Though it has only held Group 1 status for two years, the Canterbury S. has been won by a number of famed runners, including more recently Pierro (Aus) and More Joyous (NZ). Tomorrow's edition sees a pair of talented mares deadlocked for favoritism: Catkins (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Cosmic Endeavour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}). The former campaigns for the Ingham family of Lonhro fame, and she has been placed at the highest level on three occasions, including the Myer Classic in November. She owns two wins from two outings this season, including a most recent score in the G2 Millie Fox S. over this course Feb. 21, and could be primed to earn that elusive Group 1. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Cosmic Endeavour bested Catkins to win the G1 Tattersalls Tiara S. during a winter campaign in Brisbane last June, and after missing the spring has run credibly in both outings this term: a fourth in the G3 Triscay S. on Valentine's Day and a second in the G3 Guy Walter S. two weeks ago.
The remainder of the Canterbury field is comprised of star gallopers making their seasonal debuts. Four-time Group 1 winner Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) usually needs his first run by rarely puts in a bad effort, while last year's G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 Australian Derby victor Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}) reaffirmed himself as a horse of the highest quality when third last out in the G1 Hong Kong Cup Dec. 14.
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