Winners For 2015 July Sprint Day

The July Sprint meeting will be held at Canterbury on Saturday. The course proper was rated a Heavy 9 and with further showers forecast leading up to the weekend, Canterbury is likely to be racing on a Heavy surface on raceday.

Blake Shinn and Chris Waller can combine to take out the opening event with Vanbrugh (Sydney Race 1, 1250m). The Encosta de Lago colt was only beaten narrowly when 1st up over this trip at Rosehill on a Heavy track. With further fitness on his side, Vanbrugh should run the trip out strongly. There’s a slight query if the 1250m will suit race favourite Inner Circle first up. Whereas Vanbrugh will be full of running in the straight and he’s the horse they have to beat.

Nash Rawiller is back in Sydney during Hong Kong’s summer break and he can keep on riding winner on board Aurora Glow (Sydney Race 2, 1550m). The 2YO filly was a last start winner on a Soft 7 track at this venue so she would have no problem handling the anticipated wet track at Canterbury. Stepping up to 1550m 4th up should be ideal. From barrier 2, the filly will receive a lovely run midfield and Aurora Glow will have plenty up her sleeves in the straight to attack the line strongly.

The veteran Zaratone has been in good form and can easily take out the July Sprint (Sydney Race 4, 1100m). The Bjorn Baker-trained 9YO finished a good 2nd on a Heavy 8 track to the promising Shiraz last start and that horse has franked the form by blitzing the field last week by 2.5 lengths. Champion jockey Hugh Bowman will take over the rein on Saturday and from barrier 5, Zaratone will go straight to the lead and he could be hard to catch.

Bowman and Baker can combine again to win the Tab Rewards Handicap with Coolring (Sydney Race 6, 1250m). The Sebring gelding usually takes a few runs to gain his fitness and 3rd up on Saturday, he should start showing his best form. The 4YO loves Canterbury having won 3 times and placed once from 6 starts at the venue and he also has a good record at the distance having won 4 times & placed twice at the trip. Barrier 1 should give Bowman plenty of options on where to settle the gelding and Coolring looks the testing material in an open race.

By Owens Wong, Editor

 

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