Top 5 Early Insights @ Canterbury

Published: 23 Jul 2015

Leading contender - Way We Go is one of the better horses lining up at Canterbury

The tight turns of Canterbury are the scene for Saturday Racing this weekend, a rare feature card for the southern Sydney track.

Finding a galloper that is racing in peak form, handles the wet and the Canterbury 'hairpin' is the name of the game. The Race Guide's Analyst Team are busily finishing the weekend's Race Guides on Thursday night.

Until then, the Team have listed their Top 5 Early Insights below.

1 - The Speed is Back?

Keeping powerful sprinting types at their peak is a real art, one that Chris Waller has never been famous for.

After a failed stint in the New Zealand trainer's stable, KENCELLA heads to Jo Pride, a much more accomplished trainer of speedsters.

He could bounce back this weekend after two promising trials.

Better now? - Kencella is with a better stable for sprinters

2 - Beware of the Bias

Canterbury is a track that can often have bias, horses near the rails and on the pace favoured on many occasions.

Keep an eye on how the track plays early on. If leaders start to win, expect horses like BEYOND THANKFUL, ZARATONE, KENCELLA, AEROBAR, ALIAS, ECHO GAL, IL MIO DESTINO, I'M IN THE MONEY and FOREIGN PRINCE to firm sharply in betting.

Likely leader - Beyond Thankful can take control from the front

3 - On His Way

It's been hard to miss the wins of WAY WE GO, a promising gelding that has dominated in his two starts to date.

He's a horse with big 'upside', showing enough talent to suggest he'll be a Carnival-quality horse.

They are going to have a very hard time beating him this weekend, even from barrier 14.

Serious sprinter - Way We Go has shown a lot of talent so far

4 - The 'Golden Ticket'

Horses with a good turn-of-foot have a big advantage over the others, it's the 'golden ticket' that can make the difference at the end of a race (no matter what the tempo is).

KRISTY LEE is blessed with a rapid sprint finish and she won't be far behind the leaders in a small field of nine.

Watch out for Nash storming at the end!

Raw power - Kristy Lee has the engine to flash home fast

5 - Weight Matters

Finding a horse that sneaks in with a light handicap is part of the horse racing puzzle.

TURBULENT JET and FOREIGN PRINCE are both big-striding types that won't love the tight turns of Canterbury, but their low weights could make the difference.

(..yes we know TURBULENT JET is one start for one win at the track, but he only made ground after the turn that day). 

On the minimum - Foreign Prince lines up with just 54kg this weekend