NZ 2000 GUINEAS G1

RACE 9 - 1600m

EXCITE / CONISTON / RIP TIDE

The impressive closing speed EXCITE displayed in Auckland when defeating the older horses at Ellerslie provides a strong indicator of his future potential and sets him up nicely for the Guineas. The James/Wellwood team have carefully managed his progress since winning the Vet Stakes at Te Rapa and have avoided the 3YO crush in the north. Due to their diligence and patience we can expect a strong effort at the mile.

☆☆☆☆

CONISTON’s early career direction has been characterised by inconsistency, transitioning from impressive trial performances to flopping out of the gates and securing a significant upset victory in the Sarten at Te Rapa last start. There's been no denying his natural ability of this well-bred WOOTTON BASSETT colt from day one as we have seen the best and worst of him. Fails to jump away, then a huge task ahead, although his closing speed and power is undeniable.

☆☆☆

RIP TIDE was a tidy trialler prior to his winning debut at Taupo, and coming from last it did signal a horse with some real ability. Off the fence to fight hard into 3rd at Matamata, with the Sarten run at Te Rapa a nice effort after struggling to gain clear racing room until inside the final 100m. Don't discount this OCEAN PARK gelding as he is bred to be sensational and may very well be at the mile. With Grylls on looks the upset horse.

☆☆

NEW ZEALAND CUP G3

RACE 11 - 3200m

ATHABASCAN / THE PRECUSOR / ROSSO / TRAV

You only have to view the Sydney runs of ATHABASCAN to realize the O'Shea/Charlton team are over here to win the NZ Cup with this ALMANZOR gelding. He may be an eight-year-old now, but the last run at Flemington going left-handed was much better than it looked - running dead last until the turn before staying on hard with plenty more to give. He didn't score much luck in the Metrop and St Leger, although he will surely be rock hard fit coming from the competitive NSW staying ranks.

☆☆☆☆

THE PRECUSOR was a bit plain chasing home JUST CHARLIE in the Metropolitan Trophy here last week, although the big gelding obviously needed the hard hit out and this feature race has been their main assignment all along with the son of ST JEAN. Went huge to win the Remutaka Classic last season and won well over 2000m at Matamata coming back. A massive beast of a horse, he can run a much improved race in the cup, but will need to to see out this challenging trip.

☆☆☆

If you watched the overhead replay run of ROSSO in the Metropolitan Trophy last Saturday, he was getting home quite strongly in the latter stages, signifying the two miles should now be the perfect fit. Really ate into the leaders advantage and the Pitman's have the imported CAMELOT gelding as close as possible to peak fitness. Looked a top stayer last season, although this prep appears a more gradual and precautionary approach to get him right. Massive chance at the distance.

☆☆

Although the ALMANZOR gelding, TRAV, was slow to break from the gates on the firm Otaki surface during his most recent outing, his two preceding performances were quite encouraging. Improved from the 800m to finish 3rd on a wet Hawera before a big finish out wide for 4th at Waverley over 2200m - and it was noteworthy. Can take a bit for Conners to get him up to full fitness, although Trav sud win the Auckland Cup (3200m) last season and he is a genuine two-miler. Well worth covering.

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STEWARDS STAKES (L)

RACE 7 - 1200m

PLATINUM ATTACK / UNDISPUTED / CHARMROSE / CHEERIO

Jeez, they'll need to be very good to roll PLATINUM ATTACK following his exceptional Pegasus win here last week after being held up. With the pace on his name couldn't be anymore appropriate, rattling home and typically delivering stunning closing sectionals few can match. Didn't take on the Stewards last season, but Latta has the SANTOS gelding back in immaculate condition as one of the most talented sprinters in the land. Impossible to bet against here despite the weight.

☆☆☆☆☆

UNDISPUTED ran a real blackbooker in the Pegasus last week and at these sound odds need to be considered as a horse capable of rolling the fave in the Stewards. Bruce Tapper is more than satisfied with how the CONTRIBUTER gelding has recovered this week, and you only have to view his winter form when winning four straight, including one here over 1200m. Should be well primed by the Timaru team.

☆☆☆

CHARMROSE was fantastic last week and almost held out PLATINUM ATTACK when the Latta horse was held up half way down the straight. Regardless, other than that champion sprinter, she was easily the next best performer in the Pegasus and her Auckland form was first rate winning at Pukekohe in March then took them apart at Ellerslie with a splendid front-running Grylls ride. Well in this again at the weights.

☆☆

CHEERIO has to be a huge hope coming off a strong win at Hastings and the MAURICE mare just dashed away at the 250m to win stylishly for trainer Cody Cole. Her form during the three-year-old prep was first rate and the fact jockey George Rooke sticks is also a big positive. The stable has brought the mare a long way for this and it would be prudent to keep her extra safe rocking up here in the right frame of mind.

☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 1400m

MISS STARLIGHT / WITZ END / JON OL ROCCO

Since returning as a four-year-old we have been solid in our opinion of the SWEYNESSE mare MISS STARLIGHT who repaid our belief with a tight win over 1200m at Wingatui. Shared the lead and fought hard here for a 2nd to HASSTOBEFAST in September, so the writing was on the wall. Goes back up to 1400m, although she did win the Canterbury Belle at the trip and finish 2nd over the 1600m in the Airfreight Stakes, so it shouldn't be an issue but torn between the top two.

☆☆☆

The SAVABEEL gelding WITZ END put up a nice effort when 3rd to MYSTIC PARK fresh up over 1400m, looming up and fighting hard to the line. Chased TOA HAKA last start but didn't seem all that happy in the running and failed to press on from the turn when stoked up. Won the Hazlett in Feb, then here over 1400m in March, so when the mood strikes him he is lethal. Ryn in strong northern fields, so must be a winning hope.

☆☆☆

JON OL ROCCO must come into play on a track with some give in it and his fine second up record has us taking note of the Nayton Mitchell-trained gelding. A TIME TEST seven-year-old, Jon Ol Rocco came off a long spell of almost two years when producing a fair finish at Riccarton in October and he was super up to the mile from early in his career. Possibly looking for further but could be ready to offer his best.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 2590m

STAR BALLOT / OCEAN LIGHT / KIWI MAGIC

STAR BALLOT was a bit ordinary in the Metropolitan last week but he was slow away before improving to sit the leader passing the 1200m and it just took to much of a toll on him. The form of TARZINO gelding during winter was top notch, placing here twice up to 2600m and claiming a 2200m win in the Founders Cup on the poly. Ran into some pretty good horses and just needs the race shape to fall his way slightly. Could be match hard fit for this and we like these E/W odds.

☆☆☆☆

OCEAN LIGHT settled back on the inner delivering a fair finish late over 2000m at Riccarton following a 3rd in the North Canterbury Cup after running three-wide from the 800m. The gelding achieved notable success over staying distances last season, particularly on synthetic surfaces; however, while versatile, he must demonstrate greater tactical urgency moving forward. Love him getting out to this distance and ran on Wednesday so hard fit..

☆☆☆

KIWI MAGIC might be a hope here over the endurance trip after finishing third the last couple over 2200m at Wingatui and Ashburton. Finished best to win at Riccarton over 2000m in May cruising up out wide, then again in June finishing best. We have a feeling the Parsons would have put the work in to the SHOCKING gelding and with a gentle run in transit he could get home super strong that last bit.

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