KAIMAI STAKES OPEN

RACE - 1600m

LOLLAPALOOZA / TOP SHELF / THE PRECURSOR

The Richardson/Norvall trained LOLLAPALOOZA got rolled by TOWERING VISION at Ellerslie last start and there was no shame in her performance as that horse was motoring home. After the fresh up Proisir Plate failure we thought the EL ROCA mare could bounce straight back up as she competed as a classy three-year-old among the best last season and laid down some admirable results. Third-up could be the time to grab her attacking the mile again.

☆☆☆☆

TOP SHELF had no problems resuming with a victory at Ellerslie and we should expect more of the same from the Walker/Bergerson trained mare. Brilliant win in the Elsdon Park Plate on Champions Day after racing wide in the early stages and followed up with two 2nd placings, including only a head off LUPO SOLITARIO in the Easter Handicap after being trapped out on a limb. Can easily go back-to-back.

☆☆☆

THE PRECUSOR is dual nominated by the Kingsclere team and the ST JEAN gelding really didn't get into it fresh up over the mile. Same sire as the Melbourne Cup winner HALF YOURS, so we expect further will suit better, although game effort to win over the mile at New Plymouth then took out the Remutaka Classic (2100m) with a big finish. Couldn't wind up quickly enough in the Avondale Cup but can go a much better race and will only improve from here on in. Trackwork rock solid.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE - 2000m

THE PRECURSOR / HIGH COUNTRY / LOCH KATRINE

THE PRECUSOR is dual nominated by the Kingsclere team and the ST JEAN gelding really didn't get into it fresh up over the mile. Same sire as the Melbourne Cup winner HALF YOURS, so we expect further will suit better, although game effort to win over the mile at New Plymouth then took out the Remutaka Classic (2100m) with a big finish. Couldn't wind up quickly enough in the Avondale Cup but can go a much better race and will only improve from here on in and this trip is more ideal.

☆☆☆☆

HIGH COUNTRY is 2nd-up at the 2000m after kicking off over 1600m at Ellerslie in early September and we believe the MONGOLIAN KHAN gelding will strip much fitter and in a position to feature more prominently. Big finish to win at Ellerslie in February, then doubled up over the 2100m at Tauranga. Afforded a nice rest by Tony Pike and trial work has been sound, so the trip extension should work to his advantage.

☆☆☆

We believed LOCH KATRINE was well capable of a much improved performance last start at Hastings and the mare did well for 3rd over 2100m after a few sound runs throughout the winter. Scored a quality win fresh up over the 1560m at Rotorua but just wasn't able to make up enough ground quickly in subsequent runs in Heavy conditions. The ability is there, however, the ARDROSSAN mare just needs to apply herself a bit more positively in the latter stages.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE - 1600m

TYPHOON LUCY / CROWN PRINCESS / CRACKERCOL

She may be only lightly raced, and the DUNDEEL mare TYPHOON LUCY from the Walker/Bergerson barn might have started slowly at Matamata resuming, but McNab had a lap full of horse when going straight on by them to win convincingly at the 1400m. Won there to break her maiden in March to finish the prep and she is a highly progressive horse sitting in a great position going up in distance. Repeat of that effort and won't be running in Benchmark for much longer.

☆☆☆☆

The Te Akau runner CROWN PRINCESS is a more mature mare now and spent nearly twelve months on the sideline after three promising runs including a win bolting clear at Rotorua in Dec 2024. Took three runs to get going before finishing best to win over 1800m at Taupo with tidy placings either side. Two 1000m trials have been sound and the EMBELLISH mare may be ridden quietly here before mounting a late bid.

☆☆☆

CRACKERCOL delivered a pretty flat effort fresh up at Te Rapa and finished off the previous campaign with a few uncharacteristic flat runs. In excellent form this time last year, finishing 2nd in Hamilton before winning over 1600m at Matamata and 1530m at Tauranga defeating TOP SHELF. Game effort to win up to 2100m at Trentham before being held up in the Taupo Cup and it all went pear-shaped from then on. The PROISIR gelding can return to his best for Wexford and he won't mind it wet.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE - 1200m

THUMBELINA / AVANTAGGIA / SIBLING RIVALRY

Team Te Akau finally managed to work it all out with a shadow roll on THUMBELINA and the PER INCANTO mare put two together to finish the prep stylishly. Did it easy at Pukekohe after racing three wide without cover throughout, then extricated herself from a tight situation and gain a lovely rails run guided by Craig Grylls. Five months off the scene and trials haven't shown much, but she is highly talented horse despite a lack of experience and definitely a threat here first up.

☆☆☆☆

The royally bred AVANTAGGIA raced among high class three-year-old company with dignity before coming back to deliver a game run for 3rd at Matamata followed by a dominant victory over 1200m at Otaki. Backed it up by winning the ANZAC Day 3YO and she was most certainly a work in progress for the team. She is the daughter of the brilliant mare AVANTAGE from the sire WOOTTON BASSETT and the blue blood typically rises to the top. Like all three stablemates fresh up.

☆☆☆

SIBLING RIVALRY experienced an indifferent campaign after winning with some authority at Pukekohe last December, then was knocked from pillar to post in the Gr.2 Levin Classic at Trentham, and being small framed didn't help much. Tried hard against the bias at Tauranga when 3rd before an unhappy time in the Heavy at Te Rapa before a spell. Nice trial win in the last and won't have much weight here, but stayig out of trouble early will be the key.

☆☆