MATAMATA CUP (L)

RACE 7 - 1600m

MALI STON / LIVID SKY / ONE BOLD CAT

Without the Te Akau pair of QUINTESSA and WHAT YOU WISH FOR, the Matamata Cup is now a wide open affair. Willing to speculate on a serious roughie in MALI STON from the Weatherley's camp who has the ability to upset on his day and not a worthy $34 shot as first listed. The eight-year-old EL ROCA gelding won four straight earlier in his career, including the Rich Hill Mile. Finished 3rd in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham and has mixed it with the best. In and out type since then, with a 2nd in Foxbridge last year and a 3rd in this race 12 months ago. Fought on for 5th in a strong sprint field at Te Rapa last time out and sure to be running on late at a course that should suit. Could be good to go here, can handle it wet and just the type to surprise.

☆☆☆☆

Following some suboptimal performances in the previous preparation, LIVID SKY demonstrated a significant improvement in form with wins at Te Aroha and Te Rapa over staying trips before a tough run in the open in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes. The PROISIR gelding, trained on this course by Stephen Autridge, exhibited considerable promise as a three-year-old and is now demonstrating his full potential. Big finish wide for 3rd over 1400m at Ellerslie behind the impressive TARDELLI resuming suggests another promising performance is imminent. Down in the weights with a good draw he just has to be a top three chance 2nd-up. Looks better placed here and high grade trackwork on Tuesday.

☆☆☆

The Robbie Patterson mare ONE BOLD CAT is a quality racehorse who took out the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate here at Matamata last season, causing somewhat of an upset. The seven-year-old by THE BOLD ONE won the Fielding and Counties Cups before being close up in the Thorndon Mile, Herbie Dyke and Bonecrusher, but failed to stand out over summer racing. Big blow out resuming at Otaki but likely to strip much fitter and has the talent to get into the finish. Poor gate and likely aiming towards the Livamol so good chance he's the one with maximum ability running on late.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 2000m

ROSETOWN PRINCESS / WHAT A CHARMA / AGERA

ROSETOWN PRINCESS's performance on a Heavy 10 track at Te Aroha was not successful, however, her previous form was promising. Having secured a commendable second-place finish behind TOBIAS at Taranaki over 2000m, she is currently in peak condition. We were quite impressed with ROSETOWN PRINCESS, securing a victory over 1600m on a testing Heavy track at Tauranga before a huge charge for 2nd behind TREGOR in July. Although this REDWOOD mare's racing style may not always lead to victory, she has reached a new high this prep and has come across much stronger. Performed relatively well racing in Melbourne before returning home and this middle-distance trip should be perfect as a fit horse who handles the heavy.

☆☆☆☆

WHAT A CHARMA has run on late the last three and comes across as quite a strong staying type in good nick. Fine ride by Strawbridge to win at Rotorua over 1950m in July, then ran on well at Egmont after beginning awkwardly. Ran on late again when 3rd to BOZO over 2040m at Wanganui, and not too bad when 4th last start at New Plymouth after being slow away once again. Performs best on the heavy, however the JIMMY CHOUX gelding should be in hard condition and can challenge if gets on his bike turning for home.

☆☆☆

AGERA has been laying it down of late and it's hard to knock his current form. The Tony Pike trained COMPLACENT gelding hung late but held on to win over 2000m on the Cambridge synthetic before coming on nicely to win there again coming back to 1550m. Fought over the mile at Ellerslie before a kicking with a powerful effort to win over the mile on a Heavy 8 at Te Rapa and was just too good for them. Much prefer if Weatherley settled the horse down in a safe slot midfield before opening him up rising in trip again. Unpredictable and a handful at times but worth including.

☆☆

RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE 8 - 1600m

AFTERMATH / TAKESHI / BALANCE OF POWER

The Clotworthy trained AFTERMATH races keenly last start, but improved to run 2nd to AGERA over the mile at Te Rapa. Ran on for 3th behind the talented SON OF SUN the run prior at Te Aroha and sticks to the mile. Did win two-in-a-row early in the year at Tauranga and Te Rapa, with both being over the 2100m distance which may be a better fit. The six-year-old ROCK N POP gelding will be suitably fit for this and only requires a clean run to ge come home strongly. Prefer a soft track so better suited to a stable surface. Also nominated in the Cup and can run well in the feature.

☆☆☆☆

Difficult to knock a horse with this much potential and the pedigree of TAKESHI is sublime to say the least. By SATONO ALADDIN, his dam PASSCHENDAELE (Montjeu) was a top stayer, winning the Gr.2 Waikato Cup (2400m) and 3rd in the Gr.1 Darci Brahma Stakes (2000m) on two occasions. Her dam, CLASSIC BABE was a high class stayer in her own right; therefore, TAKESHI should get better the further he goes. At this stage Stephen Marsh has a work in progress and he doesn't seem the easiest horse to handle. Going on trust and the stable getting it right, but has the ability to win.

☆☆☆

The Tangerine terror of Te Akau bring BALANCE OF POWER back to Matamata 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 back 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.

