Race 4: (3YO SW+P)
Tempo: Above Average
Good contest. Two-bet play. Taking on short-priced favourite (1) ZAFAR, heavily bet to win a stakes race at Riccarton over 1200m on debut, found the right spot in running and proved too strong against many of the opposition she meets again first-up, hard to see any of those turning the tables. The two threats are (5) GLAMOUR EXTREME drew wide on debut, sat deep throughout and sprinted quickly at Oamaru, a professional 2L win defeating subsequent winner Spill It (now exported). Ideally-suited back in trip at 1000m from a soft draw, does need to jump better this time and with a positive ride can give ZAFAR a shake. (10) NICCITA makes her debut after impressing in her one and only Te Rapa trial, stable enjoy good success when venturing south and she has a draw to be competitive in this field, M Cartwright a key booking.
Suggested Bets: GLAMOUR EXTREME (Value) & NICCITA
Race 5: (R65 1000m)
Tempo: Above Average
New stable and supreme placement first-up at 1000m for (2) MAD MAX, impressive trial winner at Timaru where he showed gate speed to lead. A two-win horse with more ability than what he displayed for the Forsman camp and maps for a sweet run in behind a fast speed. McNab can track up behind and let him go. Of the speed horses, (4) MAROKOPA FALLS was a high-rating debut winner as a 2YO out of the chute at Trentham but hasn’t gone on with it, nice trial, ridden out to win narrowly in fast time at Timaru. 1000m suits, can be soft late in her races. (7) DOROTHEA has one speed and will come across from a wide draw with (6) IN LIMBO the ex-Aussie first-up for the Pitman’s has speed to lead also.
Suggested Bet: MAD MAX (Best)
Race 6: (Open Hcp 1000m)
Tempo: Above Average
Excellent race for the ever consistent Te Akau runner (4) TROBRIAND resuming and was the standout performer at Timaru trials leading in. Unlucky not to win last start given a confident ride and let the winner have it too easy in front. A five-time winner first-up, he draws to advantage behind an expected fast tempo and looks his race for the keeping with even luck. (7) MOVING MELODY joins the Terri Rae stable, strong support in early markets after a trial win, mixed her pattern with the Wallace & Cooksley stable, 1000m may be a touch short of her best distance.
Suggested Bet: TROBRIAND
Race 8: (R65 1800m)
Tempo: Average
The big chestnut (2) SEBASTIANO ($10) had two starts for Donna Logan up north and was poor in both. He impressed with his first-up win at Oamaru in the south with a dominant front-running display at 1600m wearing blinkers first time which clearly sparked the improvement. A close relation to the NZ Derby winner Gingernuts, he is open to further upside rising in distance to 1800m and looks a key speed influence in a race lacking obvious pace. (8) FULL OF GUSTO ($13) is another we are keen to spec at a price, racing well, sent around a short quote last start at Oamaru and outsprinted to the line in 2nd. Another who can race handy to the speed and coming back in trip could prove advantageous.
Suggested Bets: SEBASTIANO & FULL OF GUSTO
