Raceday focus with Matt Jones

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TARKA may have got under the guard of punters on debut but trainer David Payne says he’s one to keep an eye on at Canterbury Park on Wednesday.

The All Too Hard colt, who lines up in the TAB.com.au Plate (1550m) on Wednesday, showed off his talent on debut at Warwick Farm on May 16 when flying home along the rail to finish a head behind Pembroke Castle in third spot.

Payne said he had thrived in his stables since and the jump from 1400m to 1550m was ideal.

“He’s a nice horse,” said Payne, who also has Commentator on debut in the same race.

“Tarka didn’t have a setback, he just had a bit of ringworm which we had to clear up. We’ve done that and his fitness levels are good.”

Payne wasn’t surprised by his first-up run and said he and the horse head into Wednesday’s race more confident.

“I thought he’d run a nice race on debut but I didn’t think he’d be that close,” Payne said. “He only got beaten by a head and I knew he’d be running on strongly.

“He was a little bit unlucky that day, too. He got a bit held up for a while, so it was good effort.

“He’s definitely improved from the experience and I’ve been able to put a little bit more work into him, which has switched him on.”

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BEST BETS WITH MATT JONES

BEST BET: MAD FOX (Race 7, No. 15)

He has the talent to win this race if he puts it all together, which he’s getting closer to doing. With any luck, he can get the better of the favourite.

NEXT BEST: RENEGED (Race 6, No. 1)

He will find this race easier than he has taken on in the past and he loves running on soft ground.

VALUE BET: CARLUCA (Race 5, No. 1)

He’s going to improve a lot this time after being forced to run wide and use too much petrol early last start.

BEST EXOTIC: QUADDIE

Leg 1: 1, 7, 9, 14; leg 2: 1, 6, 9, 11; leg 3: 1, 11, 13; leg 4: 5, 6, 15.

TRAINER TO WATCH: JOHN THOMPSON

Only has three runners in but all of them look well placed. Reneged will be leading his charge.

JOCKEY TO WATCH: BRENTON AVDULLA

Has a cracking book of rides, including Singing Sand, Smart Melody, Deft and Tunero.

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Tarka was ridden on debut by James McDonald, but with the Kiwi riding at Royal Ascot, apprentice Jean Van Overmeire is in the saddle today.

Payne said he wasn’t losing anything by giving the young man the job as he believed Van Overmeire had what it took to ­become one of Sydney’s leading riders when he came out of his ­apprenticeship.

“He’s very capable and I think he’s going to make it,” Payne said. “He sits nice on a horse and is strong, so I think he’s going to hold his own.

Tarka will start from gate one.

“I’d like him to be in the box seat,” Payne said. “He has a nice draw so it’s all there for him. He’s just got to produce it and he’ll be hard to beat.

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“He’s not an overly big horse so I thought I’d take the 2kg off. That won’t do him any harm.”

While Tarka is Payne’s leading contender in the race, he’s keen to see what Commentator can do on debut.

The Poet’s Voice chestnut has had five trials since last November and Payne said he would be coming home late.

Payne has had plenty of success with staying juveniles during the past year, the standout being Ace High, and he’s not worried about Commentator’s ability to handle a first-up run over 1550m.

“He’s bred to stay all day, being out of a Cape Cross mare, so there’s so much stamina there,” he said.

“That’s why I’m kicking him off over the 1550m — to give him experience and to see what we’ve got.

“We always knew he was going to get a trip so I’ve taken my time with him to educate him. I still think he’ll be a bit green.”

CARLUCA PRIMED TO MAKE AMENDS

TRAINER Jarrod Austin says Carluca will be a different horse at Canterbury after coming off a seventh placing at his last start.

The six-year-old finished four lengths off Braces at Canterbury on June 6 but he had a few excuses and Austin knows he will be a ­better chance in Wednesday’s Ranvet Handicap (1550m).

“I’m really happy with him heading into this race,” he said.

“He had a little setback after his first run at Warwick Farm and that’s why he had a four-week break between his first-up and ­second-up runs. And he just knocked up a bit last start.

“He’s come through the run in flying order and his work had been really good since, so I’m fairly confident he’ll run well.”

Carluca was recovering from a bruised heel before his last-start run, when he came from a wide gate and was used up a lot to get into a good position.

