Judge Judi has returned a few good efforts this time and looks ready to win fourth-up at Canterbury today. The Star Witness mare scored a soft win here first-up and has since finished on the winner’s heels in two tougher races at Randwick. I’m keen to take on the favourite Travancore and I think that Judge Judi is the horse to pull off the upset, particularly launching from gate 4.
The scratching of a couple of key horses, including early favourite Catwalk has left Don’t Leave Me Out as the horse to beat in the fifth at Canterbury today. Don’t Leave Me Out returned several pleasing efforts last time in, and there is no doubt that he’ll enjoy wholesale improvement from a competitive first-up effort for fifth in a Saturday race at Randwick. This looks easier.
Viceroy faded to finish off the pace at Rosehill last time out, but this looks a pretty sizeable drop in class and he is a winning chance at odds ($15 at publish). The Luke Pepper-trained gelding has returning several pleasing results throughout his racing career and savaged the line to finish a close-up fourth in the Listed Ramornie Handicap two back, most notably. I like that Pepper has spaced his runs and he’ll enjoy a relief in the weights with apprentice Billy Owen aboard.
Ulusaba will enjoy a drop in class into the seventh at Canterbury today and will take plenty of beating. The four-year-old son of Exceed And Excel scored an easy win at this track and distance three back and has since returned two competitive efforts to finish fourth in far strong Saturday races. He’s rock-hard fit and has the notable advantage of Nash Rawiller in the saddle. With appropriate luck from the wide barrier, this looks his race.