The feature race at Canterbury’s Friday night meeting this week is the Canterbury Classic, a scamper of 1000m. The race sees the return to racing of several handy performers including G2 winner Howmuchdoyouloveme and Pentasia, two of the leading contenders in the race. Also sure to attract her share of attention is Sookie. The former Patinack Farm representative was purchased by Gai Waterhouse last year for a substantial amount and has looked sharp in two recent barrier trials.
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1. HOWMUCHDOYOULOVEME – B Avdulla (4) 61kgs
A smart sprinter who will be stepping out for the first time in six months and for the first time for Warwick Farm trainer Jim Litt. After two plain efforts in G1 company last autumn, the son of Written Tycoon travelled to Queensland in the winter and in three starts, claimed the Listed Lightning Handicap and G3 Healy Stakes, in both wins overcoming wide gates and big weights. Winner of three from four fresh runs and placed at G2 level on the other occasion, he’ll be a short price to further enhance is record here.
2. CENTENNIAL PARK – N Rawiller (3) 56.5kgs
The David Payne trained runner ran a head second to Rain Drum in last spring’s Shannon Stakes (1500m) before two failed attempts in Group races down in Melbourne. He resumes here off a twelve week break and has been tuned up for his return with two solid barrier trials in the past fortnight, the most recent of which he won defeating stable-mate Criterion. The 8yo has a handy record fresh and has been placed in the G2 Expressway (twice) and G3 Missile Stakes when resuming from spells. Will get back in the run and be doing his best work late but the 1100m trip may be a fraction too short for him here.
3. ADEBISI – M Cahill (6) 56kgs
He has victories in the G3 Rubiton Stakes and Listed Razor Sharp Stakes on his resume but the 6yo has struggled in the past twelve months to reproduce those efforts. After running last in the field of nine at Eagle Farm back in September, the Desleigh Forster trained running was immediately spelled. First up here with no public trials to go on, combined with his most recent efforts, he’ll have to be taken on trust here.
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4. PENTASIA – C Reith (5) 54kgs
The sparingly raced 6yo Pentire mare has won eight of her sixteen starts, with her four most recent outings including a victory in the Listed Chief De Beers Stakes (1110m) and a third placing in the Ramornie Handicap. She too is coming back from a spell and looked good in a recent trial on her home track at Port Macquarie a fortnight ago. She was an impressive winner first up last prep at Listed level (defeating Gundy Son and Rocker) after securing a nice run in behind the speed. She’ll be looking for and should get from gate five, a similar run here and is capable of running a bold race.
5. SOOKIE – T Berry (2) 54kgs
Formerly owned by Patinack Farm, Sookie was purchased by Gai Waterhouse for $700k at last year’s Magic Millions’ Broodmare Sale and will be making her debut for the trainer here. The daughter of Casino Prince has won four of her twelve starts including her most recent outing, the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben back in May. She has looked smart in winning two trails the first of which was back in mid-December, indicating that mare has been in work for a while and ready to fire first up. Improved with each run last time in and now as a 4yo mare, we should see the best of here.
6. TAHITIAN BLACK – T Clark (7) 54kgs
Since returning from a spell in October, the David Pfieffer trained runner has produced six strong efforts, winning one and securing a place on a further three occasions. His latest effort was a second to Let’s Rock’n’roll in a BM 90 (1200m) at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago. That was the 6yo’s first run in just over a month and whilst he could improve again, not sure it will be by enough to counter the jump in class he’ll face.
7. KNOYDART – K McEvoy (1) 54kgs
The Darley runner chalked up his third win at start number thirteen when resuming in a BM 80 (1250m) over this track/trip four weeks ago. Starting the $2.45 favourite after an impressive trial win, the 4yo by More Than Ready was positioned on the speed and defeated stable-mate Petrify by half a length. His only previous start in a Stakes race resulted in a fourth placing behind by Mulaazem in the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) for 3yo’s. Drawn to take up another prominent spot and drops in weight from 58kgs carried last time but both the class and distance might be a bit too slick for him.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Adebisi and Knoydart will take up the lead position in this field with Tahitian Black likely to come across. Behind camp the two main chances for mine, Howmuchdoyouloveme and Pentasia. Howmuchdoyouloveme is the class runner of the race, as his allotted weight indicates but Pentasia beat him home last time and may do so again here. The two advantages she has here is the weight and the fact that she’s drawn on Howmuchdoyouloveme’s outside. That’ll give her jockey Christian Reith a few options and at the price, she may worth a small outlay. Sookie and Centennial Park the next best.
