CHITTICK FAMILY FILLIES’ CLASSIC (L)

RACE 7 - 1100m 3YO FILLES

MISS JANET / POUNCE / BACK OF THE BUS

Difficult to go past the (1) horse MISS JANET who appears a fine Marsh-trained filly lightly raced as a two-year-old and ready to pick up where she left off. This HOME AFFAIRS filly out of a REDOUTE’S CHOICE mare trialed up well before finishing third on debut before kicking hard to win the Starway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie ahead of some good quality juveniles. Finished 2nd to OUT OF THE BLUE in a Te Rapa trial last week, so it seems evident Marsh Racing has the filly back in fine shape and ready to bust out of her skin early.

We picked out the Wexford filly POUNCE when last seen at Ellerslie, and she delivered a commanding performance to win bursting through the field. The ALMANZOR filly did little on debut, but we were willing to stick by her based on this fine pedigree and her potential after such a tough debut run in a high-quality 2YO field. We presume the O’Sullivan/Scott team will be bringing her along gradually, although she has trialed on a Heavy 10 and will prefer a firmer surface.

BACK OF THE BUS has served us well the last two, firstly winning in style at Ellerslie at nice odds before Lisa Allpress drove her home in the wet to win the Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. This HELLO YOUMZAIN filly trained by Tony Pike at Cambridge has landed a shocker draw to face off against some fine returning talent, but she does have supreme race fitness on her side and that should be of benefit late in the race. Odds reflect the wide gate, although not out of this in the wet.

POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB

RACE 3 - 1100m C&G

OUT OF THE BLUE / KINNAIRD / HONOUR ROLL

A Te Akau trifecta looks on here, but in what order? We favour OUT OF THE BLUE who trialed up in spectacular fashion at Te Rapa, drifting well off them before cruising up to the pack and prevailing nearing the line. The TIVACI gelding started his two-year-old campaign stylishly, winning two at Riccarton before striking zero luck back up north; bustled about at Trentham, then drew wide in the 2YO Karaka Millions and scratched in the Sistema at the gates after casting a plate. Capable of big things, but prone to doing a few things wrong and hopefully has matured on from last season.

KINNAIRD was the early favourite for the 2YO Karaka Millions last season following a nice Otaki win on debut before winning the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie to further his cause. Overraced and did everything wrong in the feature then no finish on an unsuitable Heavy track in the Slipper at Matamata. Spelled since Feburary and did win an Avondale trial prior to running unplaced in the last on a wet track. Would prefer it firm but may not get the right surface.

Their other runner HONOUR ROLL defeated a promising type in ACCIVITOUS in a Pukekohe trial before finishing 3rd on debut over 1000m at the Wairarapa and he fought hard after setting a strong early pace. Won a further 2YO trial at Avondale prior to a powerful front-running performance to win at Matamata over 1200m, but overaced and blew her bolier in the Castletown Stakes, stopping badly. Definitely a fit horse but these odds seem seriously short up against better quality stablemates. Wet shouldn’t be an issue as a fit three-year-old.

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 1400m

TOWERING VISION / FLORIN / JAEGER

The Te Akau-trained TOWERING VISION looked fine last season but didn’t alway deliver her best performance despite possessing a powerful sprint that saw him win the Eagle Technology (1600m) at Ellerslie coming from well off the pace before running 2nd to AUTUMN GLORY in the Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa. Not perfect going up in trip in the Avondale Guineas and NZ Derby but came home very smoothly in a Waikato trial last week and looks primed to run well early in this campaign. Better off up to the mile but up to winning this to kick off on.

Any further rain would benefit FLORIN who is a wet track performer likely to hold plenty of residual fitness resuming from a two-month spell. But this VANBRUGH mare lacks the class of TOWERING VISION and is typically hindered by slow starts in her races. Finished 3rd to CHURCHILLIAN in the Owens Plate at Tauranga, ran on late for 4th at Te Aroha followed by a strong late effort for 2nd over 1400m at Woodville. Drawn to get into this late if the track plays slow, but with a number of fresh up runners it is difficult to line them up.

JAEGER ran some nice races for Robbie Patterson during the Autumn, placing at Wanganui and Waverley before setting the pace at Waverley and kicking hard to claim victory over 1650m on a Soft 5. Raced a bit keenly and has trialed behind the impressive DANCING SHADOW, who gave them a real lesson at Foxton, although we believe the Taranaki trainer will have this TIME TEST gelding well-prepped and up to running a bold race at the trip.