NORTH CANTERBURY CUP

RACE 8 - 2000m

ELEGANT LADY / RICHARD STOMPER / MOUSSAIEFF

The HIGHLY RECOMMENDED mare ELEGANT LADY from the Walker/Bergerson barn was a bit in-and-out last preperation but did show enough. Ran in the BDC mile at Te Rapa last year won by SNAZZYTAVI before resuming at Otaki on Boxing Day. Solid 4th at Kurow when checked late, then ran on well for 4th at Riccarton over 2000m. Almost got to stablemate FAMILY TIES returning there and lost a shoe when 2nd in the Hororata Gold Cup over 1800m. Soft first-up effort over the mile at Timaru and should go much better with that run behind her.

☆☆☆☆

This track should get back to a Good 4 by race jump and that will suit RICHARD STOMPER down to the ground. The six-year-old EL ROCA gelding finished 2nd over the mile at Riccarton before finishing 5th in the WFA Gr.3 at Otago. Went for a long spell from March to avoid the Heavy tracks before resuming with an on pace victory over the mile at Timaru. Holds the same weight going up in trip and likely to be prominent from the get go. Possibly needs this, and could get run down late but too good to ignore.

☆☆☆

MOUSSAIEFF is a good fresh up horse who ran a boomer resuming and can make an impact 2nd-up. The REDWOOD gelding may be a seven-year-old now, however he has only raced 12 times for 4 wins. Won here over 2000m on a Good 3 in February, then held well on a Heavy 10 in March, so a super versatile type that loves to run them down. We can only presume Keiza Murphy had prepped the gelding well forward as he flourishes at this trip and on his home course, so expect another strong run.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 1400m

MYSTIC PARK / BETTY SPAGHETTI / CANDLE

The Pitman's are happy with the progress of star southern sprinter MYSTIC PARK, who probably needed that first hit out on his favoured home course. The five-year-old kicked off his season with victory in the Open Sprint (1000m) at Riccarton Park. Mystic Park made barnstorming progress through the grades last season, winning four of his seven starts in increasingly impressive style. The OCEAN PARK gelding won by four lengths in Rating 65 company first-up during the NZ Cup Carnival in November, then added two Rating 75 victories and an open handicap before the season was out. He wasn’t fully screwed down fresh up, but he wanted to win and can only improve.

☆☆☆☆

BETTY SPAGHETTI has been followed in by punters here and shouldn't be overlooked. Won here when last seen in April, although that was on a Heavy 10 and her Soft track strike rate isn't so hot. The STRATUM STAR mare trained by Anna Furlong was a bit in and out last spring but still stormed home for 2nf at Otago and won at Ashburton over 1400m on a Heavy 8. Folded fast in the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham before that big finish in the Listed Great Easter Stakes at Riccarton. Plenty of risk associated with the mare

☆☆☆

CANDLE is a very nice SUPER EASY mare that found winning form down here and could repeat with a conservative run. The Richard Didham mare won an Open handicap at Oamaru before a top effort on a Heavy 10 to win over 1200m at Riccarton. A month freshen up followed before a 4th over 1000m on the Christchurch course and should be happy if he can get his toe in a bit. Still sitting on a nice weight and definitely not out of this at very tidy odds.

☆☆

RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE 5 - 1580m

COURT OF APPEAL / THE ENTERTAINER / ALLIBOR

COURT OF APPEAL started his career in the north for the Te Akau team and seemed competitive enough. The EMINENT mare won over 1800m at Taupo in February, then transferred south for the Autumn. Came out and won comfortably over the mile on the Riccarton Synthetic a couple of weeks ago and should of trained on. Jasmine Fawcett is holding a few rides for Te Akau on Saturday and the mare is drawn to play a role.

☆☆☆☆

THE ENTERTAINER is a good horse on his day and looks up for this. The STAPHANOS mare won in tough style over 1400m at Hawera in June before a break. Settled in pace resuming and put in another strong effort when finishing 2nd to ON FILE in a Benchmark 75 rating race. Based on that run and the fact he loves racing at this joint, he cannot be overlooked. Record at the mile on the Riccarton course is excellent and a Soft 5 will suit perfectly. Will be in this for a long way and with natural improvement can make an impact.

