Adam Sherry’s best bets, inside mail for Canterbury on Wednesday, September 17, 2025

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BEST BET
Race 2 No.2 PICTOR: Came from last and nosed out by a subsequent stakes winner on debut. Will take beating.

NEXT BEST
Race 3 No.7 JUST A JOURNEY: Good effort first-up behind a smart one. Won second-up last prep and hard to beat.

VALUE BET
Race 6 No.7 MISS FREELOVE: Did a nice job in her first campaign with a win here over this trip before a stakes placing.

BEST EXOTIC
Quinella Race 5: 11, 12

QUADDIE
Race 4: 3, 4, 7
Race 5: 5
Race 6: 4, 7, 10, 11
Race 7: 11, 12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jason Collett is a good chance to take out the TAB Jockey Challenge.

LAY OF THE DAY
Race 6 No.10 MAQUISA: Still a maiden taking on benchmark horses. Worth the risk at under $7.50.

RACE 1: 3yo Maiden Plate (1100m)

PICTOR (17) was good on debut when coming from last with a strong run down the outside for a nose second behind Grand Prairie over 1100m on the Kensington in July. Nice closing fifth in his Rosehill trial. Needs some scratchings. FERNWEH (6) tracked the speed when a length-and-a-half second to Regulated Affair over 1000m at Warwick Farm at his only run back in May. Placed third in both trials ahead of his return. CHICAMA (4) was okay in placings in his last two runs before a spell. BUCKEYE (3) was beaten a nose when resuming last preparation. Resumes as a gelding.

BET: PICTOR (17) to win or if scratched, FERNWEH (6) to win.

RACE 2: 3yo Maiden Handicap (1250m)

PICTOR (2) likely resumes here over the 1250m and will take beating. The way he closed off over 1100m on debut suggests he will relish further. SHANGRI LA BOY (14) is a half-brother to Storm Boy by Pierro on debut. Sat outside the leader by no match for Xingxing in his trial here on a heavy track. Showed brilliant early speed to lead and ran the fastest time of the day in 1:03.61 on a Soft 7to win his Randwick trial on Sept 2. CHATTERLEY (3) was okay on debut here when third to Miss Freelove before a second to Sunrays in Listed company at Doomben.

BET: PICTOR (2) to win.

RACE 3: Benchmark 72 (1550m)

JUST A JOURNEY (7) went back-to-back at Kembla and Kensington before her fifth in the Listed Phoenix at Eagle Farm. Resumed with a solid three-quarter length second to Tuileries over 1400m at Warwick Farm. Can go one better from the pole. CAPTAIN MAVERICK (1) hasn’t won for 12 months but hasn’t been far away in that time. Found one better in each of his last four starts, two of them here. Run down by Zip On By last week. EXCLUSIVE ARTIST (8) took benefit from his first-up run with a fourth to Island Dream at Warwick Farm two weeks ago.

BET: JUST A JOURNEY (7) to win.

RACE 4: 5yo+ Benchmark 72 (1900m)

SUNSET PARK (4) was impressive leading all-the-way to beat Jacob’s Time at Hawkesbury then jumped to a Rosehill Midway when second to Starphistocated. Will appreciate getting back on a Good track where she has two wins and close second from four runs. INNCOURT (5) closed strongly to win first-up over 1200m at Wyong and followed with a good win over 1400 at Newcastle. Gave the impression he is looking for further when he ground to the line over 1600m at Kembla last start. STING IN THE TAIL (7) followed a second to Dr Evil with a closing fourth to Majorian at Warwick Farm last start.

BET: SUNSET PARK (4) to win.

RACE 5: Colts, Horses & Geldings Benchmark 72 (1100m)

HIDDEN MOTIVE (5) started his career with a handy fourth in the Breeders Plate. Returned with two city placings before back-to-back wins at Hawkesbury and Randwick. Trials have been excellent and can kick off with a win. SHALAA GOLD (6) has just the one win from 10 starts but has placed eight times including his four runs this campaign. Beaten less than a length in his last two behind Bev’s Nine and Rantan at Warwick Farm. His win came over 1100m on a Good 4 and will appreciate a dry track here. MIDNIGHT DYNAMITE (2) has a first-up win here and is trialling very well.

BET: HIDDEN MOTIVE (5) to win.

RACE 6: Fillies & Mares Benchmark 72 (1100m)

MISS FREELOVE (7) was good in her first campaign with a debut third at Warwick Farm, a smart win over this track and distance and a fourth to Stardom in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. MISS TRENTINO (4) ran a nice race for third at Hawkesbury second-up and followed with a seven length all-the-way win over 1080m on the Acton at Canberra. Backed it up with a smart win at Newcastle. QUEIN STEP (11) was held up in the straight before finishing off well for fourth at Newcastle first-up. Led all-the-way at Goulburn to win her maiden in May.

BET: MISS FREELOVE (7) each-way.

RACE 7: 5yo+ Benchmark 72 (1250m)

OUR QUEEN (11) makes her Sydney debut for a new stable. Was a big debut winner at Bendigo before a spell and kicked off last campaign with a Sandown-Lakeside win before a head third to Euphemia at The Valley in February. Won both recent trials, the latest by five lengths at Rosehill. SO YOU PENCE (12) had been off the scene for more than two years when she returned in March with a second at Goulburn before back-to-back country wins. Didn’t handle the wet track at Rosehill before a spell. Will make her presence felt. VERBIL (9) and SYDNEY BOWLER (3) won’t be far away.

BET: OUR QUEEN (11) to win.

Originally published as Adam Sherry’s best bets, inside mail for Canterbury on Wednesday, September 17, 2025