Australia: Trainer Waller has top three choices in handicap at Canterbury

Archanna, a 4-year-old Australian-bred mare, finished a game third in a handicap on the Kensington turf course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on March 25 in her first start since October.

The race would seemingly make Archanna the runner to fear in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park in Australia on Wednesday were it not for the presence of two equally talented stablemates in Lina’s Hero and Saigon.

The trio are trained by top Australian trainer Chris Waller, and head the betting in the handicap at Canterbury Park, which is about six miles west of Randwick.

Archanna has won 3 of 9 starts and ended her 2020 campaign in fine form, winning two of her last three race. In that span, Archanna won a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury last September, displaying her typical late rally.

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Lina’s Hero, who is likely to be favored in this race, is a 6-year-old gelding who has won 4 of 25 starts. Lina’s Hero began his career in Australia in 2017 before he was sent to Hong Kong where he won three times.

Lina’s Hero was sent back to Australia in 2020 and has had two starts for Waller this year, finishing fifth in a six-furlong handicap at Randwick on Feb. 27 and third in a tougher handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on March 13. This longer distance should benefit Lina’s Hero, who tends to run as a stalker and may have a slight edge in that regard over Archanna and Saigon.

Saigon, a 4-year-old mare, was unlucky to lose her 2021 debut when second by a short head in a productive handicap at seven furlongs at Warwick Farm on March 3 in her first start since a win in a handicap at seven furlongs at Randwick on Dec. 19.

At Warwick Farm, Saigon closed from ninth in a field of 11 to just miss winning.

The race was won by The Irishman, who finished second in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 13. Petronius, third at Warwick Farm, won a handicap on the Kensington course in his next start on March 17.

The Canterbury Park program begins at 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.