| What | Canterbury Races |
| Where | Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 |
| When | Sunday, January 1, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:20pm AEDT |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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We look to kick-off the New Year with style as the first NSW racing program of 2023 heads to Canterbury Park Racecourse for a competitive eight-race card. The $160,000 Canterbury Sprint (1200m) is the feature event on Sunday afternoon as the very popular I Am Me is looking to make it four wins on the trot this preparation.
The rail moves back to the true position after having a few night-racing meets on the course proper, so look for the rail to be hot on Sunday due to the slight chance of a Soft 5 deck with some rain forecast over the weekend.
This twilight meeting is set to get us underway at 3:20pm AEDT.
Canterbury Sprint: Southern Lad
We may regret taking on the short-priced favourite in the Canterbury Sprint feature, however, we couldn’t pass up on the each-way value on offer with online bookmakers for Southern Lad. This eight-year-old gelding by Ocean Park is in far better form than what the margins may suggest and since joining trainer Danielle Seib this preparation has had zero luck – especially with barrier draws – finding barriers eight, 10, 13 and eight respectively in races where he just hasn’t been able to get into the contest resulting in his latest defeat to race favourite, I Am Me by 5.8 lengths. He had excuses that day at Randwick on December 17 and was luckless prior to that as well. With a 1.5kg swing in the weights on I Am Me, plus drawing a top barrier for the first time in the preparation, we should be seeing the best of Southern Lad as jockey Alysha Collett will look to take a sit just in behind what looks a strong tempo on the map before getting clear turning for home and saluting at big odds.
Canterbury Sprint
Race 6 – 
#4 Southern Lad (1)
8yo Gelding | T: Danielle Seib | J: Alysha Collett (53.5kg)
$26 with Bet365
Best Bet: Grebeni
In the first leg of the quaddie our best bet of the afternoon Grebeni should be looking for his third straight win this preparation, after being the definition of a good thing beaten last start at Gosford on December 22. NSW racing stewards inquired over the ride from James Innes Jr on that occasion when he seemingly allowed horses to round up the beaten favourite turning for home and never really mustering on the Ocean Park gelding until the race was all over to go down less than a length. It was suspect to say the least, however, we don’t want to be too critical of jockeys, so we’ll put it down to a lapse in concentration. The irony here is that had he won on December 22 rather than be the eye-catching forgive run we’d arguably be getting a better price in this BM64 contest on Sunday afternoon. Regardless, we’re happy to be siding with Grebeni here as Chad Schofield will look to sit somewhere midfield with cover before storming over the top of his rivals to get another deserving win this preparation.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#13 Grebeni (7)
3yo Gelding | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Chad Schofield (57.5kg)
$4.20 with Neds
Next Best Bet: Fudai
We’ll be looking to start the day with a winner as Fudai will be staking his claim to break his maiden status in this 1900m contest to get us underway at Canterbury. This Brad Widdup-trained gelding is unfortunate not to have gotten his first career win yet after some very consistent efforts this preparation, including his previous effort at Canterbury on December 16 over the 1550m when getting too far back chasing home Super Chilled. This four-year-old by Shalaa should only appreciate stepping up in trip here and from barrier two he only needs to be jumping on terms with his rivals to be competitive in the opener. Dylan Gibbons sticks after taking the reins last time out and with a more positive ride we think Fudai can get 2023 underway with a win.
Next Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#5 Fudai (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Brad Widdup | J: Dylan Gibbons (a2) (59kg)
$4 with Neds
Best Value: Hollywood Hero
The second race of the program is a maiden contest for the three-year-old colts and geldings and we’re with one of the debutants trained by Bjorn Baker, Hollywood Hero. He’s having his first career start after five official barrier trials in 2022 and looks to be primed to be starting his campaign strong, particularly with trialling against race rival Step Aside back on December 8 at Rosehill. His piece of work on that day was just as impressive as the Chris Waller-trained galloper and the fact we’re getting triple the price for this son of Sacred Falls first-up looks good value to us provided he can replicate his trial form to the racetrack. Dylan Gibbons get this colt down to 54kg and will be looking to utilize barrier one as he tracks the leaders into this race before giving us a massive sight at each-way odds.
Best Value
Race 2 – 
#5 Hollywood Hero (1)
3yo Colt | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Dylan Gibbons (a2) (56kg)
$14 with Unibet
Sunday quaddie for Canterbury races
Canterbury quadrella selections
Sunday, January 1, 2023
- 1-13
- 3-4-5
- 1-2-3-6-8
- 1-3-6-8
Investment: $120 for 100%
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