (13) raced keenly back in the field before making ground out wide when fourth to Grand Eagle who has won again at Randwick last Saturday. JET (5) is a debutant by Zoustar who has been good winning both recent trials.
BET: MISS FREELOVE to win.
SHANGRI LA IMPACT (5) had trialled nicely ahead of his debut at Kembla on Apr 15. Started a $2.70 fav when he raced outside Tact and the pair had a great dual up the straight when he went down by a nose. Drawn well and can go one better. BARBRAY (3) took benefit from his debut sixth to Fleeting Spirit over 1300m on the Kensington. Went to Hawkesbury when third to Full Hao over 1600m. DARK ARTS (2) finished a nose in front of Barbray in that Hawkesbury Super Maiden after leading.
BET: SHANGRI LA IMPACT to win.
FIRST MISSION (4) did a nice job in his first campaign with a win and two placings from four starts. Lead all the way on a Soft 6 to win at Hawkesbury and placed runner-up to Candlewick on soft ground at Wyong before that. BONJOUR MADAME (6) followed a handy debut third at Taree with a maiden win at the same track before steeping up to a BM64 at Wyong and beating Broadway Follies and Reducio. Her two wins have been on soft track. IMPERIAL STATE (5) won nicely at Gosford before a second to Iron Hawk at Kembla. Has placed on heavy ground.
BET: FIRST MISSION to win.
BRAVE ONE (8) debuted with a good win from Mayfair on a Heavy 9 at Randwick last July and wet straight to the Listed Rosebud when sixth. Sat back and wide before closing smartly when a close second in his Apr 11 Rosehill trial. DEBELLO (2) scored back-to-back wins at Kembla and Hawkesbury before going down by a nose to Enter The Dragon at Hawkesbury. Has won on soft and heavy ground. TRUE AMOR (9) was good winning his maiden at Kembla last November. Won both recent trials including one from Headwall at Randwick.
BET: BRAVE ONE to win.
STAR IMPACT (8) sat fourth and battled away when fourth to Fiftyfivechevy over 1600m second-up on a Good 4 at Newcastle. at Newcastle. All her best form is on wet tracks and she can run a cheeky race with a light weight. OUR EMPRESS ZOE (7) tracked the leader and chased down Satness to win over this track and distance last week. Wet track the only query with just two third placings from nine starts on the soft. BODY BOB (1) carried 63.5kg when fifth at Canberra first-up. Is a winner here.
BET: STAR IMPACT each-way.
AHURIRI (8) sat three-back on the fence and was held up early in the straight before making ground for fifth to Flying Bandit when resuming at Hawkesbury. Has a good second-up record including a win over 1890m and has won on the soft. PERFECT PLAY (4) was a two-length third at Flemington and just over two lengths away in seventh behind King Of Thunder at Rosehill. Less than a length behind Flying Bandit at Hawkesbury last start. REMATCH (5) is back in trip from his fourth to Campaldino in the Orange Cup.
BET: AHURIRI each-way.
