The Canterbury Stakes is always a fascinating contest, and we’ll be treated to another exciting edition of the Group 1 feature at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Zaaki will no longer make his eagerly awaited return in the Canterbury Stakes, and the race is now a far more open betting prospect.
Check out my 2022 Canterbury Stakes Tips below.
Canterbury Stakes – Winner – No. 3 Private Eye
His fresh record is excellent, he realised his Group 1 potential in the spring, and I think that Private Eye can fight out the finish of the Canterbury Stakes.
Private Eye put the writing on the wall with a lovely win in the Group 3 Show County Quality at the beginning of his spring prep, and he continued to build towards a memorable performance and win in the Epsom Handicap.
He is another galloper who has had the benefit of several trials in the lead-up to his return, and Regan Bayliss returns to the saddle for the first time since his top-line victory.
Canterbury Stakes – 3rd – No. 10 Lighthouse
She has hardly put a hoof wrong since arriving in Australia, and as long as she handles the heavy and the Sydney way of going, Lighthouse can be in the finish of the Canterbury Stakes as well.
The American import won each of her first four starts when touching down in Australia, suffering her first defeat when second behind Open Minded in the Listed John Dillon Stakes.
She takes her place in this race rock-hard fit and following another impressive run for second in the Neds C.F. Orr Stakes, and a repeat of that would find her competitive again!
Canterbury Stakes – 4th – No. 9 Forbidden Love
She put paid to them in the Guy Walter Stakes last weekend, and I can absolutely understand the Freedmans’ decision to back-up Forbidden Love in this Canterbury Stakes field.
She won the Group 1 Surround Stakes during her autumn prep last year, and she returned some nice efforts during her spring campaign, despite not returning to those peaks.
Having beaten home a horse of Anamoe’s quality first-up in the Expressway Stakes, her form was franked last week, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her pulling off an upset third-up this weekend.
Suggested Bets
- 4 Units straight out #3 Private Eye
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below