It's the final winter metropolitan meeting at Canterbury on Wednesday but plenty of these horses will figure in the spring, so let's get involved.
HONG QIGONG (Canterbury Race 1 No 3)
I've got to go off what I see and I was impressed with the lead-up trial victory of Hawkes Racing's Hong Qigong. Handled by Jay Ford, the son of Pierro camped just off the pace before diving through a late split under minimal pressure for a soft win at Rosehill. Brenton Avdulla has the job of piloting on Wednesday and with a solid tempo expected through Faeger (blinkers first time), Lightz and End Of The Road – Hong Qigong can pounce at the business end.
BET: WIN
ODDS - $3.10 @Luxbet
BRACES (Canterbury Race 5 No 7)
Confident that Greg Hickman's six-year-old can improve sharply at big odds so playing him each-way for a big result. Two runs this time in have been full of merit – flashed home first-up in a fast-run 1250m here then held-up for most of the straight when an eye-catching sixth at Kembla. Gets out to 1550m third-up, should get it run at a genuine tempo and with victories ranging from 1300m to 2200m – he'll be strong when it counts. Jay Ford has been aboard for his two runs this campaign and sticks again here. Worthy gamble.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS – $18 @ Sportsbet (PowerPlay $22)
MISSILE CODA (Canterbury Race 7 No 1)
The Snowden stable has a smart mare on their hands with Missile Coda. Made it three wins from four starts when towelling rivals around 1250m here last time. The runner-up Jemadar has since come out and franked the form so from a soft gate with Blake Shinn retaining the ride – it will take a smart one to halt her winning roll. Undefeated filly Regimen is going to prove a worthy rival but I'll take the four-year-old over the three-year-old – especially considering I rate her formlines superior.
BET: WIN
ODDS - $2.60 @ CrownBet
