Richard Litt unveils Aleppo Pine: why $100k ex-Godolphin is set to shine

Canterbury Wednesday races tips and previews

In partnership with Racing NSW.. Trainer Richard Litt's affinity with former Godolphin stock is well known.. Rarely does he buy out of the blue army without success and this weekend he'll unveil a new ex-Godolphin recruit when Aleppo Pine makes his debut for Litt in a 1000m Benchmark 78 at Randwick this weekend..

Before that, though, Balkans is set to chase his fourth win for the stable in the TAB Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.. All three of Balkans' wins for the Warwick Farm trainer so far have come at Canterbury and Litt said if he can get conditions to suit he'd expect the five-year-old to be more than competitive.. "He's pretty on the mark to do something so I don't want to waste a run if everything doesn't align,'' he said..

"I'm a little bit on the fence, it's a big field and the track's a bit soft.. The horse needs good ground, he's in at the wrong time of year, and has a big weight so I've got to put all those things together.. "He's very, very, well, Siena (Grima) rode him beautiful last start, the race mapped out nicely and he found the line good..

"He's at peak fitness now and he's ready to rock and roll." Grima has been again booked to ride Balkans who will carry the same weight as he did when a close third at the inner-west track two weeks ago.. Litt has a Benchmark 78 at Rosehill on Saturday week as a back-up and he's quietly confident that a weekend win isn't beyond him.. "He was only a cheapie ($30,000), he's a lovely horse and he will win a Saturday race when everything aligns for him and I hope that's this preparation,'' he said..

"At the end of the day he's no world beater, there's no point protecting them.. These horses have to run because they can't earn money in the box, I just really need that track to improve a bit." Three-year-old Aleppo Pine set back Monarch Racing a cool $100,000 and Litt is confident he'll prove to be a shrewd purchase, just as stakes winner Barber has been for the Monarch team.. The gelding won on debut for James Cummings, contested Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper lead ups before being stakes placed prior to joining Lindsay Park..

He won one of six for the Hayes team and Litt said he appears to have settled into his stable nicely.. "We're just kicking him off over the 1000m and he's going to be a really good addition,'' he said.. "I was really happy with his trial the other day..

He's slotted in to our system really well, a lot better than others do.. "He had a bit of time in the paddock after leaving the Hayes' and he's come here and has done very well." Tom Sherry has been booked to ride Aleppo Pine while Siena Grima rides Romeo's Choice in the Benchmark 94 over 1200m on Saturday.. Romeo's Choice has contested the Takeover Target and Bob Charley AO Stakes in his two runs back..

"He's a good consistent horse, he's around that mark now so everything has to go his way,'' he said.. "His run was great the other day in a tough field." Wednesday's Canterbury meeting, selections based on a soft track.. Race 1 - 12:50PM CACTUS IMAGING PLATE (1550 METRES) 7..

Wairarapa wasn't really fancied in the betting on debut but ran well closing off for third over 1450m.. Imagine she takes plenty of improvement from that, an extra 100m is a plus being out of an Oaks winner and she should be a good chance.. Dangers:.

9.. Scoish Maloish ran a much improved race when out to a mile at Gosford last week, settling back and taking some good ground off the more fancied stablemate.. Not a lot of depth in this one and he could back it up..

1.. Farset didn't offer much when challenged at Kensington last week after finding the front.. Runner-up in five consecutive starts prior, up to this sort of trip for the first time but could bounce back if gets some control..

5.. Reschs Milk is a well bred filly who didn't run up to expectation on debut at Newcastle a month ago.. Chance to show something here..

How to play it:. Wairarapa.. Race 2 - 1:25PM OLE KIRK @ VINERY STUD HANDICAP (1250 METRES) 7..

Consulate made her debut in Victoria back in February and ran a fair race.. There was a bit to like about her most recent trial back in Sydney, she's drawn well and gets the claim.. No surprise to see her show something and betting will be a pointer too..

Dangers:. 4.. Lone Piper is a half-sister to Lady Of Camelot and full sister to Queen Of The Ball on debut having had a couple of preparations without making it to the races..

Hard to know what's there based on her trials so market a guide to her too.. 1.. Castelbella is trialling up encouragingly for her first outing with a narrow defeat in her latest hitout at Warwick Farm..

Has the chance to run a handy race.. 2.. Demerzel looked to have her chance on debut at Warwick Farm two weeks ago, racing handy and just boxing on for fourth..

Could be an improver with the race experience and a bit better surface.. How to play it:. Consulate WIN..

