CHAMPAGNE STAKES

RACE 5 - 1200m 2YO

ZAFAR / NEVER TOO MUCH / OUTBACK GIRL

ZAFAR is a SNITZEL colt coming south to debut and he is just another promising juvenile from the Te Akau yard. Yet to taste raceday, although all three trials have held merit. Scooted across the Avondale turf to skip away with real purpose, before challenging between horses for 2nd on a HEAVY10 and handled the pressure well. Obviously being aimed up at a big three-year-old season and the legitimate education begins here, but he may very very good and not willing to risk.

☆☆☆☆

NEVER TOO MUCH trialled really well up north and fitted into the Te Akau programme at Riccarton like an older horse, doing little wrong. The RUBICK gelding finished 3rd on debut at Wingatui after getting up the pace early, followed by another 3rd place running on late behind the talented HEZZAROCSTAR and sharp stablemate ENCHANTMENT. Chased home the stablemate in the Welcome Stakes down here and won't find it any easier coming up against the HELLO YOUMZAIN gelding once more. The extra 100m will be a bonus here and cannot be discounted as a decent winning chance.

☆☆☆

We have a soft spot for Sam Wynne's OUTBACK GIRL who hasn't been too bad running amongst top company and the former jockey come trainer has done well to develop the BIVOUAC filly to this stage. Finished 3rd to the very impressive OUT OD THE BLUE over 800m at Riccarton late last year, then 2nd to FINAL TIME over 1110m at Wingatui resuming in February. Ran into some top juvenile talent the last two, although was sound for 4th to ENCHANTMENT here in the Welcome Stakes last start and tried hard. Can run a place.

☆☆

EASTER CUP

RACE 8 - 1600m

ANDERSON'S BRIDGE / ROYAL VALOUR / SIR ALBERT

The contempt ANDERSON BRIDGE showed towards his competitors in his first New Zealand start was nothing short of brutal. The Gray's took over the five-year-old SAVABEEL gelding in mid 2025 after 19 starts in NSW. A highly consistent galloper, he did win over the mile on a Heavy Hawkesbury track back in 2023 and even contested the 2024 Gr.1 Queensland Derby. Unable to reach any great heights, the horse was relocated to the Gray's stables in Palmerston North to continue his career. Blew them away by 5L in his debut over 1400m and has since won twice over the mile. Big player.

☆☆☆☆

ROYAL VALOUR trounced them here at Riccarton over 1800m two back and wasn’t suited by WFA conditions carrying 59kg in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), but still put in a nice effort for 4th, peaking late. It does seem the the Ashburton trainers Bevan and Robyn Wilson have worked this BELARDO gelding out and he did win two last winter on Heavy tracks but has proved he can also handle it firm, like the hard GOOD3 in the Riccarton victory. Drop 3kg and with Donavan Cooper aboard lose another kilo, so 55kg seems a much fairer weight. These are top odds and a bounce back performance coming back to the 1600m is not out of the question. 100% worth an eachway ticket.

☆☆☆

SIR ALBERT appears well suited here, and we just have to go again after a poor effort last Saturday and he is just taking too long to get into the contest, which is a concern. But this SAVABEEL gekding hasn't amassed $430,000 by just going around and must be close to delivering a definitive performance. Gains 3kg off his back with Taplin coming south, so go on the big run here im the Alps challenge, when ridden at the back by McNab but charging up to them late when clear with a powerful effort. Willing to allow one more chance.

☆☆

FOUNDERS CUP OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 2600m

UNLEASH THE BEAST / PLATINUM GODDESS / STAR BALLOT

The Kenny Moore-trained UNLEASH THE BEAST was super potent bounding away from them over 2600m at Riccarton last Saturday and that was coming hot off a strong 2200m victory at Ashburton. Regrettably, the esteemed gelding has frequently fallen short in his application; however, it appears the Rangiora-based stayer has now found his optimal form thus prep and a repeat of that effort will see him winning again.

☆☆☆☆☆

The ALPINE EAGLE mare PLATINUM GODDESS won two in a row at Wanganui and Trentham near the end of 2025 and looked very good in doing so for the Lisa Latta stable. Battled on gamely when 5th to THE PRECURSOR in the Remutaka Classic before winning over 2000m at Otaki. Really looks to have come of age as a stayer but just could finish it off here last week over 2600m behind the impressive UNLEASH THE BEAST. We expect a better fight here and Bruno to be far more proactive.

