The top bets from Paul Joice for Wednesday

Paul Joice - Wednesday August 30

It's the final winter metropolitan meeting at Canterbury on Wednesday but plenty of these horses will figure in the spring, so let's get involved.

Say goodbye to winter and hello to spring.

HONG QIGONG (Canterbury Race 1 No 3)
I've got to go off what I see and I was impressed with the lead-up trial victory of Hawkes Racing's Hong Qigong. Handled by Jay Ford, the son of Pierro camped just off the pace before diving through a late split under minimal pressure for a soft win at Rosehill. Brenton Avdulla has the job of piloting on Wednesday and with a solid tempo expected through Faeger (blinkers first time), Lightz and End Of The Road – Hong Qigong can pounce at the business end.
BET: WIN
ODDS - $3.10 @Luxbet

BRACES (Canterbury Race 5 No 7)
Confident that Greg Hickman's six-year-old can improve sharply at big odds so playing him each-way for a big result. Two runs this time in have been full of merit – flashed home first-up in a fast-run 1250m here then held-up for most of the straight when an eye-catching sixth at Kembla. Gets out to 1550m third-up, should get it run at a genuine tempo and with victories ranging from 1300m to 2200m – he'll be strong when it counts. Jay Ford has been aboard for his two runs this campaign and sticks again here. Worthy gamble.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS – $18 @ Sportsbet (PowerPlay $22)

MISSILE CODA (Canterbury Race 7 No 1)
The Snowden stable has a smart mare on their hands with Missile Coda. Made it three wins from four starts when towelling rivals around 1250m here last time. The runner-up Jemadar has since come out and franked the form so from a soft gate with Blake Shinn retaining the ride – it will take a smart one to halt her winning roll. Undefeated filly Regimen is going to prove a worthy rival but I'll take the four-year-old over the three-year-old – especially considering I rate her formlines superior.
BET: WIN
ODDS - $2.60 @ CrownBet

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