Race 3 - 2:00PM IRRESISTIBLE POOLS AND SPAS HANDICAP (1250 METRES) 11.. Predation showed some promise before his first outing in the Kirkham at Randwick in October where he was in the market.. Gelded and returned with two solid trial wins, drawn to effect and has to be an each-way chance at least fresh..

Dangers:. 2.. Klocke started a short-priced favourite at Canterbury on debut and finished strongly to just miss over the same course..

Bit trickier draw this time around but hard to beat with even luck.. 3.. By Napoleon Hill was well supported first-up at Illawarra Grange a few weeks ago and hit the line when he found clear running to run into second..

No surprise to see him right in the finish.. 1.. Defensemen took on some handy company earlier in the season and wary of him fresh as he's remained a colt..

That says he's showing something and he's worth including.. How to play it:. Predation EACH-WAY..

Race 4 - 2:35PM INGLIS XTRA BONUS PLATE (1250 METRES) 4.. King For A Day made a more than handy debut a couple of weeks ago and finds a more favourable set up.. Drew the outside and went right back after jumping well then made good late ground into fourth..

Draws well and up in trip, he can be dangerous.. Dangers:. 7..

Claudel sat handy at her first start at Warwick Farm but couldn't go with the winner in the run home, holding second comfortably enough.. Fitter for that and should give herself every chance to go one better.. 12..

Saloon Passage comes through the same race as King For A Day where she also hit the line well from the tail of the field.. Might be one run away but should be closing this off nicely too.. 8..

Gatwick has been a beaten favourite in both runs this time in, a month apart, and returns north where she could easily improve.. Debut at Hawkesbury was handy, giving her another chance.. How to play it:.

King For A Day WIN.. Race 5 - 3:10PM RANVET HANDICAP (1550 METRES) 4.. Mo Chroi is arguably the most interesting runner all day..

An import first-up since winning at Fairyhouse in Ireland a year ago.. Merit in both recent trials and kicking off at this trip will give him the chance to be competitive in what looks a winnable race.. Dangers:.

3.. Full Hao has been out of the market in two runs back but did make a bit of late ground at Rosehill last time, suggesting she's getting close to finding some form.. Stalking draw, Nash on, she looks a danger..

6.. Dubai Warrior went for a break after successive wins at Wyong over the mile back in July last year.. Fresh record is good, fitter for a couple of trials and drawn to be handy..

Likely improves on whatever he does here but can run well.. 7.. Emballee passed a couple late when resuming at Warwick Farm but the extra 250m helps and she does tend to improve with a run under the belt..

How to play it:. Mo Chroi WIN.. Race 6 - 3:45PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1900 METRES) 4..

Elle Hudson showed he's come back in good style with two handy runs including a game second at Warwick Farm two weeks ago at the mile.. Generally holds his form when he finds it and is into his distance range now.. Doesn't win out of turn but is right in this..

Dangers:. 10.. Velaris had some support when tackling this course third-up from a break and got the job done narrowly..

Up in class but drawn to have his chance to repeat.. 13.. Think I Will opened up a big midrace lead and kept going when scoring his maiden win at Kembla over 2000m..

Will go forward here and interesting to see if he can back it up.. 8.. Allegro Miss tried hard when runner-up to Velaris before a fair run up to this grade when solid in the market earlier this month..

Each-way chance.. How to play it:. Elle Hudson EACH-WAY..

Race 7 - 4:20PM TAB HANDICAP (1200 METRES) 6.. Zouripper is a handy galloper having his first run for Joe Pride and is a big watch in a wide open race.. He's been more than competitive in this sort of grade and his two runs prior to the stable switch were honest..

If he produces his best he'll run very well.. Dangers:. 14..

Island Dec doesn't mind Canterbury and she wasn't disgraced in a blanket finish behind the placings at Randwick second-up in a stronger race.. Nice smothering draw and she can be strong late.. 16..

Eton hasn't raced since notching an easy maiden win at Wagga over their carnival on May 1.. Close up in a recent trial, he's bred to be above average and gets his chance to measure up from the inside alley.. 1..

Balkans ran well in a stronger race at Scone second-up then back to this track ran a handy third in similar company.. Rarely runs a bad one, especially at this track, and has each-way claims.. How to play it:.

Zouripper EACH-WAY.. Disclaimer:. While the thrill of horse racing can be captivating, it's important to remember that gambling is a form of entertainment and should be enjoyed responsibly..

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