For only the second time in his 13-race career, the brilliant Australian sprinter Think About It will start after a loss in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Friday night. A winner of 11 of 13 starts, including the $12.8 million Everest Stakes last October, Think About It will be an odds-on favorite to win the $496,300 Canterbury Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. The first time Think About It started after a loss, the occasion did not merit attention. The gelding won the first two races of his career in July and August of 2022 before he finished third in a minor handicap a few weeks later. :: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing Think About It won his next nine starts, including two Group 1 sprints in May and June, before he finished third by 1 1/4 lengths in the $1.92 million Giga Kick Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 4, losing to the surprise winner Bella Nipotina. The Canterbury is Think About It’s first start since the Giga Kick Stakes, and is not an easy spot for a comeback. Espiona, third by about three-quarters of a length behind the ultra-consistent Imperatiz in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Feb. 17, poses a threat from off the pace. A 5-year-old mare, Espiona was seventh by 2 3/4 lengths in the Everest Stakes last fall, but rebounded to win the $1.28 million Invitation Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Randwick on Oct. 28. The Canterbury Stakes drew a field of seven and is part of a strong 10-race program at Randwick that begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern or 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. The richest race on the program is the Group 1 Randwick Guineas for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at a mile, which drew a field of 11. Militarize, second to the brilliant 5-year-old mare Fangirl in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 17, will be a strong favorite to win for the fifth time in his 11th start in the $661,800 Randwick Guineas. Celestial Legand and Tom Kitten, first and fifth in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Feb. 24, are rated as the two contenders who can pose a threat to Militarize. Tom Kitten was beaten 3 1/2 lengths despite racing in traffic in the final quarter-mile. The richest race in Australia this weekend is the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington on Friday evening. Imperatiz will be favored to win her fifth consecutive Group 1 sprint against a field of 13 that includes Bella Nipotina. Imperatiz, a 5-year-old mare, has won 18 of 24 starts, including 15 group stakes in New Zealand and Australia. Imperatiz has won by leading or stalking the pace. Buenos Noches is a danger from off the pace in the $992,700 Newmarket Handicap. A 4-year-old colt, Buenos Noches was a troubled fourth, beaten about 1 1/2 lengths, in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 17 when he trailed early and was steadied in traffic in the stretch. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.