OPEN HANDICAP

RACE - 2100m

FLY MY WEY / SANTA CATALINA / ROSETOWN PRINCESS

Last-start Ellerslie winner FLY MY WEY looked bright as trainer Mark Brosnan let him stride over a round of the course proper in trackwork on Tuesday and a repeat performance looks on the cards. Won here in June over the trip with a firmer track proving more to his liking.

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We took note of the SANTA CATALINA Te Rapa trial when cruising into 4th behind ROMANOFF and CANON HILL, which was impressive at the 1050m. Failed to do much over the mile in a Heavy 8 there in the Waikato last start, but up in trip and back on a firm Ellerslie track we could see significant improvement.

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Old mate ROSETOWN PRINCESS must be at the end of this prep, and with a little bit more oomph on challenging wet tracks she may have landed a couple more wins. Close up for 3rd here over 2200m last start and ran second to DIAMOND JAK at Te Rapa. If the staying gods were on her side, the REDWOOD mare would be winning this.

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OPEN HANDICAP

RACE - 1400m

ARABIAN SONGBIRD / CANNON HILL / TOP SHELF

The PIERRO mare ARABIAN SONGBIRD looks to have come up very well again fof the Kingsclere team and she delivered two powerful runs to win back-to-back over 1300m, then 1400m at Ellerslie last spring. Came up with the same deal a year early on the course and this girl does possess a dynamic turn-of-foot that can get her to the front quickly as the post looms up. Nice trial to prepare to go with solid trackwork, so looks ready to go.

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CANNON HILL stood out laying down a fine prep trial behind ROMANOFF at Te Rapa and the ARDROSSAN gelding trained by Tony Pike looked very sharp. Cracker win defeating MASTER FAY on the Auckland course in April, and despite racing keenly after being slow away, finished off powerfully to run 3rd in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) to end the prep. 1400m seems a nice jumping off point for the horse and this is his go to track where he performs best.

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TOP SHELF is a high calibre Te Akau mare who shone in the Autumn for the stable winning the Eldson Park Plate here at Ellerslie with a brilliant run through before finishing 2nd to ATMOSPHERIC over 1500m on the course in another strong field. Began awkwardly in the Easter Handicap losing ground, before coming three wide with a big finish for second to LUPO SOLITARIO. With the Livomal Classic on the agenda we should see a nice progression following this first up run.

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BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE - 1200m

GOLDEN WINGS / FLANAGAN / FAIRY DREAM

The SUPET SETH gelding GOLDEN WINGS is beautifully bred and showed some class last prep defeating NAVY ENSIGN at Ellerslie following two, close up second placings on the course to begin his career. Went for broke early from a wide gate travelling handy in the Gr.3 Aotoeroa Classic, however, it was all too much and he compounded, running around like a drunken sailor after a big night out. Needed the experience, and trialed up a treat at Te Rapa last start, so we expect a bold return.

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FLANAGAN was fantastic from the beginning of the year and scored an impressive victory here over 1400m in January. Ran on wide out in the Fulton Stakes before being held up in the Eldson Park Plate (1600m) when 3rd and the SWISS ACE mare was desperately unlucky not to get to TOP SHELF on Champions Day. Capable of running a cheeky race fresh up following a tidy 1150m trial win at Waipa and we have plenty of time for this Sam Logan-trained horse.

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This distance will be well short of FAIRY DREAM's best but the James/Wellwood-trained PROISIR mare is back in magic condition judging an excellent trial win at the beginning of the month and trackwork on Tues has only reinforced the fact. Just the four runs last season, winning on debut a year ago and bookended the prep with a big finish to claim the Desert Gold Stakes. Off a slick pace we believe the mare will be hitting the line hsrd and she has the ability to upset as a lightly tried type.

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BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE - 1600m

TOWERING VISION / LOLLAPALOOZA / GETAWAY

Team Te Akau must be hoping for a bit more resolve from TOWERING VISION here, who weaved through for 3rd resuming at Taupo, and really had a nice run on the rail at Auckland shifting to the middle of the track, although the CIRCUS MAXIMUS gelding looked a run short and bumped at the 50m mark which didn't help progress. Has won here over the mile and will be looking for further we imagine after finishing 2nd to AUTUMN GLORY in the Waikato Guineas (2000m) last season. Definitely needed the hard hitout so right in this.

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Drawing barrier (15) was a nightmare scenario for LOLLAPALOOZA in the Proisir Plate and the mare never stood a chance fresh up being jagged back to the rear. Ran into some good ones as a three-year-old filly and managed to win the Gold Trail before a close 2nd to TAJANA in the Sunline Vase. Brave 2nd to WELL WRITTEN in the NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton before a 2nd in the Eight Carat and 5th in the NZB Kiwi. The EL ROCA mare might actually come to hand quickly for the Richardson/Norvall team and certainly worth keeping safe up to the mile.

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GETAWAY didn't do TOWERING VISION any favours shifting out in the last at Ellerslie on Proisir Plate Day but still put up a sturdy fight to the line behind the fine A.R Fieldes galloper, MONOLOGUE. The SHAMEXPRESS mare ran on strongly for 2nd at Te Rapa in May, then loomed wider from the turn to win well over 1600m at Ellerslie in June. Good chance the Kurtis Pertab trained mare jumps handy and hopefully with added fitness can run straight nearing the line.

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THREE-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE - 1400m

INCANDESCENT / SYSTEM OF PLAY/ SO FEAR

The OLE KIRK colt SYSTEM OF PLAY staged a massive performance to win on debut at Te Rapa as a two-year-old after trialing up well in three occasions and unleashed a devastating finish with McNab aboard. He was an expensive purchase by Dave Ellis at the Ready To Run Sale and looks a natural talent. Two sound trials to prepare and we believe Te Akau will want this to tick a few boxes as the ideal build up heading towards the Gr.1 2000 Guineas in November. Scratched from the Meads at Hasting avoiding the wet track and the team will want to kick off on the right note.

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The James/Wellwood-trained INCANDESCENT finished off his two-year-old campaign with a fine victory in the Listed Champagne Stakes here at Ellerslie and finally getting up to the 1600m was the key due to his late rush racing style. Placed behind stablemate EXCITE in the Vet Stakes at Te Rapa and just progressed with purpose from the debut victory. Trialled up beautifully on the poly and aimed towards the 2000 Guineas in November, so still wearing a winter coat and the PER INCANTO gelding will improve on anything he does here. Serious ability and sure to be hitting the line hard the final 150m after some fine sprint work at Cambridge Tues.

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Best to forgive SO FEAR on the Heavy in the Wanganui Guineas as it really wasn't his thing, although the trip away was probably just as important. Stephen Marsh had this ARDROSSAN filly up and flying early in her career, defeating SWEETEST THING on debut at Wanganui followed by a strong victory over 1200m at Pukekohe. Came from last with a big finish to run 3rd in the Starway at Ellerslie but lost a hind plate and failed to fire at Te Rapa. On a Soft 5 can show out better and the stable will get it right.

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