The great Don Henley once sang “I feel it in the air, summers out of reach” which probably doesn’t excite many, especially if you like to spend your Saturdays at the beach in a pair of budgie smugglers, but for racing fans far and wide that means one thing, Autumn racing is here!
Both the Australian and Randwick Guineas will be run and won on Saturday, along with the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, held at Royal Randwick Racecourse over 1300m. And as is so often the case, a quality field of sprinters have been assembled in the $600k weight-for-age contest, including star Kiwi mare, Imperatriz.
She currently heads the market with Dabble at $1.90. Group 1 winning colt Golden Mile is on the next line of betting at $6.50, just ahead of serious sprinter Artorius at $7.00, who returns from a long break. Electric Girl heads the others at $10, after a solid first up win.
However, we know anything can happen in the horse racing game and there’s plenty of different formlines in this race. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Canterbury Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Cascadian (5) – $14
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 59kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Rising nine-year-old who is still racing at the peak of his powers. Returns here off the back of just one trial, where he savaged the line late behind stablemate Savatiano. Will improve with this run under his belt, but is capable of running a race fresh.
2. Artorius (8) – $7.00
Jockey – Zac Purton 59kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Artorius is $5.50 to take out Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes at Randwick! It’s his first run in Australia since March last year… Are you backing him in? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/YEm9w4gF0H
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 1, 2023
Resumes here off the back of a six month spell, after finishing midfield at Group 1 level in France. Has some terrific form on paper and looked good in a recent trial. Like the booking of Zac Purton, who would dead set win on a broomstick at the moment. Another who will take improvement from the run but can’t be left out of calculations.
3. Kirwan’s Lane (9) – $101
Jockey – Chad Schofield 59kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Had a solid preparation last time in, winning at Listed and Group 2 level in the $2m Ingham. Has trialled up well for this, in some hot heats, but has a poor first up record and might find this a bit tough. Look for him over further second up.
4. Lombardo (3) – $13
Jockey – Brett Prebble 59kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Another who is first up here off the back of a lengthy spell. Was scratched from last week’s Oakleigh Plate to be saved for this. Will roll forward from the low draw and is a winner of two from five fresh. Has a Group 1 win next to his name just two starts ago, but will need to be in near peak condition to add another one to his tally here. Place hope.
5. Converge (4) – $26
Jockey – Tim Clark 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Dual Group 1 winner who hasn’t been sighted since finishing down the track in the Golden Eagle. Form really tapered off last prep and it’s hard to gauge off his trials how he’s come back. More than capable of running top three here but would like to see him do something before including him in the numbers in a race like this.
6. Old Flame (6) – $51
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 59kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Missed a place once last time in and was good in The Gong prior to a spell. Has a brilliant fresh record and has drawn to get a good run, but his recent barrier trial was nothing to get excited about. Is more than capable of being competitive if he puts his best foot forward on race day but a few others look to have his measure.
Plenty of interest in the return of Artorius, plus the classy Kiwi mare Imperatriz and Godolphin colt Golden Mile among a top field for Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes at Randwick. Here’s the barrier draw 👇 pic.twitter.com/fDPFF7rtrI
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 1, 2023
7. Quantico (10) – $34
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 59kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Trialled well before a solid win at Group 3 level first up. He then got back and made some late headway in a race dominated by those up front. This his first go at WFA and he’s come up with a sticky gate. Hard to see him winning but can run on into a minor placing.
8. Imperatriz (7) – $1.90F
Jockey – James McDonald 57kg
Trainer – Mark Walker
In-form Kiwi mare who was brilliant at Group 1 level last start at Te Rapa, beating the likes of Levante and La Crique. That was her third win on end and she’s looking to make this Group 1 win number five. McDonald goes on, she’s drawn good enough in the small field and she handles all surfaces. Hard to knock.
9. Electric Girl (1) – $10
Jockey – Zac Lloyd (a) 57kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Rode the speed and was too good first up in the Group 2 Millie Fox at Rosehill. Yes this is tougher but she’s drawn to get a gun run again and is ever so honest. Her Randwick record is some concern but should be in it for a long way.
10. Argentia (11) – $34
Jockey – Craig Williams 57kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Finished off strongly first up in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes at Sandown behind Lofty Strike. The quinella of that race have since gone on to quinella the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate. The outside gate probably forces their hand to ride quiet again here, but she has a withering turn of foot on her day and the step up in trip suits. Looks one of the main hopes in this.
11. Golden Mile (2) – $6.50
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56kg
Trainer – James Cummings
🔵 Aft Cabin | Randwick Guineas
🔵 Golden Mile | Canterbury Stakes
🔵 Cascadian | Canterbury Stakes
🔵 Cylinder | Todman StakesVin Cox laid his eyes on some of @godolphin‘s stable stars at Warwick Farm this morning, and provided an update on Anamoe! pic.twitter.com/JJjBi1vBG7
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 28, 2023
Second of the Blue Army runners who was good first up in the Group 2 Expressway despite going down as an odds on fav. He’s had a trial since to keep him ticking over and should roll forward from the low draw. Certainly up to this company but the 1300m second up may still be short of his best.
Final Word
A small but select field here in the 2023 Canterbury Stakes and I’m keen on the Kiwi, Imperatriz. Her latest win at Te Rapa was exceptional, where she thrashed Group 1 winners, Levante and La Crique. She’s a winner of 12 from 17 and has race fitness well and truly on her side. Whatever beats her will be winning the race.
Stablemates Artorius and Argentia can race well from the back of the field, providing there is a genuine tempo up front. Artorius resumes off the back of a solid trial and Argentia was good from the back fresh in a very strong Rubiton Stakes. Both gallopers have a lethal turn of foot on their day and can easily run into the placings.
The Team Hawkes trained, Electric Girl, was good first up in the Group 2 Millie Fox and will land in a prominent position again from gate one here. She’s tough and consistent, and will take running down.
Have a few question marks with Golden Mile. His first up run and recent trial suggest he may be looking for further than the 1300m second up here, whilst his stablemate and rising nine-year-old, Cascadian, can do something fresh.
Canterbury Stakes Tip
8. Imperatriz – Win ($1.90)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
