Shayne O’Cass previews the NSW meetings at Canterbury (night) and Muswellbrook on Friday

The chestnut daughter of Snitzel is trained by Gerald Ryan, the man John Messara refers to as “Mr Snitzel”, and for good reason.

HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

STABLE WATCH: INSIDE MAIL FOR ROSEHILL

As well as training Snitzel throughout his illustrious career, Ryan has proven to be the master of the now Arrowfield Stud resident’s stock. Ryan has prepared 45 winners from 75 starting Snitzel progeny — an incredible 60 per cent strike rate.

Those 45 winners have won 107 races between them and earned an incredible $8.6 million in collective prizemoney.

Argie Bargie, a $115,000 Magic Millions purchase by Dynamic Syndication, kicked off her career with a rock-solid third to class filly Chipanda at Rosehill in May.

“The form around her is good,’’ Ryan said. “She ran very well at her first two starts but by the time she got to Warwick Farm (for her third one) she’d probably had enough.

“She’s a nice enough filly, it’s just a matter of whether she is going to be quick enough for 1100m because she will be back off the speed, but she’ll be hitting the line hard. She will just need a bit of luck to get through them when she’s winding up.’’

Ryan stands a tremendous chance of taking out the race prior to Argie Bargie’s with Oakfield Midnight, who is ideally placed in the 1900m TAB Plate.

“He is racing like a horse that will run the journey and you don’t get many chances of finding a 1900m maiden on a city track,’’ Ryan said.

“He didn’t have a lot of joy last week, he got caught behind a slow horse, and because he can’t quicken he had nowhere to go and didn’t have enough chance to wind-up into it but over 1900m he is going to put himself in the first three and he should be competitive.’’

The third and final Ryan runner on Canterbury’s eight-race card is the relatively new recruit Eccellere who has been placed three times plus one fourth in the five runs since joining Ryan.

“She’s an honest little mare that puts herself up on the speed and is racing well,’’ Ryan said. “With the speed that has drawn around her (Friday night) she might get a chance to follow something instead of having to lead all the time. She deserves to win a race, whether it is going to be this one or not, she is going to win one of these races one day.’’

SHAYNE O’CASS’ BEST BETS

BEST BET: CITATIONS (Race 6, No. 4)

Has been rock-solid in all three runs this campaign, including that eye-catching return behind Morton’s Fork. Has been given a lovely grounding for the 1900m and is a two-time track/distance winner.

NEXT BEST: KNOW HOW (Race 7, No. 8)

Is something of a night racing/Canterbury specialist. Jason Coyle described him as ‘spot on’ when we caught up with him earlier in the week and he’s left no stone unturned with the booking of Tim Clark.

GET OUT STAKES: KHAKI (Race 8, No. 5)

Is a lightly-raced and very handsome son of Commands who is coming off a dominant 3¾ lengths win at Kembla, where he rattled off 33.77s for his last 600m. Harder here but is progressive.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW: KERRIN McEVOY

McEvoy showed with a double at Rosehill last weekend that he didn’t forget to pack his form in his luggage when returning from an unforgettable spring carnival in Melbourne. McEvoy has a ride in all eight races at Canterbury. His best is Shaolin Kungfu in race 2.

MUSWELLBROOK

A BAD barrier is the only thing stopping Angela Davies from declaring booming first-up winner Single And Free in the Peel Valley Showcase Handicap (1280m) on a sensational card of racing at Muswellbrook on Friday.

Davies was brimming with confidence about her Not A Single Doubt mare when she resumed with a commanding 6¾ lengths win at Quirindi on November 8.

Single And Free had the luxury of barrier three on that occasion but will start from the extreme outside alley on Friday.

“It’s not a great draw there at Muswellbrook either because they sort of come straight into the turn,’’ Davies said. “I just seem to either draw wide or inside — I don’t get any in the middle.’’

Poor barrier aside, no one who saw Single And Free’s win at Quirindi could doubt the mare’s present state of health and wellbeing. On top of that, she drops 6kg on her dazzling first-up win, which was her second victory from four career starts.

“I am very pleased that she has come down in weight, if she had drawn a better gate I would have thought she was a very good chance,’’ Davies said.

Patience and lots of ‘TLC’ has been the key to Davies’ other Muswellbrook runner, the aptly-named Waitandwatch, who is a five-year-old with just three runs under belt — one of those being a 4½ length win at Wyong in April.

“I’ve always had a big opinion of this horse,’’ Davies said. “He has had a lot of problems with his shins and other things so it’s taken forever to get him there. The only thing about today is that (the 1000m) may be a little bit short for him but he will race well.’’

BEST BET: WAITANDWATCH (Race 8, No. 2)

Is a 5YO that has only raced three times so he’s had issues but one thing is certain, he has plenty of talent. Trials have been terrific and is the one to beat.

NEXT BEST: THREE SHEETS (Race 6, No. 6)

Is trained by Jeremy Sylvester and ridden by Robert Thompson. Seriously, is there a more profitable duo to follow? Great race, so we should expect some value.