☆☆☆

STAR BALLOT hasn't really fired big since running 2nd to ROSSO over 2200m at Timaru, then took on some good fields including a Wellington Cup run. Ran on late on the GOOD3 at Riccarton, but slow to begin last Saturday over the 2600m and contacted at the 350m which didn’t help. A more robust performance from the TARZINO gelding is anticipated for the Pitman's, and this should be taken into account when assessing his potential to finish into the money.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 1200m

INSATIABLE / ILLICIT DREAMS / EXPRESS COUP

The Walker/Bergerson trained INSATIABLE was sent south in November 2024 and made an immediate impact. Runner-up twice at Riccarton before winning at Timaru. Finally won again over 1100m at Riccarton in February, but unable to settle well in the last two and Joe Doyle will need a clever ride jumping from a wide gate. THE ALL TOO HARD gelding revved up late to come through the middle and win very well after being held up at the 250m over 1200m here and every chance he can do it again.

☆☆☆☆

ILLICIT DREAMS from the from the Kenny Rae stable put out a much stronger performance at Kumara to finish his summer prep and although runner-up three other times it was the best effort. The four-year-old VANCOUVER mare was fast off the mark but still couldn't hold on to win running among strong company in the North last Autumn, finishing 2nd to TUXEDO at Ruakaka and REWARD SMILE. Given Rae's adept preparation of the mare, a strong performance is anticipated at the outset, especially on a Soft track.

☆☆☆

EXPRESS COUP managed to knock one off over 1200m at Riverton in early April and hasn't really had the easiest of times, held up, running wide and being bumped about on occasions. Regardless, this SHAMEXPRESS gelding is never far away from the top three and goes best when he can get his toe in a bit. Go on the Riverton run as the Pitman's do seem to have the edge on and never clear late over 1200m on a hard Canterbury track last start.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 1800m

BALANCE OF POWER / AWESOME LINEUP / O'RIORDAN

The Tangerine terror of Te Akau bring BALANCE OF POWER to Christchurch and the ALMANZOR gelding was firing on all cylinders during the warmer months. Won convincingly over the mile at Te Aroha before finishing 2nd to ATHERMATH up to 2100m at Tauranga. Went to his home course of Matamata and bounded away from the 100m to win easily, before battling for 4th at Te Rapa. Comes out of a South Island racemare in RESPIN and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergeson have developed the five-year-old to deliver multiple sound performances. Two soft 1100m trials to prepare and very capable of getting on with it over the mile and likes it here at home.

☆☆☆☆

Joe Waldron appears to be cultivating a roster of Southern talent, including a number of former Australian horses, and AWESOME LINEUP seems to be another star in the stable of imports. The AWESOME ROCK gelding was just too good for them last time out at Riccarton and led from the start to finish, dictating terms over the mile. Gets his own way here then may be difficult to haul in once again, although up against a strong Te Akau horse who will chase him down on this big straight with plenty of time to wind up.

☆☆☆

The PROISIR mare O'RIORDAN may be in the right condition to feature after finishing 2nd at Ashburton folloeed by a last start 4th over 2000m at Riccarton. Plugged away and should have really offered more, but that run shouldn't have taken too much out of him and hopefully has recovered quickly. The former Hollie Wynyard trained mare was overall quite strong in the Central Districts to begin her career, but Steph Faulkner now has her in Timaru, and she typically hasn't been too far off them in the South. Will need to find a killer punch but could.

☆☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 10 - 1200m

BOSS N HIGHHEELS / TORONTO / CLAUDIUS MAXIMUS

BOSS 'N' HIGHHEELS ran very well when 3rd at Te Aroha over 1400m last start after working four wide, then kept fighting hard to the line. Much tougher when 6th to FRANCEE in the opener on Champions Day at Ellerslie, however the WRITTEN TYCOON filly has shown more than enough ability to be competitive today. Has run in good company from day one so coming back in trip against this field shouldn't hold too many fears. McNab the right man for the job.

☆☆☆☆

We know trainer Stephen Gray holds his VANCOUVER gelding TORONTO in high regards and despite only five runs as a now five-year-old, his ability has gone largely unnoticed. Ran 3rd on debut in August on the Awapuni synthetic, then bolted in over 1200m there. Gave CASINO a galloping lesson when getting it right over 1200m at Waverley, so they may have sorted his waywardness and unpredictable nature under pressure. Bumped at the 400m when 2nd to MI BELLA here last week and 2nd-up should be even stronger.

☆☆☆

CLAUDIUS MAXIMUS won two on the bounce before finishing seventh at Riccarton where he was caught four wide from an outside gate and the IFFRAAJ gelding was caught in no man's land before running on again. Much better finishing three 3/4L 2nd to MEGLOMANIC at Wingatui last start and after 43 runs he has struck a purple patch this prep for trainer and former jockey Lee Callaway. Doesn't get any easier back on the Riccarton turf as he hasn't really run in Christchurch much during his career but certainly in fine touch and at these massive odds could sneak into the finish.

☆☆

BEST BET: UNLEASH THE BEAST

NEXT BEST: ANDERSON BRIDGE

BEST VALUE: ROYAL VALOUR

WILDCARD: CLAUDIUS MAXIMUS