4:35am - CANTERBURY LEAGUE CLUB STAKES | 1300m | Group 1 | i

The best of the 3YO year come together as 4YOs in the G1 Canterbury Stakes. We lose the pressure of FELL SWOOP now he is scratched; TRAPEZE ARTIST coming across, BRUTAL kicking up on the inside and PROMPT RESPONSE holding her spot (tempo: FAIR). TRAPEZE ARTIST was poor in a slowly-run 1200m race fresh and gets a much better set-up here if the tempo is honest off two strong trial wins. He'll need to be at his best to hold off KEMENTARI, PIERATA and SHOALS though. KEMENTARI ideally drawn to ambush from midfield (can peak on run if exposed too early), PIERATA with some of the best form last prep and SHOALS always under-rated. The extra fitness of TRAPEZE ARTIST and KEMENTARI could make the difference in the end. The 3YO BRUTAL will need to improve to challenge those four. [updated 9:50am]