OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1400m

FINANCIER / CHATTAHOOCHEE / UDERZO

The Marsh-trained FINANCIER was off the scene for nearly two years before returning from the dead to run 2nd to CAPTURED BY LOVE at Taupo in February. The now six-year-old TAVISTOCK gelding won in early 2023 as a three-year-old, ran 2nd at Te Rapa and 2nd to JIMMYSSTAR over 1300m at Hastings. Nice win after that on the Hawkes Bay track. Won at Matamata and defeated JAARFFI at Te Rapa and was consistently in the money against high class company. Suffered a slight tweak of the tendon, with the team deciding to give him a long, extended spell and a slow build-up. Bit flat at Pukekohe last start but expect a much-improved performance rocking up here. Down to run in the Easter Handicap Saturday also.

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Opie Bosson will jump aboard the Lisa Anderson trained CHATTAHOOCHEE who goes well in the wet and the three runs back have likely built some strength and stamina that will be necessary in a 1400m contest that may feel more like the mile on their legs. The RELIABLE MAN gelding won on a Soft 7 at Pukekohe last March, then had a crack at the Easter Handicap. Ran on resuming over 1500m at Matamata before being held up in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. Didn’t seem to enjoy the Heavy track at Te Aroha last time out, however, has faced challenging Heavy tracks in all three and that should of really hardened him up. Bred to lap up the wet and at these odds must be considered.

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The O'Sullivan/Scott team have an underrated type UDERZO in here, who is more than capable of footing it at this level but is often overlooked. The VADAMOS gelding ran a cracker in the Rich Hill Mile behind BOURBON EMPRESS last year, then 4th in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie. Nailed it when winning the KPMG Mile at Te Rapa and far from awful on the winter tracks. Fifth at Taupo and at Pukekohe over 1400m, so getting better nearing optimal fitness, but can be a handful behind the barrier stalls and needs to be taken on trust. Could pull off an upset with the right run and a positive attitude.

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BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 1200m

TRISTAR / MISS BO PEEP / MO CHARAID

TRISTAR couldn't get off the ballot last Saturday but should get conditions to suit at Te Rapa on Friday. The Wexford-trained EXCEEDANCE gelding finished 3rd here in December, then runner-up at Tauranga before coming wider when 3rd to EGYPTIAN QUEEN at Te Rapa on s Good 4. Last and still back on the turn but came home strongly for 5th behind PLATINUM ATTACK and NAVIGATOR in the Lightning Handicap at Trentham last start, so well up to taking this out as a fit sprinter ready to peak. If they go this way, then we've definitely on board.

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MISS BO PEEP looked a real up and comer from the O'Sullivan/Scott barn winning two from three on Heavy 8 and Soft 5 going early in her career. By the slick speed sire ASTERN, from a talented mare in MISS RAGGEDY ANN (Faltaat), who won the 2011 Gr.1 Railway Stakes, she cruised up in both wins over 1200m in late 2024, then won again at Te Rapa in Feb 2025, but has not been seen since March last year. Two trials to prepare and may need this to see where she's at, but too good to dismiss fresh up and may be ready to fly in this state.

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MO CHARAID will be right at home in these conditions, being 2 for 2 on the Heavy stuff, and ARDROSSAN gelding has drawn well enough with Collett aboard. The big question is whether Terry Wenn has him forward enough and how badly this track may have cut up on the inside after five races. Can run handy as shown winning at Pukekohe over 1400m last April and successful on a Heavy 8 here at Te Rapa over the 1200m. Can be a difficult ride, although with the wet track, racing a bit keen might not be such a bad thing if able to position forward from the jump.

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THREE-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE 4 - 1200m

SIBLING RIVALRY / ROIJA / CONVINCED

The Te Akau trained SIBLING RIVARLY was impressive putting away a strong BM65 field over 1200m at Pukekohe, before the SATONO ALADDIN filly was knocked around a bit in the Levin Classic which probably didn't help her confidence. This compact filly, despite her size, delivered an impressive performance when breaking her maiden over 1150m at Te Aroha and defied the track bias when coming from last for 3rd in on Heavy 8 at Tauranga last start. This distance will suit well with a month between runs. Getting fantastic odds.

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ROIJA is a lovely looking ALMANZOR filly owned by Cambridge Stud and trained by the Alexander's at Te Awamutu. Trialed up well before a 3rd on debut last October behind CIRCUS TRIX at Pukekohe. Settled on the pace and fought hard resuming over 1100m at Taupo in February, followed by a winning effort at Matamata, once again finding the lead and proving too strong. Did suffer an attack of the thumps, although no abnormalities were found and a month between runs. Will go for broke we imagine and try to stretch them early.

