Top jockey Zac Lloyd – has five great chances at Canterbury Park on Wednesday. Image by Bradley Photographers
In partnership with Racing NSW.
If confidence rules the saddle, Zac Lloyd is set for a big closing run to the 2025-26 season when he heads to Canterbury Park for Wednesday’s feature meeting.
Fresh from a successful and flying visit to the UK for the Ascot carnival last month, Lloyd wasted no time in hitting the ground running after his return.
And it all hit overdrive just eight days ago when he collected four winners on well fancied runners at the Newcastle meeting before riding a double at Kembla two days later.
Then he added another double at Saturday’s Rosehill meeting aboard well backed duo Le Troisir in a BM 78 staying battle, and Roselyn’s Star in the July Sprint Hcp over 1100m.
That left him with a very healthy 35 percent winning strike rate from his last 23 rides, and seemingly more to come.
At Canterbury on a surface likely to improve into soft range, Lloyd partners up early with veteran Rosehill trainer David Payne aboard two talented sprinters.
Classy two-year-old Persian Wonder resumes in a Maiden Hcp over 1200m for the colts and geldings behind two eye-catching trials.
A smart son of Group 1-winning French sire Hello Youmzain, Persian Wonder was placed in Group 3 company early autumn before being well beaten in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over a mile.
Despite being the $2.40 in TAB betting, he could be challenged at the head of the market by exciting three-year-old Argansort ($4.20) on debut for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott yard in blinkers off three progressive trials.
Then in the following race, Payne and Lloyd combine with talented juvenile filly Krasina fourth-up in a Maiden Hcp over 1200m.
A powerful-finishing daughter of Russian Revolution, Krasina is the $2.15 favourite in early markets ahead of resuming Queen’s Gamble ($3.70) and Farfetched ($4.60) who is third-up.
CANTERBURY PARK: Track Soft 7 and rail out 8m:
5. Raskol is ready to win again deep into the prep in a very tricky opener. Took on deeper Saturday opposition last month before beaten under three lengths here in a race with a little more depth. Winkers going on is part of a string of gear changes, and she has the tactical speed to offset the wide draw. Well over the odds.
3. The Little General was tough, winning from the outside barrier first-up in a provincial BM 68. Drawn the fence this time, and while up in weight, still not badly treated after the jockey’s claim. 10. Powerful Tune is a progressive provincial filly coming off an all-the-way BM 64 win at Gosford at her fourth start, and again in light after the jockey’s claim. 1. Neeson is a talented Canberra three-year-old who rates over the odds after two mixed runs in Class 3 Highway company. Both 4. Lull drawn low with a 3kg claim and 9. Pazyryk dropping in weight, are knockout chances at longer odds.
How to play it: Raskol to win
1. Persian Wonder is a promising and adaptable two-year-old who will be very hard to hold out first-up since tackling Group 1 juvenile company up to the mile in autumn. Fitted with two trials, the latest impressive coming from the back under a good hold to hit the line better than anything. High quality youngster who has already been placed at Group 3 level.
2. Argansort is a debutant three-year-old by Tassort who looks ready for the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable. Given three spaced trials, the latest strong at both ends to win comfortably, although was pushed out late. 4. Adaptation is a market watch resuming for a second campaign for the Gerald Ryan-Sterling Alexiou yard behind two trials. 5. King Of The Top is a two-year-old stablemate of the former who can improve at his third start with the track slowly drying out. 7. Stateroom, a colt by Astern, has his first outing for the Ciaron Maher camp, finishing behind the top selection in the latest of two trials.
