Canterbury Park races betting preview & top bets | Friday, 6/1/23
| What | Canterbury Park Races |
| Where | Canterbury Park Racecourse – King Street, Canterbury NSW 2193 |
| When | Friday, January 6, 2023 |
| First Race | 6:00pm AEDT |
Evening racing returns to Canterbury Park Racecourse on Friday for a competitive eight-race program under lights. We’ve got a surface currently listed as a Good 4 for Friday night, however, with plenty of rain forecast on Thursday and Friday we’re going to be doing the form for a Soft to Heavy deck for the meeting. The rail has moved out +3m the entire circuit after holding the New Year’s Day meeting in the true position on Sunday. We’re going to be looking to runners that can be positive and handle the likely wet conditions for this meeting as it looks like we’re in for a downgrading surface.
The first race is scheduled for 6:00pm AEDT.
Best Bet at Canterbury Park: Citizenship
We’ve found an interesting first starter in the opener at Canterbury on Friday night and the market hasn’t seemed to miss Citizenship either as he’s opened a clear favourite with online bookmakers. This three-year-old colt by Lord Kanaloa looks to be an interesting prospect for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, as they have seemingly found a nice starting point in this 1100m maiden contest to find a debut win. His single trial at Rosehill all the way back in February of 2022 signalled a horse that may already be the finished article when running third behind Brosnan in the trail as a two-year-old. Now with two winning heats at Cranbourne as a three-year-old, Citizenship comes to this Canterbury maiden in terrific order and if he can perform to the level we’ve seen in all his barrier trial outings in his career, he’ll take a power of beating as James McDonald takes the reins and should find a lovely spot for this well-bred colt to score in the opener.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#2 Citizenship (4)
3yo Colt | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: James McDonald (57.5kg)
Next Best at Canterbury Park: Cigar Flick
We’ll be looking for back-to-back James McDonald wins on back-to-back first starters on Friday night as Cigar Flick will make her debut for the Chris Waller yard. Her single barrier trial at Rosehill on December 29 was a strong effort running in behind Stefi Magnetica by 1.5 lengths hard held going to post and looks a nice type out of superstar sire Churchill. James McDonald rode this filly in the barrier trial and took the reins of race rival, another first starter for the stable in Ravenclaw, and the fact he elects to stick with our filly for this 1100m maiden contest we think speaks volumes as to the upside of our selection. Cigar Flick and James McDonald may have no choice but to go back from the awkward draw as to not be cast wide without cover, however, we think this filly has some class and we’re happy to make her the bet in a race with plenty of first starters with unknown quantities.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#8 Cigar Flick (11)
2yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56kg)
Best Value: Whangaehu
You won’t find a more consistent horse without finding the winners enclosure than our top pick in the last race of the evening, as Whangaehu will be looking to get a much-deserved win on the board this preparation. Chris Waller has placed this gelding very well, but he just hasn’t found lucky, whether it be at the barrier draw or in the run, this son of Proisir just can’t seem to get a break and we think that can all change on Friday night in this 1900m BM72 affair. He’s drawn in a perfect gate with conditions that should suit this four-year-old with his only win coming on soft conditions, not to mention a strong swing in the weights on the likes of Fuller who defeated him last start at Canterbury on December 16. Nash Rawiller should have this guy in a perfect striking position turning for home and we’re keen to be backing him to finish the proceedings on Friday night.
Best Value
Race 8 – 
#8 Whangaehu (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Nash Rawiller (57.5kg)
Friday quaddie tips for Canterbury races
Canterbury quadrella selections
Friday, January 6, 2023
- 1-3-4
- 1-2-3
- 1-3-5-8-9
- 1-5-8
Investment: $135 for 100%