Canterbury tips: Kris Lees to end the day on a high with Powerful Peg

Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the line on every race for Canterbury.

The form: Complete NSW Racing Thoroughbred form, including video replays and everything you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 7, No.3: POWERFUL PEG

Progressive mare from the Kris Lees stable who has won half of her six starts. Drop in grade here and get a good gate.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.8: QUEEN OF DRAGONS

Did enough on debut to indicate she has more than enough talent to win in Wednesday grade.

APPRECIATE THE BEST

Race 6, No.2: KIRKEBY

A winner third up, he finds the right race to add a third win to his resume.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3

Race 5: 5, 6, 7

Race 6: 1, 2, 4, 7

Race 7: 1, 3, 4

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Dylan Gibbons has ridden 86 winners for his boss Kris Lees and looks well placed to add to that tally on Wednesday.

THE FORCANTERBURY POST OFFICE

RACE 1

Queen Of Dragons is the sister of last year’s Group 2 Percy Sykes winner Paris Dior with the daughter of Pierro also loaded with potential. Not everything went smoothly on her debut, where she raced wide before fighting back to fourth behind Red Resistance at Rosehill. She gets the better draw here and Victorian jockey Craig Williams makes the trip to Sydney for just one ride. The Little Pumper is the biggest danger. The Shalaa filly led them when narrowly beaten by Infatuation last start and could be difficult to catch again. Militarize is the better of Chris Waller’s two chances after winning his latest trial in some style.

Bet: Queen Of Dragons to win.

RACE 2

Beauty Crusade is a fitting son of Invader who lines up for three starts. The Ron Quinton-trained gelding has been beaten but far from disgraced in two hits, and recently finished third in a 1400m event at the Kensington course. If you are now walking up 1550 m, this is the right call. Eau De Vie brings country form to the town after last missing in a Muswellbrook girl. She tossed through the line and should enjoy the step in the journey. Air Bentley ran well for third in a leader’s dominant event at Gosford last time but finds another race without an abundance of speed in it.

Bet: Beauty Crusade to win.

RACE 3

Lalaguna has been a runner-up twice in six starts, including last time out when she was nailed over 1400m at Warwick Farm. She drops back in trip here but should land in a forward position again from barrier three as trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace pull the blinders out of the gear bag. She should be rock hard fit now. Hollywood Hero has been backed from $6 to $3 in early betting. He looks a promising youngster and was not far off in his debut at the track on New Year’s Day. Botanica and Dakota Vroom have tested well in the run-up to their debuts, but the wide draws can be costly.

Bet: Lalaguna to win.

RACE 4

Tawfiq Lass is a consistent mare who has had some of her best races finishing second in the standings. The Kris Lees-trained five-year-old is a two-time winner and has also been placed at this stage of her preparation. She made decent ground on her fifth at this venue first after a break on January 6 and history tells you she will improve on that performance. Game Theory was beaten by Tawfiq Lass’ stablemate Per Inaway in the Malcolm Cusack last start at Gosford, but the margin was less than a length. He raced well without winning this prep and another forward performance would not surprise. Dynamic impact is either rocks or diamonds. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has won six of his 24 starts but has never achieved a minor placing.

Bet: Tawfiq Lass last to win.

RACE 5

Sophia’s Magic started life in New Zealand but will join forces with some Kiwi stars in her fourth Australian start. The Charm Spirit mare is now with Chris Waller and will be chasing a first Australian win with James McDonald on board. She has finished among the placings in her past two starts at this track, including a runner-up last time out over the same ride. She should be every chance from barrier two. Expect stablemates Karlstad and Field Legend to provide the main challenge with a lean towards the latter. The Snitzel gelding should appreciate the step to 1900m first of a break. Eis The Crown could be a sharp improvement on his second Australian start.

Bet: Sophia’s Magic to win.

RACE 6

Rifle jockey Nash Rawiller rides for the first time since January 7 and can get a welcome back gift aboard Kirkeby. The Chris Waller-trained gelding doesn’t win often with two wins from 22 starts and a further nine placings. One of those posts came last start in a solid second at Warwick Farm. A winner third up, this is a great chance for him to add to his win tally. Golden Gorge was a winner around this track and ride two starts ago before failing in the Saturday grade. He is more than capable of bouncing back. Journalism gets the chance to support his first success Wyong, but it is definitely more difficult.

Bet: Kirkeby to win.

RACE 7

Powerful Peg has made an excellent start to her career, winning three and placing twice in six runs. After winning at Tamworth and Beaumont to start this prep, the Rubick colt finished within half a length of the winner in the Saturday Grade last time. She hits an easy race here with a super draw in barrier two. Consider her one of the better bets on the show. The Great Houdini will come back and rattle home. He has a lot of room for improvement second. Recommendation will need to rally early from the wide gate to retake the lead but could be hard to catch if he can.

Bet: Powerful pin to win.

Originally published as Race Day Focus: Best Bets, Inside Mail for Canterbury