BALMERINO STAKES G3
RACE 8 - 2000m

TOP SHELF / SHARP N SMART / HE'S A DOOZY

There is no apparent reason why Te Akau would refrain from returning TOP SHELF to Ellerslie just ten days after her highly impressive victory here, particularly as the SAVABEEL mare appears to have returned in even stronger form. May be be slightly more challenging going up from the mile quickly, although this could be her defining prep where the mare goes to another level.

☆☆☆☆

SHARP N SMART has been very ordinary in the two runs back at the shorter distance, but this quality stayer goes up to a more suitable trip, and he was good enough to run in the Melbourne Cup a couple of years back. Pretty sharp and smart at the end of the last prep, with a 3rd in the Livamol and here in the Balmerino before winning the Waikato Cup (2400m) at a distance that suited. Can improve and go much better on Tuesday.

☆☆☆

Lisa Latta brings HE'S A DOOZY up from Awapuni and with a few runs under his belt, this race doesn't look completely out of reach. The nine-year-old ZACINTO gelding hasn't been too bad at all in the three runs back but ran well last prep and goes best trailing the pace with a bum to chase. If in EL VENCEDOR he could make it interesting with some fitness behind him.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 7 - 1500m

CANNON HILL / SWEET SMILE / CHECKMATE

We were taken by the run of CANNON HILL last start for s bold second behind SWEET SMILE at Ellerslie and following thd powerful late finish from thd rear fresh up, we knew the ARDROSSAN gelding was well up for it. We believe Tony Pike will have him bang on 3rd-up and every opportunity to show his best on a course he likes.

☆☆☆☆

SWEET SMILE has mowed through the grades and in most impressive fashion these past 12 months and the TIME TEST gelding picked up where he left off when winning ahead of CANNON HILL at Ellerslie as he just thrives on this course. Won three-in-a-row here in the Autumn and came back to defeat DROPS OF GOD in a trial here. Far too talented to bypass and good enough to win again.

☆☆☆

CHECKMATE really seems to like this 1500m trip with 2 from 3 on the course and could come to hand quickly following a first up run over 1200m, then 1400m in the Spring Sprint at Hasting. Third in the Rich Hill Mile was the best result last prep, but the five-year-old MONGOLIAN KHAN gelding was good enough to finish third in the inaugural NZB Kiwi at this trip and doesn't look out of this with Craig Grylls on the saddle.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 10 - 1300m

SWISS PRINCE / GOLDEN WINGS / THUMBELINA

The last is possibly the toughest race of the day and we can't see any reason why the Marsh-trained SWISS PRINCE won't play a major role fresh up if able to jump away and stay handy. Won the Sarten last year before failing in the wet Guineas down south, followed by a strong 2nd to LA DORADA in the Levin Classic. Likes it here so keep safe as will just bowl along looking for some cheap early sectionals.

☆☆☆

GOLDEN WINGS suffered an upset when going down to ZORERO at Hastings, although the fresh up win here at Ellerslie to kick off the prep was ultra impressive and getting back to his favoured course will be of benefit. Likely to get amongst it early and try to dictate the pace so awfully hard to beat and a bounce back performance is seriously on the cards. Far too talented to ignore back here.

☆☆☆

The PER INCANTO mare THUMBELINA was a problem child for Te Akau last season but eventually sorted out his wayward ways to finish well behind SWEET SMILE at Pukekohe before winning there over 1200m and delivered a big finish to claim victory on this course in April. Slow away at Matamata resuming but could spark up quickly with that run now out of the way. Quite a gifted horse at best.

☆☆

RACE 1 - BENCHMARK 65 HCP 1100m - MAIL

RACE 4 - BENCHMARK 75 HCP 2400m - MAIL

RACE 5 - 3YO SET WEIGHTS 1400m - MAIL

RACE 6 - BENCHMARK 65 HCP 1600m - MAIL

RACE 9 - BENCHMARK 65 HCP 1300m - MAIL

RACE 10 - BENCHMARK 75 HCP 1300m - MAIL