BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP
RACE 1 - 2400m

WITH GRACE / FLORIN / DANCIN IN THE DARK

Love the look of this OCEAN PARK mare WITH GRACE, whose dam GRACE PARK (Danske) was a quality southern mare. Her daughter is coming off two strong victories at Ruakaka and Te Rapa, finishing out her races best and proving her overall staying ability. Spring is certainly her time of year and at the trip with Rooke on, appears hard to hold out.

FLORIN has been doing everything right for trainer Michael Wallace except win, although the VANBURGH mare has been beaten by a few good ones, such as JAEGER twice; the last in the INTERPROVINCAL at New Plymouth. Made ground late, so jumps up significantly in distance from the mile and it will be interesting how she sees out this 2400m trip, but usually slow away and has fitness on her side.

DANCIN IN THE DARK has been making ground in his races and prefers a firm surface which he may not strike here, but it is a drying track. The VADAMOS gelding last won over 2100m up at Ruakaka just over a year ago, but since June all his staying runs have held some merit. Might find it difficult to win this even from an inside gate which will allow for a soft run in the inner. Can place.

MAIDEN 1500
RACE 2 - 1500m

PEARLING CROWN / SCAREDOFHEIGHTS / FORESTER

We didn't hate the debut run of PEARLING CROWN after trialling up so well, but she was fairly green first up and raced a little too keenly over the 1400m at Hastings. Hopefully that experience has settled the CONTRIBUTER mare, who is well bred being from a strong BLACK MINNALOUSHE mare in MINNALEO. Has upside and can run a much-improved race coming out of this stable.

SCAREDOFHEIGHTS Is definitely a horse we believe has more to give and he does come across as a trier who is willing to give her best being by PREFERMENT. Far from terrible chasing home a couple of good ones for 4th at Ruakaka and the two Matamata runs earlier in the year were rock solid. Been running on late and scored zero luck at Te Rapa last start so willing to allow another chance.

The REDWOOD gelding FORESTER appears somewhat undervalued in this field, and trainer Annabelle Johnson can be confident that her horse is well-positioned to compete. Finished 2nd to GOLDEN POINT at Avondale prior to a 3rd at Te Rapa over the mile and probably just too firm up at Ruakaka last start. A much wiser horse now and well-suited by the conditions.


MAIDEN 1200
RACE 3 - 1200m

SHIRASE / PARFAIT DIMANCHE / JOYEUSE

SHIRASE is a Tony Pike-trained SATONO ALADDIN filly who defeated a promising Te Akau horse in SYSTEM OF PLAY in her first 800m trial and appeared super sharp revving up late to go past them with ease. Cruised through her Te Rapa trial in a strong, more experienced field and finished 2nd on the Cambridge synthetic in her last effort. Debut run was rock solid and half decent. The filly is out of a nice O'REILLY mare and holds a fine pedigree overall which will serve her well.

PARFAIT DIMANCHE is a Logan-trained ANDERS filly who took on some top two-year-olds last season and performed admirably taking on the likes of DE ARMAS, KINNARD and HARVEY WALLBANGER and LIGUIRA in Stakes races and placing in three of those contests before having a crack in the G1 Sistema. Fully up to winning this fresh up after gaining so much experience.

Keeping a close eye on this SWORD OF STATE filly JOYEUSE on debut, as her dam is well-bred being out of the super mare GUISEPPINA and with this pedigree there should be some serious speed with this girl. The Richardson/Norvall filly hasn't exactly shone out at the trials but trackwork has been sound and a strong run first up wouldn't totally surprise.

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP
RACE 4 - 1300m

YOUNG JACKSON / AMUSEMENT / VICTOR TANGO

Liked how YOUNG JACKSON presented in his first preperation, winning with some authority over 1400m at Te Rapa in January before finishing 3rd to THAT'S GOLD in the Karapiro Classic (1600m) on the Waikato course. Game and ran on in the next two at Ellerslie and Trentham prior to going out for the winter. Nice trial behind the stablemate FAIRY DREAM and could run a bold race if keen to get back out there.

The ALMANZOR mare AMUSEMENT has banged out eight races this year without too much rest and placed in half of them. Loomed up and fought hard behind OBERON over 1200m at Te Rapa last start and with three weeks between runs looks close to winning another. Grylls aboard, nice draw, likes the track, might not get a better chance to knock one off.

The PROISIR gelding VICTOR TANGO comes out of the powerful David Greene yard and based on the fresh up run could be ready to bust one out. Won his maiden at Matamata in March before taking on a strong 3YO field at Pukekohe prior to being put out fof the winter. Needed that first one at Ruakaka and likely to strip much sharper 2nd-up. A clever Kennedy ride and right in this but will be working towards the mile we imagine.

OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 5 - 1600m

LEVAKIA / ASTORIA BROOKE / HE'S A DOOZY

The Ken Kelso-trained LEVAKIA needed the first up run at Ruakaka after peaking at the 150m and we should expect much better here. The five-year-old PROISIR mare finished nicely to run 2nd to SAVOIR FAIRE at Puke followed by a strong effort from last to win over 2200m at Ellerslie in April. Trialed well in August, and although not known as a wet tracker, any improvement closer to a soft surface would be highly beneficial.

ASTORIA BROOKE has all the experience in the world, loves it wet and this Te Rapa track. Won the Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) on a Soft 7 here in July, before failing on a deep New Plymouth track, but bounced back last start returning to Hamilton on a Heavy 8 after getting into the clear at the 200m and ran home best. Really, runs up to that sane standard, then goes very close.

HE'S A DOOZY was fantastic pressing hard to win the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) in March, and the nine-year-old ZACINTO gelding is a genuine old warhorse who has thrilled his ownership group by trying so hard in his contests. Finished 2nd over the mile on Boxing Day at Otaki handling a wet track, before a bold 4th in the Trentham Stakes, then came up to Matamata for a 2nd in the Kaimai, and back down to Wellington to finish 3rd to SUNSET BOULEVARD. As honest as the day is long, so could go a cheeky one fresh up.

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP
RACE 6 - 1600m

ELIUD / BELLA'S BOY / ELLE MCFAB

The one horse that disappointed us the most in August was the run of ELIUD at Hastings over the 1600m, however, he did race wide in the early stages and was forced to go forward from the 1000m. The ALMANZOR gelding is attempting to recapture his best for Tony Pike after a long injury layoff following two Flemington runs as a three-year-old. He does have some ability when right and we believe he is here to run a super race.

If jockey George Rooke gets his tactics right here, then BELLA'S BOY could take this out for Ralph Manning based on current form. The AMERICAN PHAROAH mare won the Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) here in July after taking on strong fields in Auckland, then returned here to defeat RUDYARD at the track/trip once again. Loves it heavy, although a significant weight rise which will make it more challenging this time.

David Greene has a nice mare in ELLE MCFAB, but she blew it over-racing at the 1400m at Te Aroha last start and going three-wide on the speed was never going to end well. The FABULOUS mare fought well at the mile on her home course of Te Rapa the run prior and we suspect Greene would have worked her on gradually and she just needs to settle better to be effective and she won't mind a testing track. Can mark up the numbers at reasonable odds.


OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 7 - 1100m

AZEEZLE / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / CHARMROSE

AZEEZLE is just a rocket who delivered a fine trial victory on the Cambridge synthetic which proves he is sharp enough. Finished 2nd to PLATINUM ATTACK in the Pegasus down at Riccarton before defeating that high class sprinter in the Levin Stakes at Otaki. Probably quite suspect on a Heavy track as the EXCEED AND EXCEL gelding hasn't competed since last November and the Foote's likely have some bigger targets in mind. The former Aussie galloper has untapped ability and will only improve on anything he does here.

Based on the first up effort of AFFIRMATIVE ACTION when running on for 4th in the Foxbridge, the Gerard-trained YES YES YES gelding looms as a major player, even at this short trip. Blitzed them from the back to win the Sir Colin Meads Trophy before another Ellerslie victory on Melbourne Cup Day. Big effort when 2nd to stablemate ROMANOFF in the Gr.1 2000 Guineas but suffered some issues and failed in the Karaka Millions and NZB Kiwi. Classy animal who should only run well.

We loved the way CHARMROSE won at Pukekohe in March for Te Akau, then the CHARM SPIRIT mare came out to finish the prep with a big front-running effort to win over 1200m at Ellerslie, with Grylls delivering the perfect ride. Wouldn't like it too wet, although fresh up coming off a winning trial we should expect her to go forward and take up the running early. Last bit may test but strike-rate is excellent and could hold on for a place.


BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP
RACE 8 - 1400m

MISS UNDERSTOOD / PLOY / EMPIRICAL

The Manning-trained MISS UNDERSTOOD is coming off two victories following a strong 2nd to QUONDO when running three-wide but got it right challenging on the inner from the turn to win at Otaki on a Heavy 10 before deliverring a nice finish to win here over 1400m last start. The NIAGARA mare does enjoy the wet stuff and in this vein of form just has to overcome this tricky wide gate. The wetter the better.

Love the booking of Sam Collett for PLOY, who resumes here off a solid trial and showed more than enough last prep to suggest the PROISIR mare could be in for a good campaign. Won her maiden at Te Aroha last November before a game effort to win over 1340m at Wanganui. Got the tongue over the bit in the Champagne Stakes at Matamata and went lame at Tauranga before a break, so just not much luck. Good horse who can foot it here running for the Cole stable.

EMPIRICAL was mighty winning at Taupo over 1200m following a brilliant, dominant trial victory which put the writing on the wall. Won a 3YO maiden at Woodville last November but was off the scene throughout the Autumn and winter months. The Ritchie/Ramsey trained EMINENT gelding is owned by Sir Peter Vela and is just royally bred, so we should presume more is yet to come from this promising horse.