How to play it: Persian Wonder to win
2. Krasina is a smart two-year-old on the rise who can break through fourth-up in a competitive battle for the fillies and give the David Payne-Zac Lloyd combination two on the bounce. Stiff not to win two runs back when charging home late before again hitting the line hard into a place in a better race at Randwick. Six weeks between runners shapes well, given she loves to fire when freshened. Plenty of respect for emerging
5. Queen’s Gamble who returns for just her second start behind two improving trials after a fair closing effort on debut in BM 64 provincial company. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Farfetched who has to get over from a wide gate under a big weight third-up; while the Kris Lees-trained two-year-old pair 3. Golden Goddess and 6. Adeleke can both figure in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Krasina to win
6. Velaris chased well two starts back in a similar race before being given no favours from a wide draw in a tougher field at Rosehill. Hard fit, and back to his right grade, with a superior jockey taking over, he can claim a third win at his 10th start.
7. All Star is the immediate threat despite a tricky draw. Swept home for a dominant CL1 win at Kembla before making up late ground in a similar race at Warwick Farm. Boasts a big finish, but a lack of tempo up front could be a hurdle. 2. Allegro Miss came off a narrow win at the provincials to hit the line hard from near last after drawing wide in a similar race here a fortnight back. 4. Fay’s Angels is an underrated country mare who held her own at big odds against tougher opposition at Randwick. Looks fairly treated too back in midweek company. 5. Covert Thinking can improve fourth-up and is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Velaris to win
8. You’re The Choice is a talented provincial filly who thrives on rain-affected ground and can resume with a bang. Fitted with two trials, the latest working through the line under a good hold after sitting wide with no cover for much of the journey. Won fresh last time in dominant fashion.
2. Infusion is an improving mare who put the writing on the wall third-up, sweeping home to beat all but the winner in heavy going on the Kensington track. Drawn to settle closer, and a leading metro rider takes over. 10. Blenheim Girl is a lightly raced filly who hasn’t started since landing her maiden in easy fashion on the Gold Coast late last year. Resumes off a soft trial from the inside draw for a powerful trainer-jockey combination. 1. Crook is each-way value with a 3kg claim after placing in three runs back at country and provincial level. 6. Gamp can run into the minor money at bigger odds.
How to play it: You’re The Choice to win
8. Written Scandal is a progressive mare who comes back to metro ranks at the right time. Had little or no luck when charging home late first-up off a long break at Rosehill before letting down impressively to beat a handy field at Wyong. This is tougher, but she drops in weight, and relishes soft ground. A mile over the odds.
2. Watson is a classy three-year-old resuming for the Waterhouse-Bott yard. Won twice up to BM 72 level in the summer before tackling Group 3 company, then missed a place in the Listed Canberra Guineas after being well backed. Given two trials and comes to hand sharply. 6. Oakfield Neptune is a progressive mare in the Lees stable who can run a big race fourth-up despite drawing wide. Won two from three up to BM 64 level this prep and has early tactical speed. 1. Verbil is a market watch at bigger odds returning off a 32 week spell and was scratched from Rosehill on Saturday to be saved for this. 5. Useapin is a clear second-up improver; while 9. Unstopabull third-up from a softer draw is a minor money contender.
How to play it: Written Scandal to win
2. Kenmare Bay is a talented middle distance four-year-old who rushed home to win on the Kensington track first-up. Had always been in the money through the campaign prior up to steeper BM 78 level, despite not having much go his way in the run. Drawn to get cover, and while the smaller track is not right up his alley, possesses a superior closing 300 burst.
10. Spiv is hard fit, and the weighted runner of the field after the jockey’s 3kg allowance. Dominated from the front in a provincial BM 68 just 11 days ago, and he revels on soft or heavy ground. 1. Pier Pressure is sparingly raced and tracking nicely towards an overdue win fourth-up off a very long break. 7. Graphic Sight fought hard to claim a weaker provincial race second-up. 3. Bat Out Of Hell has been around the money in three runs back from a spell, although needs to find a length or two. 6. Tenderize is over the odds from a handy draw deep into the prep after chasing home the top selection.
Disclaimer: While the thrill of horse racing can be captivating, it’s important to remember that gambling is a form of entertainment and should be enjoyed responsibly. The tips and opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.
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