The Australian Turf Club has received 80 acceptances for the eight race program at Canterbury on Saturday, the first Saturday metropolitan meeting of the 2012/13 season.
With two other metropolitan meetings this week at Kembla Grange on Tuesday, and Hawkesbury on Wednesday, it is not surprising that the fields have thinned out from the 117 nominations for the meeting on Monday.
The first of two three-year-old races, the $85,000, Canterbury MW 6 Series Grand Coupe Handicap (1550m), has a field of six with the Gai Waterhouse trained Rampaging the top weight with 59kg.
The More Than Ready colt was last seen in his first campaign when winning second up at Canterbury over 1250m on February 22nd. He was then spelled and the stable produced him to run sixth over 1200m at Warwick Farm on a Slow 6 track on July 14th. Nash Rawiller rides from barrier six.
David Payne has the progressive filly Queen's Elect who is coming off three third placings and a last start win at Canterbury over 1580m on a Heavy 9 on July 25th. Nathan Berry rides with 58kg and barrier three.
Anthony Cummings has two in the field, Diamondsinthedark, Peter Robl with 55kg and barrier five, and Ireland's Teardrop with Blake Shinn, 54kg and barrier four.
The bonus race, the $85,000, Canterbury BMW Inglis Bonus (1200m), has a field of 10. Waterhouse again has the top-weight with De Shamekh with 58kg.
The Encosta de Lago colt won at Rosehill back on January 14th over 1100m. Rawiller rides from barrier two.
Sydney's last season leading trainer Chris Waller has Relaxed And Happy going for three wins in succession after winning at metropolitan meetings at Newcastle and Wyong, the latter on July 24th. Both races were over 1200m on Heavy 9 tracks. The Exceed And Excel gelding has 56kg.
Peter Snowden sends out the well-bred Redoute's Choice colt Albrecht, with 55kg, after one previous race when winning at Canterbury over 1250m on June 6th on a Heavy 9 track.
The track is rated as a Slow 6 at acceptance time on Wednesday with the rail in the True position for the entire circuit. The eight race programme commences at 12.25pm. Sydney's weather is forecast to be cold and mostly sunny through to Saturday with a maximum temperature of 19c for Saturday after warming up from 7c overnight.
