Midweek quaddie at Canterbury, Wednesday, August 31 2016
PUNTERS have been used to punting into smaller fields throughout the winter, but now that spring is approaching the fields are getting much bigger as we’ll see this Wednesday at Canterbury.
A cracking field kicks off the quaddie at 3.15pm with a rating 67 handicap which could be mistaken for a Saturday-graded race. The Chris Waller-trained Sezanne is coming off a win on this track and takes on the likes of Overstep and Clevedon Bay.
The highly-regarded Torpenhow resumes for John O’Shea in the third leg and it should be a hotly-contested betting affair with the unbeaten Rockafella.
Great racing at Canterbury on Wednesday and you can make your quaddie selections at CrownBet.com.au.
Leg 1 – Rating 67 Handicap (1200m)
Fantasize is third up for Peter and Paul Snowden after finishing fourth on this track last start. The five-year-old was checked early in the run, but was able to pick itself up and run home well behind Serve And Volley. It’s bred to run over further, but respect against this lineup.
Clevedon Bay was an impressive three-length winner on debut before finding it too tough last start. The Kris Lees-trained mare is bred to be good (Redoute’s Choice x. Kosi Bay) and it gets the inside draw to jump from here. Brenton Avdulla sticks with it and we expect bookmakers to have it well-favoured in the betting.
The Chris Waller-trained duo of Overstep and Sezanne will also be very well backed. Both are coming off strong last start performances, especially Sezanne which won on this track and has been touted as an up-and-coming type. Don’t leave either runner out of quaddie selections.
Leg 1 tips: 1, 7, 10, 11
Leg 2 – Theraces R72 Handicap (1550m)
Aurora Glow looked a winner halfway down the straight last start, but was narrowly run down near the line. The Chris Waller-trained mare has been around the mark all year and Hugh Bowman is a nice addition to the saddle. It goes well on this track and should be tough to beat in an even race.
Granite Belt looked a horse on the rise after back-to-back wins to kick off this campaign, but the roll came unstuck last start at Warwick Farm. The four-year-old finished ninth and over 13 lengths behind the winner, but expect quick improvement from the Lees-trained gelding which will enjoy the drop in weight.
Our Ventura has improved with every run this campaign and it handles a rain-affected track. The Richard Collet-trained mare has had three starts this campaign and it produced a good effort for third last start. It has won and placed twice on a heavy track so conditions will suit and it could add some value to quaddie payouts.
Leg 2 tips: 3, 4, 8
Leg 3 – McGrath Estate Agents R72 (1200m)
Torpenhow will have to work from barrier 11, but the John O’Shea-trained gelding has plenty of ability. The gelding by Street Cry won by 5.8 lengths on debut before making it two-from-two at Wyong where it won by four lengths. It was beaten by a seasoned galloper in Our Beatnik last start so take nothing away from that run and include it here with James McDonald in the saddle.
Zin Zan Elsie went close on this track last start and has form in higher-graded races. The Matthew Smith-trained mare finished third behind Rockolicious two back at Randwick and that forms should stack up mightily for this. The 3kg claim from Nick Heywood is ideal so include it here.
James Cummings lines up Rockafella which is unbeaten from two starts. The four-year-old has been well-favoured to date in both runs and will likely be short in the market again. It has looked impressive so far and makes the rise in distance once more. The well-bred type looks set for metropolitan racing.
Leg 3 tips: 2, 7, 11
Leg 4 – Tab Rating 67 Handicap (1100m)
Bjorn Baker has been training well of late and he lines up Volante which it having only its second start this year. The four-year-old ran fifth on this track last start, but expect it to improvement with the run and it showed plenty of ability prior. It ran second behind Press Statement on this track over a year ago which was followed by a sixth in the Woodlands Stakes at Scone. Looks a chance here with the claim.
Sugar Bay Leonard wasn’t disgraced when fourth at Gosford last start and it looked good winning by a length prior to that. The Joe Pride-trained gelding has all the credentials to become a quality thoroughbred and punters will likely bet it strongly on Wednesday.
Super Maxi last raced at Geelong where it won narrowly over Wazamba and it looks to have ability. The Hawkes-trained three-year-old is still improving and Tommy Berry takes over Dwayne Dunn in the saddle at 55.5kg in the weights. Looks an each way chance in the last.
Leg 4 tips: 3, 5, 12