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Following her impressive debut victory at Matamata, CONVINCED has been prepared for black-type racing by the James/Wellwood team, and we anticipate eventually discovering the full potential of the SUPER SETH filly. Trialled up very nicely before defeating a couple of good types in FLYHALF and the expensive SISTER CYNANE. Stopped badly after setting the pace in the NZB KIWI, but no surprise up against a hot field of experienced three-year-olds. Nothing of that calibre here but freshened and back in trip could work out super fine.

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TWO-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE 3 - 1100m

IMPERIAL ROSE / TIMELESS BEAUTY / ANGEL HALO

Stephen Marsh has the MyRacehorse syndicated IMPERIAL ROSE, and she is a beautifully bred daughter of the first crop of SWORD OF STATE. Finished 2nd to the Wexford horse O'VALERIE by half a length in her only 800m jumpout at Avondale, but it was merely educational. Second on debut at Te Aroha after scorching to the lead, however, that was a nasty deep track, so a good effort first up. This filly’s dam SIENNA ROSE won five races in Australia, including one as a juvenile, and is a half-sister to stakes winning two-year-old EBHAAR. Given time to get over the debut run and of real interesting on a better surface, which she won’t score here.

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TIMELESS BEAUTY will jump on debut for team Te Akau and has a royal chance to kick off on the right note after winning two of her three trials, including over 900m at Taupo in March. By the fine sire WOOTTEN BASSETT, she is out of a MORE THAN READY mare in LADY IVEAGH who won a single race in Australia in six starts. David Ellis paid $320,000 for this filly aiming at a strong three-year-old season, and we may get a good indication of what to expect. Big question will be how the filly handles this track, although everything points to a strong showing.

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ANGEL HALO is a first starter from the Holly Wynyard stable who could produce something on debut based on her impressive trial work. Did nice work to defeat SHAMBO JACK over 990m in her first jump out at Taupo, then 2nd at Auckland in her second experience and close up over 1110m. The filly is by PRIOSIR from an I AM INVINCIBLE mare in MONGOLIAN ANGEL, who only ever made it to the races twice, but she is related to PIPETTE (Pivotal) holding some strong UK pedigree. Masa aboard and one to watch out for moving forward.

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BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 2 - 2100m

VOLUNTEER / AWHINA / PERFECTMANZ

Nothing wrong with this Richardson/Norvall trained gelding VOLUNTEER, who can be forgiven last start after struggling to find clear racing room in the straight. Broke his maiden over the mile here at Te Rapa in January and doubled up winning at Pukekohe with a big finish. The OCEAN PARK four-year-old if out of a fine PINS mare in A TOUCH OF RUBY, who know how to find the line and her son has a similar mindset. Can bounce back here going up in trip and this track does suit his style. Could easily be scratched out of this.

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AWHINA has yet to win on the Heavy stuff, which is a little disconcerting, but with scratching’s this isn’t such a deep field, and the last start 3rd suggest the DERRYN mare is in the right condition to feature. Fought on gamely over 1600m at Te Aroha on a HEAVY8 in behind a couple of strong types and only a head off ELLE SOURIT in the Easter Hcp at Ellerslie. Probably doesn’t need to improve much to be winning this and she consistent enough to be right there when the whips are cracking.

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PERFECTMANZ is as unpredictable as lightning, but like the forked stuff does strike when the mood right and can show up out of nowhere to flash into the finish. The ALMAZOR gelding proved it last start on a HEAVY10 at Te Aroha when getting into the clear at the 200m and finishing best to win over the 2200m. Ran 2nd to a good stayer in HIGH COUNTRY on a heavy track at Tauranga and caused upsets at Te Rapa and Tauranga within the past six months. In the wet and in this current level of fitness just has to be considered with the 3kg claim.

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BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1600m

DELZ ABEEL / LOTUS / SWEET BUT PSYCHO

We can't seem get DELZ ABEEL across the line at big odds this prep, however being by SWISS ACE the gelding should be happy with some give in the track and has a high level of fitness on his side now. Won three straight on the synthetic last winter and wasn't bad running 3rd to PERFECT DIVIDENDS at Puke in January. Inconvenienced in the next at Auckland before shut out being by a wide gate there and unable to find any kind of sprint. Willing to stick with E/W, as we fancy this fella to go big at some point and Sam Collett a nice bonus.