The combination of a tough run and some missed training didn’t help, but he hasn’t missed a beat in the lead-up to today’s run.

“He’ll be a lot better this time,” Austin said. “His last run was better than it looked after he did a lot of early work and we weren’t quite sure where he was at considering the work he’d missed leading up to the race.

“He had a good blow after that run and he’s been going super ever since, so I’m confident about his chances. There’s a lot of improvement in him off that last run.”

Carluca has a good record at Canterbury and from barrier seven, with Christian Reith on board, he will get every chance to upset the likes of Foreign Territory and Deft.

Austin said his runner was flying under the radar.

“The speed of the race will suit us,’’ he said. “He’ll be tucked in behind them and should get a good run. I saw he was about $18 to win and I think he’s well over the odds.”

INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES

RACE 1

Divinity had a year-long break between her second and third trials, but has looked good in two comeback heats. She’s well placed in a small field on debut for a stable that prepares juveniles better than any. Sweet Scandal was good on debut and will improve off a second placing. She beat home Kaecilius and Highjacker, who she faces again, and held them at bay with ease. But that was on a heavy track.

BET: SWEET SCANDAL TO WIN.

RACE 2

Picaro is the most experienced horse in the race and, fourth-up, arguably the fittest. The blinkers go on. Tarka produced an eye-catching third on debut. He has trained on well and won’t start at $20 again. Singing Sand has the fitness to go from 1200m up to 1550m and she’s raced well both times in her first preparation. Stablemate Pacific Crest came from last to run third at Kembla Grange and will be doing his best work late again. Team Snowden brings Snippetspeed to town off a good enough run at the provincials. The stable wouldn’t be doing that unless it saw that he had come on at home.

BET: QUINELLA 6, 10.

RACE 3

We’ll find out how good Smart Melody is. She belted a Newcastle field on debut by five lengths, suggesting Wednesday’s class rise shouldn’t worry her. Laburnum could be the toughest to beat based on her first preparation and last-start trial, which was a lovely effort. Getting on to a soft track only helps her. Flying Pierro wasn’t far off the winner in Saturday grade in his one start. He was put away after that and has blinkers on on Wednesday after two trials.

BET: SMART MELODY TO WIN.

RACE 4

Open race. Forgive Seahampton after failing to fire on a heavy track over 1300m first-up. Expect better on a drier track. Zonk drops in grade and ran into an in-form horse last time. She hasn’t raced for five weeks and has had no trial. Tongue-tie comes off. Vienna Romance is peaking now third-up and at her best she’s a winning chance. Empress Matilda was good behind an undefeated horse last start and this race is easier at a suitable distance for a leading stable/jockey combination. Divine Breeze looks to be a smart filly. Although well placed over 1250m first-up, she might be looking for a touch further. Forgive Wooshka after she hit the barriers and was beaten soon after the start last time.

BET: SEAHAMPTON TO WIN.

RACE 5

Carluca will be an improver today and he’s a good Canterbury horse. He’ll get an easier run in transit and brings extra fitness into the race. Foreign Territory won easy last start but still needs to take improvement off that three-length Kensington win to get the job done. Deft was unlucky last start and she’ll get the breaks this time from the good gate. Impasse should be coming into this race off a win but was pipped on the line last start. He seems to love give in a track. Smart As is knocking on the door and a win wouldn’t surprise.

BET: CARLUCA EACH WAY.

RACE 6

Nahuel is an improving import having his third Australian start after winning at Newcastle last time. Trainer Richard Freedman has an excellent strike rate. Tunero drops in grade and has raced well at Canterbury before for master trainer Chris Waller. Firmer track helps, too. A gear change has been made to Balansa in an effort to get him to settle. Reneged has run behind horses that are in better form than the ones he takes on on Wednesday.

BET: RENEGED TO WIN.

RACE 7

Wander was held up at a crucial point last start and Easy Eddie had the momentum to get the better of him. With more luck, he can figure in the finish. Mad Fox can, too, if his manners improve. He has talent and Canterbury should suit him. Magicus is getting better with each start this preparation and he’s rock-hard fit for this race. Dalmatia Prince might be one to consider at odds.

BET: MAD FOX TO WIN.

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