2023 Canterbury Stakes Top Selections and Top Tip

Canterbury Stakes best bets

The sprinting ranks of trainers' stables are stacked high with talent this season with a number of stable stars from home and abroad out to tackle another fantastic weight for age contest over a distance of 1300m at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday.

Runners are set to head to Sydney racings HQ from interstate and abroad this weekend to take on the locals in what is set to be an exciting renewal of the time honoured Canterbury Stakes.

The race, having been first run in 1929 is named after the location it was initially run from, Canterbury Racecourse. It was relocated to its current home in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs in 2014 after spending an extended spell racing in the West at Rosehill Gardens.

During that time there have been a number of big winners of the Group One Canterbury Stakes with the likes of Hot Danish, Pierro and Happy Clapper all recent big name winners as well as More Joyous claiming back to back victories in 2011 and 2012 editions of the race.

Today there are a number of rising stars looking to stamp their mark on the race as well as some tried and tested veterans looking to add to their already decorated trophy rooms which makes the 2023 Canterbury Stakes set to be an eye catcher come Saturday.

2023 Canterbury Stakes Race Overview

The 2023 edition of the Canterbury Stakes sees eleven runners enter the barrier draw on Wednesday with the market being led by New Zealander Imperatriz who has travelled across the ditch for the Mark Walker stable to take up a $1.85 favourites spot. 

The four year old mare travels to Australia with quite the fan fair having won her most recent Group One outing by 4.5 lengths. She is yet to race outside of New Zealand however punters seem to be keen on the short price available for her to claim a maiden Australian Group One.

As is the way in recent months Godolphin turn out a strong side once again with Golden Mile and Cascadian representing the Royal Blue colours. Golden Mile is second favourite for the race at $7 and has drawn well to get a plumb spot in the race.

Joining Golden Mile as the only other runner in single figures and on the second line of betting  behind the favourite is the well travelled Artorius who is heading back to Randwick for his first start since heading to Royal Ascot over 8 months ago where he finished 3rd of 24 in the Group One Platinum Jubilee Stakes.

Of other live chances in betting the returning Lombardo resumes for Price and Kent Jr at $11 alongside team Hawkes trained Electric Girl. Cascadian sits at $13 with the rest of the field $34 bar the rest. 

2023 Canterbury Stakes Top Selections

With a field of 11 set to contest the 2023 Canterbury Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend we choose our top three chances for the race as well as our top tip to win the 1300m Group One contest. 

Canterbury Stakes Outside Chance - 1. Cascadian

Trainer - James Cummings

Price - $13.00

He’s an eight year old now but thats why we love Cascadian. He turns up prep after prep and scraps all the way to the line. 

Cascadian had a strong Spring campaign winning the Group 3 Craven Plate before finishing fourth in the Champions Mile at Flemington. He finished 1.75l off Futurity Stakes winner Alligator Blood that day when winding up late down the outside of the track,

He was then sent over to Western Australia to contest the Group One Northerly Stakes where he finished 4th once again over 1800m. 

Why we’ll never count Cascadian out of a race is this kind of field does look about his level. He looks better over the shorter distances and has won first up in the past as well as the fact that Autumn seems to be his best time of year. 

Having won the Doncaster Mile two years back as well as claiming an All Aged Stakes this time of year you can never discount this 8yo gelding. 

Canterbury Stakes Main Danger - 2 Artorius

Trainer - Anthony & Sam Freedman

Price - $7.00

Artorius returns to Australia for his first start in over 7 months but based on his most recent trial the four year old looks cherry ripe in preparation for this having defeated profondo by over 2.2 lengths at the Warwick Farm Hit Out.

It was somewhat of a surprise to many punters to see the stallion head over to Europe after a poor showing during the Spring where he struggled finishing sixth on both starts. However he looked to have discovered a new lease of life at Royal Ascot. 

On his two starts in the UK Artorius finished third in the Group One Platinum Jubilee Stakes before recording the same finish in the July Cup behind recent Yulong Investments acquisition Alcohol Free despite missing the start. 

He rounded out his trip in the Northern Hemisphere with a sixth place finish at Deauville before heading back down under. If he shows any sort of ability that saw him gain those minor placings in the UK he’s likely to be a real threat to our top pick here.

Canterbury Stakes Top Pick - 8. Imperatriz

Trainer - Mark Walker

Price - $1.85

There is a big buzz around this 4 year old mare and when you look through the recent form guide it’s easy to see why Imperatriz is the short price favourite for this one. 

Te Akau racing usually bring their best over during the Autumn with the likes of Melody Belle, Te Akau Shark and Gingernuts all winning at Group One level when heading across the ditch to take on the Aussies and Imperatriz looks to be another one in that mould.

Imperatriz travels over with an impressive record having won 12 of her previous 17 starts including a trashing of a Group One field in her last start where she won comfortably under hands and heels by 4.5 lengths.

She threw up all sorts of track records and exceptional times in the BCD Group Sprint and if she can match up to that level again here she could thump this field as well. 

The only question is how well does the Kiwi form match up to Australian and with the like of Roch N Horse matching up in recent starts it looks like it could fit well. 

Back Imperatriz to win