Best Bets for Canterbury from Racing and Sports Form Expert Alex Steedman as heard on Sky Sports Radio.
R4; #6 Smart As
Smart As has placed in her past two starts, both at this track, trip and class.
They’ve been brave efforts where she’s led and just been reeled in late. The last came behind Coonawarra who won at Rosehill last Saturday so the form is looking pretty good.
It could be a case of third time’s the charm here. We know she’s going forward and around Canterbury that’s a big positive. From barrier 1 the Exceed And Excel mare should go to the front and maps to get a soft lead. There’s zero early speed in the race outside of her. Lastly, the four-year-old is proven at the trip and on rain affected ground.
She'll take some catching.
R5; #5 Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda comes here after a first up fourth on the Kensington track behind Alassio. She was posted wide early on there and had to work to take up a spot outside the lead.
She fought hard in the straight but that early work looked to tell late.
It was her first start in over six months so she’ll have taken good improvement from the run. The Charge Forward fillies lone career win came at this track and trip in a prior second up outing on a Soft 7 track.
She ran a new career peak Timeform rating to claim that maiden win by some way. That figure if replicated would see the Team Hawkes filly winning this and with a bit up the sleeve.
Brenton Avdulla can settle her in behind the early lead and the pair should prove hard to hold out in the straight.