☆☆☆

The ALL TOO HARD gelding ALLIBOR flew across the Tasnan with Joe Waldron after racing in Australia and Hong Kong. Won the Sandown Guineas in 2020, then 24 starts in Hong Kong without a victory. The well travelled gelding then returned to Melbourne and performed reasonably well racing between Ballarat, Pakenham and Cranbourne. He did pin one over 2050m at the latter as early as May 2025 before joining the Southern stable. Waldron will be a welcome addition to the Wingatui training ranks hailing from Otago, and returns to his home region to continue his training career after spending half a dozen years in Melbourne.

☆☆

RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE 9 - 1200m

FULL MOON FEVER / SAY SATONO / TOMMY SHELBY

The Teri Rae gelding FULL MOON FEVER came out fresh and blitzed them over 1200m at Timaru, and the fast Good 3 track probably played in his favour. A fairly handy sprinter in the north, once coming to the Riccarton stables of Rae he begun to excel over the short trips. Finished 2nd to AGE OF DISCOVERY here, then runner-up again at Timaru. Won back-to-back at Ashburton and Canterbury before some fair results to finish off his Autumn prep. The US NAVY FLAG gelding is worth sticking with here and should go very close.

☆☆☆☆

Andrew Carston has managed SAY SATONO very well and five wins with three second placings from 20 starts is a decent strikerate. The six-year-old SATONO ALADDIN mare won at Cromwell and Kurow over the summer carnival period and appeared yo thrive on the tight, turning circuits. Failed badly at Ashburton in Feb, with an elevated heart rate with a poor recovery, so given a good break from racing. Won a trial, then was very good when winning here over 1200m in August and the extended spell seems to have her back in fine shape.

☆☆☆

We just love this horse TOMMY SHELBY, and based on a nice trial at Ashburton, the TIVACI gelding could be ready to go fresh up for the stable. Won two at Otago over the summer after a change of fortune with multiple Top 3 placings, although up to mile is when he shines brightest. The Anna Furlong trained five-year-old looked the unluckiest horse down south last season, but he just kept putting in strong performances before cracking one, then another straight after. Should go well in this state and can place but may well need this.

☆☆

MAIDEN TWO-YEAR-OLD

RACE 4 - 800m

OUT OF THE BLUE / LUMINOSITY / COOL AS BLING

Team Te Akau bring this TIVACI gelding OUT OF THE BLUE south after one trial in the north at Matamata, and obviously in search of a few cheap wins. She is out of a nice SAVABEEL racemare in CORNFLOWER BLUE, who was only lightly raced but finished 4th in the Canterbury Belle, won the Barnswood down at Ashburton, finished 3rd in the Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas, 3rd in the Mufhasa Stakes at Ellerslie and 3rd in a Wellington Guineas - both times behind, NEED I SAY MORE. If this filly has half the ability of her mother, then she could be another stable star come 2026.

☆☆☆☆☆

The TOO DARN HOT filly LUMINOSITY already has a run under the belt when finishing 2nd to OUTBACK GIRL here at Riccarton over 800m on a Soft 5. She is trained by Nick Wigley & Kayla Milnes at Rangiora and is out of a DARCI BRAHMA mare in ENCHANTED LIGHT. Being by this sire who's progeny are on fire this year, you'd have to believe the filly will strip a bit smarter and go close.

☆☆☆

Trainer and ex top jockey David Walsh has the young juvenile COOL AS BLING in his small stable and the colt is by HELLO YOUMZAIN who is proving to be a very good producer of first crop performers. Finished 3rd to OUTBACK GIRL on debut and despite looking a little green in the running, it wasn't a bad effort first up. Her stakes performed dam SEMILLION was a strong type in Sydney and Melbourne who could boogie as a sprint specialist and not far off the best. Will only improve into this, although up to the 1200m may suit better.

☆☆

BEST BET: OUT OF THE BLUE

NEXT BEST: MYSTIC PARK

BEST VALUE: THE ENTERTAINER

WILDCARD: TOMMY SHELBY