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LOTUS down on 55kg has to be a serious chance with George Rooke in the saddle and this four-year-old TIME TEST mare does boast some good form on the Heavy stuff, with a win, second and third from four starts in the wet. Hasn't shown up in there runs back, with the Soft 5 and Good 4 unsuitable, however she has run well at Te Rapa prior and can grind away at the back end of a race to find the line, especially with a slower tempo on a challenging track. Could be ideal conditions by the last so keep in mind.

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The Wexford team squeezed a much better effort out of SWEET BUT PSYCHO when running home well for 2nd on a Heavy 8 at Te Rapa, before winning at Matamata on a Soft 7 last October. The PROISIR mare was running tidy races late last year when victorious in two fine staying efforts; firstly, 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. Slow away resuming over 1400m at Tauranga and bias against but jumps up to the mile which will suit better even though 2000m is more her go. Could surprise.

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BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 1 - 2400m

HEPHAESTUS / TAUPO DANCER / BARCELONA

HEPHAESTUS was a little shabby in his first prep last Autumn but wasn't finishing too far off them. The four-year-old gelding by THE AUTUMN SUN did nothing resuming in December, then improved to finish 3rd over 2200 at Pukekohe. Settled back and hindered but still cruised in over 2100m at Otaki before a strong effort for 2nd to JULLANUS over the same distance at Trentham. Unsuited by the strong tempo at Pukekohe last start, so trust the James/Wellwood team to have him fit and set up nicely to face 2400m. Really solid win chance and getting nice odds if he can negotiate the conditions.

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We looked closely at TAUPO DANCER at big odds last start and if you look at his overall record, it actually reads better than what you think. Went back to last from an outside barrier in a pretty handy BM65 field, fighting on into 5th after improving from the turn. Won at Hawera last May, then 3rd over 2400m at Ellerslie, so the PREFERMENT gelding has a smidgen of endurance ability coming out of the Copper Belt stables, although little wet track exposure. Could potentially deliver a strong performance given his extensive racing history and two solid fourth place finishes at Trentham, which have significantly enhanced his stamina.

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BARCELONA demonstrated a strong finish to close in on FASTDEELDUN over 2100m at Ellerslie in January, followed by a decisive victory over 2200m at Te Aroha and doesn’t appear the worst here by any stretch of the imagination. Restrained back from a wide gate at Pukekohe and lost touch with the body of the field, never travelling well off the back of a strong tempo. Contacted at the start and once again weakened in the final stages last start at Ellerslie, so willing to forgive the last couple and go on the previous runs. Being by BELARDO should handle an off track and has a solid amount of fitness on his side.

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BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 1300m

ESTERNAY / FLEETING STAR / AMUSEMENT

ESTERNAY looked the real deal and sprouted wings to fly home from the back to win impressively over 1400m at Flemington last April but struggled to make further progress after a 4th in the Adelaide Guineas. The ALL TOO HARD mare is out of a fine race mare in SEZZANE (More than Ready) and now trained by Lance Noble on behalf of Cambridge Stud. Comes to New Zealand aiming for better results after running on late at Pukekohe. Worth keeping safe, but backmarker racing style makes it tough. Can upset as a talented type and he is bred to be good.

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FLEETING STAR is a much better horse than her formline suggests and her last race was in the 3YO Karaka Millions when losing the front plate. Finished 3rd in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) to TELLUM and LOLLAPALOOZA the run prior coming off a strong 1400m maiden win at Ellerslie. Ran 3rd to MISS FLADGATE, 3rd to GOLDEN WINGS and 2nd to THAT'S GOLD before that, so this COOL AZA BEEL filly has attempted to foot it with some of the better three-year-olds this season. Capable of making up the placings fresh up for the Richardson/Norvall team.

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We believe AMUSEMENT may be ok facing this trip fresh up and won't mind some cut in the ground if able to be ridden conservatively up near the pace. This four-year-old ALMANZOR mare debuted last March before resuming for the Weatherley's in September with a nice victory over 1400m at Taupo, then not too far away in a couple here at Ellerslie. Sent to the lead but headed off when 2nd at Matamata in December and battled on a rock-hard track at Tauranga. Could return with a bold effort if able to bowl along without too much pressure. Possibly a favourable each-way wager, particularly if the track bias is conducive to front-runners with the rail out.

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BEST BET: IMPERIAL ROSE

NEXT BEST: SIBLING RIVARLY

BEST VALUE: DELZ ABEEL

LONGSHOT: CHATTAHOOCHEE