ISLAND DEC (2) maintained her perfect first-up record with a win here before stepping up to stakes grade. Was last to Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes then beaten just over three lengths by She's Got Pizzazz in the PJ Bell. Back in grade and gets her preferred wet track. PHOTOGRAPH (5) was disappointing behind Gangsta Granny here first-up on Feb 28. Given an easy trial since and can bounce back. LLANDDWYN (1) and TOTOKA (4) have place claims.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mercury
7 hours ago
- Mercury
Tommy Berry's bold move gives rivals the Flick
Trainer Chris Waller had jockey Tommy Berry to thank after his well-bred mare Cigar Flick scored her first victory in more than a year at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Waller had a different plan in mind for his daughter of Churchill before Berry went off script to produce her with a barnstorming run down the outside to win the ATC Thank You Owners Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). 'I was actually watching the race with Charlie (Duckworth) and said 'I don't know what this Tommy is doing, we said we were going to come through them and have the last crack at them',' Waller said. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Then I said after the race 'that's why Tommy is a jockey and I am a trainer'. He knew what he was doing.' Berry settled Cigar Flick in her customary position towards the rear of the field and ensured the daughter of Churchill kept momentum as they rounded the turn in a four-wide line. Cigar Flick ($13) unleashed a powerful burst down the outside to run over the top of the Matthew Smith-trained World Alliance ($11) to prevail by one-and-a-quarter lengths. John Thompson's Bundeena ($8) gave them something to catch inside the final furlong before finishing third. 'She is one that you have to ride for bad luck and hope for a bit of good luck,' Berry said. 'Today the opportunity presented to get her to the outside. 'I still had a bum to follow and be patient on her and she reaped the rewards of what's been a consistent preparation without any luck. 'She is in at the right time of year.' • Nashville Jack in fine tune with slashing win Cigar Flick hadn't won for more than a year heading into Saturday but Waller is hoping to win another race with the mare before she is retired to stud later this year. 'She is a lovely horse, beautiful,' Waller said. 'She won't have too much more racing. Her mum is a sister to Fangirl so she is well bred and she will go to stud this year. She has done a great job. 'We will see what else we can find. 'This type of distance and these type of conditions and she can win another one of them.' The win came less than an hour after Berry produced a vastly different ride to score on the Ciaron Maher-trained Lugh. His decision to push forward early on the son of Snitzel in the Marcellin College Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) proved decisive. Lugh ($9) travelled well outside the lead and kept finding over in the straight to hold off Chris Waller's Starman ($16) by three-quarters of a length with the Bjorn Baker-trained Slinky ($21) working home strongly for third. • 'Sneaky chance': Pride mare shocks rivals at $51 Lugh is still only lightly-raced and has highlighted his considerable talent in just a handful of starts, winning four of six. 'He doesn't have much of a turn of foot but has a big action,' Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'On a bigger track here at Randwick was going to suit him better. 'He enjoyed the conditions and I thought Tommy (Berry) rode him really well. 'He is a horse that needs a bit of encouragement, he is very casual and has the best attitude. 'The way Tommy rode him, he kept him on his job.' Stablemate Sacred Rocks was expected to be the horse to beat but was a drifter in betting out to $3.50 and never looked likely. Apprentice Anna Roper made a mid-race move to settle closer on the daughter of Sacred Falls, which ran out of gas over the concluding stages to miss the placings. 'I don't it really work out for Sacred Rocks,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'She was slow away and just had to make that move mid-race. 'She got going early so was always going to be soft late.' Originally published as Trainer Chris Waller praises Tommy Berry's tactical mastery as Cigar Flick storms home to victory at Randwick
The Australian
4 days ago
- The Australian
Canterbury preview: Trainer Bjorn Baker saddles Shalaa Gold
Trainer Bjorn Baker has had by far and away his greatest season and is keen to keep adding to it at Canterbury today as he eyes more milestones in 2025/26. Baker has so far this season prepared 155 winners, topping his previous best of 128, with his runners earning in excess of $25 million. 'It's been an amazing season. I have a great team, great clients and I have a lot of nice horses around me,' Baker said. 'As good as this season has been, I'm looking forward to next season as well.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Baker is looking to get off to a quick start at Canterbury with Shalaa Gold and Olufsen kicking off their preparations in the Benchmark 64 TAB Handicap (1100m). Shalaa Gold was runner-up in his first four starts before a breakthrough win over 1100m at Warwick Farm in January. He showed he is on track to kick off his campaign on a positive note with two very good trials including a win over King Of Roseau in his Randwick heat on July 11. 'He's a promising horse. He did a good job to finally win a maiden last start after placing a number of times,' Baker said. 'He has trialled well and he is definitely forward enough so I think he's in there with a good chance. 