Race Overview
 
CANTERBURY   31 January 2025
NUM TIME COMMENT
1 06:00 TAB PLATE 1200m
Always plenty of early pressure in sprint races such as this with a large contingent of first starters. NAMASTE (4) is one of three runners with race experience on their side. Chased hard with the 58kg when a gritty third over 1200m at Wyong. Strips fitter and will find this more suitable from the gate. Goes close. SPLASH OF STEEL (5) snagged back from the outside draw on debut and never in the contest when sixth to the smart Wodeton over 1100m at Rosehill. Further improved now with the blinkers added and can race closer from the better draw. COSMIC AVENGER (1) was beaten for early speed from the awkward draw and chipped away late when fourth over 1000m at Randwick. Extra trip in his favour and stays in the calculations. KARINSKA (9) Spirit Of Boom filly out of Show Some Leg on debut for the Waller stable. Like the way she finished off in her only trial and the 1200m suits.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Namaste to take catching.
2 06:30 DRINKWISE PLATE 1250m
Expecting the speedy Signor Tortoni to be prominent but one or more of the first starters should add to the early pressure. SIGNOR TORTONI (2) third-up tonight and no excuses from the low gate with McEvoy engaged. Came out fast and nailed late over this track and trip when second on January 17. Can control the race early and prove hard to run down. KENDALIA (1) excellent debut when returning good figures late after coming from near last on the turn with a sound fifth over 1150m at Randwick Kensington. Extra trip in his favour from the draw and looks one of the main contenders. THE ENCHANTER (3) is set to peak fourth-up after finishing third in the same race as Signor Tortoni at the latest. Latham keeps the ride and is expected to go forward again with the visors added. Each way. SCALABLE (9) kept safe in betting on debut and had genuine excuses when racing wide without cover to finish fifth over this track and trip. Improvement likely with that run under her belt.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Signor Tortoni to win.
3 07:00 TOYOTA FORKLIFTS HANDICAP 1550m
Xerxes has good early speed and can set a decent tempo. PINK SHALALA (1) finished in the minor money at four of his five runs and backs up quickly after coming out of a strong race when second over 1400m at Randwick Kensington on January 22. Extra trip suits and can overcome the sticky gate. PERFECTLY FROSTED (4) has shown potential in his two career runs in easier company and gets in light with Nock's 3kg claim. Will relish the extra distance and expect to see him race closer to the speed. DELRICO (2) another from the Waller yard with his hoof on the till. Three weeks between runs when fading late to finish third over 1400m at Randwick Kensington. J Mac rides and no surprise to see him ridden a little more conservatively from the draw. Each way. OMNIC (3) eight-start maiden due for a change of luck. Will appreciate the weight relief with Wadick's 2kg claim after disappointing when fifth over 1400m at Randwick Kensington. Blinkers come off and improvement is anticipated.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Pink Shalala to go close.
4 07:30 ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP 1550m
Moderate pace with Destiny's Delight taking up the running ahead of Little Baia and Edmond. BRIGHT RED (2) finds a much easier contest tonight after bumping into some progressive types at her last five starts. Maps to stalk the speed and expected to return to winning form with J Mac engaged. DESTINY'S DELIGHT (1) returned from a lengthy break with a gutsy second in the heavy (8) going to the handy Sweysive over 1400m at Warwick Farm. Has won second-up and Wadick's claim is a bonus. LITTLE BAIA (7) had the two runs back and no shock to see her improve sharply out to the 1550m. Just under a month between runs when outsprinted to run ninth over 1250m here. Well drawn and will roll forward and give plenty of cheek. EDMOND (4) tough old gelding with an okay record over this course and distance. Set to peak fourth-up after finishing fourth to Magnatear at Wyong on January 11. Form has since been franked and can add value to the exotics.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Bright Red to win.
5 08:00 2025 STUD AND STABLE STAFF AWARDS HANDICAP 1900m
Frankly Elegant has good early speed and can set a decent tempo. BARAZIN (4) improving gelding starting to put it all together. Scored a slick win at Kembla Grange two runs back, then back in trip and up in grade with a hard-fought fifth to Our Anchorage over 1800m at Randwick Kensington. Can park just off the speed and finish over the top of them. FRANKLY ELEGANT (5) improving Frankel mare with a good record this track and trip. Indicated a win was imminent after sitting on the good tempo when second over 1800m at Randwick Kensington. Tim Clark will take control early and prove hard to run down. GO TROPPO (2) has struggled in four runs back and go on his unlucky second to The Englishman five runs back over this track and trip. Can add value to the exotics. STAR LEGACY (9) drops further in weight and like the way he attacked the line late when fourth over 1550m here on January 17. Can race in a more forward position and figure prominently.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Barazin and Frankly Elegant to fight it out.
6 08:30 PALACE PIER @ DARLEY HANDICAP 1250m
Loads of speed from Alliri, Flying Thinker and Gangsta Granny burning turf in the early stages. Tough race with plenty of chances. CODETTA (2) is a progressive filly with the three wins from six starts. Going quickly through her grades and was a touch unlucky in the heavy going when a narrow second over 1200m at Warwick Farm. Maps to get the gun run and comes out of a strong race. ALLIRI (4) is another improver who's progressed strongly in her first prep. Chasing her third straight victory after scoring a slick win over 1100m at Randwick Kensington on January 15. Has the speed to get across from the awkward draw and figure prominently. ART VOLANT (1) kept fresh for this and comes out of a decent form race after running fifth to Unstopabull over 1100m at Randwick. Kept ticking over with a 900m trial at Rosehill. Each way player. SCINTILLA (7) nice filly who showed a good turn of foot when a slick maiden winner over this course and distance at the latest. Drops sharply in weight with the claim and can handle the rise in grade.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Box Quinella 2,4,1,7.
7 09:00 KIA EVENING STAR 1100m
Genuine pace with Vegas Raider taking up the running ahead of One Destiny and Memoria. MABEL (3) will find this more to her liking after jumping in grade when an encouraging sixth to Bonita Queen over 1100m at Wyong in BM78 class at the latest. Will get the right tempo and is sure to be strong late with the claim. VEGAS RAIDER (6) will be fitter after three runs back and expecting a much better showing after tiring late when fifth to Balkans over this track and trip on January 17. Senior rider back on and will give plenty of cheek. MEMORIA (4) resumes with a dynamite fresh record. Raced in much stronger company last time in and fitted with two searching trials. Can sit off the fast pace and pounce late. CHIEF CONDUCTOR (5) third-up tonight and gets the right set-up with the good tempo expected. Blinkers go on for the first time and not without each-way prospects.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Mabel to go close.
8 09:30 THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP 1250m
They will be getting along early with Let's Go Bro and Walkin'talkin' leading the charge. BARTOLF (10) scored a sharp win on resumption two-back, before failing to handle the heavy (8) going as fav when finishing seventh and pulling up with a poor recovery rate over 1200m at Warwick Farm. Can sit just off the speed from the low draw and return to form on the firmer surface. FRENCH MARINE (11) improved with each run this time in and ready to win with Roper's 3kg claim. Has raced well in this class in the past and doesn't have to improve much to take this out. OAKFIELD DUKE (1) last win came over this track and trip last July and fitter after two runs back in stronger class. Maps well with J Mac riding and has the numbers to take this out. ROUSSILLON (4) continued the good recent form third-up when charging late with the 59kg to run second over 1250m at this track. Tongue-tie goes on and is capable of running into the minor money.  SUGGESTED PLAY: Bartolf to return to winning form.