Australia: Factors meld into possible winning hand for Canasta at Canterbury
A subtle drop in class, the booking of an apprentice jockey, and a new distance are among the main reasons Canasta will start in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park in Australia on Tuesday evening across American time zones.
Canasta was nominated for a race at 7 1/2 furlongs on the same Canterbury program, but will be the 131-pound topweight against nine rivals in the following race at the longer distance.
For the first time, the 7-year-old Canasta will be ridden by apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who replaces the veteran Rachel King. The booking of Gibbons gives Canasta a considerable weight break. Canasta was assigned 137.7 pounds before the apprentice allowance was factored.
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Canasta, trained by Bjorn Baker, is winless in 21 starts since January 2021, but has been second or third in 10 of those races. Canasta, who tends to run near the front, was second by about three-quarters of a length at Rosehill Gardens in a handicap at seven furlongs in June against a slightly tougher field than the one he will face at Canterbury.
Canasta has since finished second and eighth in handicap races against a higher class of runners.
Canasta has won at a distance of 1 5/16 miles, so the Canterbury Park race should not be an issue. What is a greater threat is Inuwashi, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding who won a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury on Sept. 7 for his second win in eight starts.
Inuwashi stalked the pace and won by three lengths. Sanstoc, who was third in that field, is part of this race at Canterbury.
The Baker-trained Akahata is a threat from off the pace in his first start at 1 3/16 miles. Akahata was second by about 3 3/4 lengths in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury on Sept. 7, finishing with interest. A 4-year-old gelding, Akahata has won 2 of 18 starts and has been second in two starts since returning from a four-month layoff in August.
Canterbury Park has a seven-race program beginning at 11:25 p.m. Eastern or 8:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.