☆☆

RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE 2 - 1200m

AGE OF DISCOVERY / JUDICIAL / LATRELLE

This galloper AGE OF DISCOVERY exemplifies Te Akau's exceptional ability to develop high-performing young racehorses early in their careers, and this one is no different. This SAVABEEL colt made it 2/2 before being snagged back at Pukekohe with blinkers on for the first time and strangely only plugged away. Won his maiden at Riccarton before winning the Guineas trial two weeks later idling along smoothly. Decent 3rd resuming at Ruakaka before being trapped wide at Ellerslie and it will take a good horse to beat this lad. Looks a good bet on the card.

☆☆☆☆

JUDICIAL is a fine WRITTEN TYCOON sprinter who started out life in Melbourne, winning at Ballarat and Cranbourne before transferring to the Ben & Ryan Foote stables at Cambridge. Finished 3rd but over raced a bit over 1100m at Ellerslie in his New Zealand debut, before a solid 2nd to REPTAK over 1200m at Ruakaka in July. One lone trial to prepare, however likely to be well primed and he does have some quality about him.

☆☆☆

Willing to allow LATRELLE a chance after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia over 1500m at Ellerslie last prep. The Cody Cole trained REDWOOD mare was unlucky in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes when racing in restricted room, but previous efforts where super strong. Led from the 100m to win very well over the mile early March, and was close up at Otaki and Pukekohe in Jan/Feb. This trip may test, however should score a soft run and she can get up on the pace early.

☆☆

RATING 65 BENCHMARK

RACE 3 - 2000m

SWEET BUT PSYCHO / RAMBLIN ROSE / MUSCOVADO

The Wexford team squeezed a much better effort out of SWEET BUT PSYCHO when running home well for 2nd despite interference over the 1500m at Te Rapa. Stood little chance in the Dunstan Final, then ran on late resuming for 4th over the mile. The PROISIR mare was running tidy races late last year when victorious in two fine staying efforts over 2200m at Te Aroha, then 2100m at Ruakaka. Seems best suited when able to settle into a comfortable position midfield, before building up steam with a powerful, sustained finish. She is out of a MASTERCRAFTSMAN mare in OUZO from a ZABEEL mare, so the staying pedigree is highly evident. With an even drag into the race, she's right in this contest.

☆☆☆☆

RAMBLIN' ROSE was pretty decent when 3rd resuming over 1500m at Te Rapa, suggesting the COMPLACENT mare is well forward. Ran a couple of nice races when 2nd over 2100m at Te Rapa and 3rd at Ellerslie. Held up but flew late for 2nd over the same trip at Pukekohe so we know the mare has a strong constitution and once she gets rolling along can make up significant ground late in a race. As s more experienced five-year-old we may see a stronger horse emerge this prep. Don't underestimate her staying ability and the likelihood trainer Darrell Hollinshead will have the mare up for a big effort here.

☆☆☆

The John Bell trained MUSCOVADO is a difficult horse to catch, although PURE CHAMPION gelding does hold a big finish when right and was desperately unlucky when held up late over 2400m at Te Rapa. Top notch in 2024 when running three second placings before winning over 2100m at Tauranga. No go in the spring before an improved 4th at Ellerslie after being handy, then challenged well with a late charge to get up over 2100m at Pukekohe. Considering the circumstances, there is a degree of risk involved, but given the potential for big odds, a top-four finish is not entirely out of the question.

☆

RATING 65 BENCHMARK

RACE 5 - 1400m

ORATIA BEAUTY / SMALL TOWN GIRL / AFTERGLO

Hard to go past a fine TOO DARN HOT filly and this one ORATIA BEAUTY does appear to possess some genuine ability. Her dam, ORATIA by REDOUTE'S CHOICE only raced seven times, with two strong wins at Avondale and a 3th placed finish in a Sunline Vase. Her mother, MISS MAREN (Stravinsky) raced successfully in Australia, running 2nd in the 2009 Gr.1 McKinnon Stakes. Plenty to like about this pedigree as Kylie Hoskin could have a good one here and the filly has shown them plenty. Some faith required but George Rooke should offer a strong ride.

☆☆☆☆

The Ralph Manning trained SMALL TOWN GIRL can jump on the pace and make a race of it here, although the final 100m may test. The TIME TEST mare is out of a DARCI BRAHMA broodmare in STROLLING VAGABOND, who was a classy competitor in the Central Districts. Her daughter failed to hold on over the mile here at Matamata behind TENFOOT TALL, then 3rd behind CLEW BAY running on late. Won well at Waverley in July after being handy throughout, but stopped on the Heavy 10 at Hawera. Freshen up should see her ready to go and likely to press forward from this sticky gate.

☆☆☆

Willing stick our neck out and say AFTERGLO can in fact come out and win this. Trialed up well before coming wide to win on debut at Matamata, defeating ZIGGY STARDUST who isn't half bad. Grabbed 3rd returning to the course after racing wide throughout over 1100m, then weakened late after leading over the mile at Ellerslie. Inconvenienced at the 150m when 4th to TREGOR back at Matamata trying the 1600m again then sent for a spell. Raced in restricted room when resuming, but the ARDROSSAN mare can offer a better effort with Opie aboard.

☆☆

BEST BET: ORATIA BEAUTY

NEXT BEST: ROSETOWN PRINCESS

BEST VALUE: TAKESHI

LONGSHOT: MALI STON