'I'm also happy to see that the weather is pretty good this week so we will get a decent track for him.' • Via Sistina, Fangirl and other stars clear out cobwebs at Randwick trials Olufsen doesn't have the race experience of Shalaa Gold but showed he possessed plenty of ability with a debut win at Wyong in March. He has also trialled very well with a second to Mirra Impact in his Randwick trial on June 27 and a fourth to Amreekiyah in a Hawkesbury heat on July 7. 'He is a full brother to Ozzmosis,' he said. 'He was very good in winning at his first start. 'He is still a little bit green and putting it all together but he has been good in his couple of trials. 'There probably isn't much between these two and he has drawn a lovely gate as well. 'I guess Shalaa Gold will probably be a little more forward that Olufsen but it will come down to luck in running a little bit as well.' • Spirited vote sees Hale take reins of Australian Turf Club Baker has O'Invincible engaged at Canterbury and Wyong on Thursday and will weigh up the two options. The daughter of I Am Invincible is in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1250m) for which she has drawn barrier 13 while she has gate 7 in the Benchmark 64 at Wyong. 'She has got a wide gate but there is already three scratchings inside of her,' Baker said. 'We will just have a think about whether she runs or we wait for the next day.' O'Invincible was below her best first-up when a well beaten sixth to Livin' Thing at Randwick's Kensington track but better when just over a length behind Divine Vicky when sixth at Gosford. 'She was too bad to be true first-up and I think she may have had atrial fibrillation but she definitely had an excuse that day,' he said. 'She was okay last time out and she is definitely fit and well. I think stepping up to the 1250 metres suits her as well.' Baker felt Mortlake could run a cheeky race in the All Too Hard @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1550m). 'I thought he was good first-up and had excuses last time out on a very wet track at Rosehill. 'His work on Saturday was good and off that alone, I think he's got a good chance.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Canterbury preview: Trainer Bjorn Baker aims to close out his record season on a high note
Trainer Bjorn Baker has had by far and away his greatest season and is keen to keep adding to it at Canterbury today as he eyes more milestones in 2025/26. Baker has so far this season prepared 155 winners, topping his previous best of 128, with his runners earning in excess of $25 million. 'It's been an amazing season. I have a great team, great clients and I have a lot of nice horses around me,' Baker said. 'As good as this season has been, I'm looking forward to next season as well.' Baker is looking to get off to a quick start at Canterbury with Shalaa Gold and Olufsen kicking off their preparations in the Benchmark 64 TAB Handicap (1100m). Shalaa Gold was runner-up in his first four starts before a breakthrough win over 1100m at Warwick Farm in January. He showed he is on track to kick off his campaign on a positive note with two very good trials including a win over King Of Roseau in his Randwick heat on July 11. 'He's a promising horse. He did a good job to finally win a maiden last start after placing a number of times,' Baker said. 'He has trialled well and he is definitely forward enough so I think he's in there with a good chance. 'I'm also happy to see that the weather is pretty good this week so we will get a decent track for him.' Shalaa Gold gets the gold in the Warwick Farm opener! 🥇 @BBakerRacing ðŸ¤� @JoshuaParr8 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 27, 2025 • Olufsen doesn't have the race experience of Shalaa Gold but showed he possessed plenty of ability with a debut win at Wyong in March. He has also trialled very well with a second to Mirra Impact in his Randwick trial on June 27 and a fourth to Amreekiyah in a Hawkesbury heat on July 7. 'He is a full brother to Ozzmosis,' he said. 'He was very good in winning at his first start. 'He is still a little bit green and putting it all together but he has been good in his couple of trials. 'There probably isn't much between these two and he has drawn a lovely gate as well. 'I guess Shalaa Gold will probably be a little more forward that Olufsen but it will come down to luck in running a little bit as well.' Olufsen starts the career off right with a win for the @BBakerRacing stable at Wyong! ðŸ'Œ — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 19, 2025 Baker has O'Invincible engaged at Canterbury and Wyong on Thursday and will weigh up the two options. The daughter of I Am Invincible is in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1250m) for which she has drawn barrier 13 while she has gate 7 in the Benchmark 64 at Wyong. 'She has got a wide gate but there is already three scratchings inside of her,' Baker said. 'We will just have a think about whether she runs or we wait for the next day.' O'Invincible was below her best first-up when a well beaten sixth to Livin' Thing at Randwick's Kensington track but better when just over a length behind Divine Vicky when sixth at Gosford. 'She was too bad to be true first-up and I think she may have had atrial fibrillation but she definitely had an excuse that day,' he said. 'She was okay last time out and she is definitely fit and well. I think stepping up to the 1250 metres suits her as well.' 'I thought he was good first-up and had excuses last time out on a very wet track at Rosehill. 'His work on Saturday was good and off that alone, I think he's got a good chance.'
