JAPAN TROPHY G2

RACE 7 - 1600m

STERLING EXPRESS / SORGHANTANI / QALI AL FARRASHA

The gelding STERLING EXPRESS, by SHAMEXPRESS, is enjoying a successful season under the guidance of trainer Mark Brosnan. The five-year-old gelding wasn't a standout last year when winning twice at Ellerslie, then Ruakaka, before flying up late to claim the Gr.2 WFA Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. Hindered in the Proisir Plate and Howden Mile but still managed an admirable 4th in both. Ran on well resuming in the Gr.1 Railway for 6th before a great run for 2nd in the Gr.1 BDC Sprint (1400m) when tightened near the 250m, but also impressive for 4th in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori Classic with another crack at the mile. Really deserves this after getting so close in a few big ones and looks ready for it.

☆☆☆☆

We give SORGHANTANI a serious shot of featuring in the Japan Trophy after going to another level this campaign, although this is her biggest challenge to date. Regardless of her ceiling, the last two runs for dual victories at Ellerslie have been impressive. Firstly, bursting through to win over the mile despite being held up around the bend, then repeated the dose with a big finish out wide to down PEERLESS and ON THE TOWN at the 1600m. The MONGOLIAN KHAN mare has come up a treat and shown glimpses of brilliance running in strong company, but will need to be extra good on Saturday. Tauranga could be the right track if nice and firm, but draw has been unkind. Odds are worth the risk.

☆☆☆

QALI AL FARRASHA has consistently placed in quality black-type races, impressively secured a victory against a strong field of mares in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe in November, before running 4th in the Cal Isuzu and 5gh in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie. The five-year-old daughter of ALMANZOR has experienced some misfortune at the highest level, having achieved stakes-placed finishes six times in her 16-start career, with four of those occurring in Group One features. Resumed from a break to run 6th in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori Classic and we imagine Te Akau will have her primed. Weighted to be in the finish with M. McNab aboard and good enough to be winning this.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1200m

DECEMBER / EGYPTIAN QUEEN / SHOES

DECEMBER is a pretty handy sprinter from the James/Wellwood barn who has been lightly raced but packs a powerful punch when right. Four runs thus far in 2025, all coming earlier in the year, with a nice effort for 2nd to TOMODACHI at Tauranga, before 4th in a farcical race at Te Rapa where the barriers malfunctioned. Bounced back to defeat FIRST FIVE over 1200m at Matamata, then gave it everything when 2nd to DOCTOR ASKAR in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham in March. Good last start when 2nd at Ellerslie and probably needed it. The way in which this stable is humming at present, it would be no shock to see the SHAMEXPRESS gelding well forward and in top condition resuming here. Has winner written all over him.

☆☆☆☆

EGYPTIAN QUEEN is a quality sprinter from the Walker/Bergerson Te Akau camp who has managed to win one this prep and should be well suited here from the ace draw. Took a while to hit her straps this prep but at no point has she embarrassed herself. The ZOUSTAR mare finished second on two occasions early into the campaign before winning at Waikato over 1200m. Wilted at the unpredictable Tauranga track but q back with a fine run for 2nd, only outlasted by IMA BRAZEN ONE at New Plymouth at the latest. Was good enough to run third to Gr.1 Railway winner CROCETTI in the Almanzor Trophy last season so she can be exceptional on her day. Trust the Te Akau team to have her up for this sprint race on her home course.

☆☆☆

SHOES is a slick little sprinter who likes to scoot across the turf and try to break them early and possiblywas just going too hard in the early stages. Couldn't do that at Ellerslie last start though, weakening late after coming across from an awkward gate. Taken to Timaru by trainer Pam Gerard, but struck a Heavy 8 track at Riccarton which was completely unsuitable. Best to refer to her big effort for 2nd to SWEYNESDAY when only nabbed late by the classy sprinter. The five-year-old DERRYN mare may find it hard to win with her racing style, although worth following as a strong place chance.

☆☆

THREE-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE 6 - 1200m

LITTLE BLACK DRESS / LADY IRIS / SIBLING RIVARLY

The Stephen Marsh runner, LITTLE BLACK DRESS is a lovely SNITZEL filly by the STREET CRY mare STAR FASHION, who was a good Stakes performer. Her dam is out of the brilliant racemare, ELEGANT FASHION (Danewin), a G1 Winner of the HK Derby. This filly has these similar characteristics, as displayed when winning on debut at Pukekohe, before getting up late in the Listed Starway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in March, then put away for the winter. Travelled the same path as her stablemate, trialling up once before a 4th at Taupo resuming after losing ground, then 3rd in the Sunline before a brave 2nd chasing home WELL WRITTEN in the Soliloquy and a 3rd to her in the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas. 2nd behind LADY IRIS resuming so sure to be much sharper.

☆☆☆☆

The Marsh-trained LADY IRIS was game when 2nd to LITTLE BLACK DRESS at Ellerslie as a two-year-old, but didn't come on quite as well in her three-year-old campaign. Nevertheless, the two recent results since resuming in February have been positive. Did finish 3rd to AFFIRMATIVE ACTION and HE WHO DARES in the Sir Colin Meads Trophy, then returned with a 3rd down at Wairarapa followed by a strong run to ger one back over LITTLE BLACK DRESS over 1200m at Taupo last start. The US NAVY FLAG filly can challenge the stablemate once again with natural improvement.

☆☆☆

The Te Akau trained SIBLING RIVARLY was ultra impressive putting away a strong BM65 field over 1200m at Pukekohe, before the smart 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 is likely to have derived plenty out of her first few starts. Every opportunity here to run another big race if able to find a tidy position early in the running. This particular race will be a significant indicator of her future progress, and she is fortunate to be in such capable hands, with the 1200m distance being quite suitable for her

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 2 - 2100m

BOW HILL / THE TRENDSETTER / PERFECTMANZ

Love these odds for BOW HILL, as her last two runs suggest Cody Cole has this mare somewhere back close to her best and has run down at Wellington the last four. The six-year-old SATONO ALADDIN mare had been banging around without being terrible in the Autumn, before resuming at Pukekohe in November. Much better with that run under the belt when 2nd to UNCLE ARCH over the mile at Wanganui in the next, before a nice, late effort for 3rd at Trentham behind ISLAND LIFE. Sure to be at peak fitness and could possibly charge into it late with a clean run, although a track with some real give in it would be a bonus.

☆☆☆☆

Elite trainer Stephen Marsh has had his progressive stayer THE TRENDSETTER up a fair while now, but he has run some sound races and cannot be discounted. Despite only one victory over the winter at Tauranga, he did win again over 2100m at Ruakaka in January. Crowded at the 300m in the Counties run, then 3rd running on at Te Rapa, before a tough effort in the Heavy 9 at Matamata. Drawn to trail in behind the pace, M. McNab aboard - should only go better on an improved track.

☆☆☆

PERFECTMANZ has a strong connection with Tauranga and is knows how to cause a disturbance in the force. The five-year-old ALMANZOR gelding trained by Stephen Ralph at Te Awamutu is good at putting in a few duff runs, and is deep into this prep since winning well here over 2100m in November paying $20. Flopped returning to Tauranga and at Pukekohe in strong company before a much better effort for 3rd at Ruakaka and 4th in the Northland Cup. Won again with sn upset over 2100m at Te Rapa and hasn't had much luck in the next three. Soft may suit better, although as unpredictable as the day is long.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 1400m

ROMILLY / BOURBON PROOF / HAVE A CRACK

We were big on this filly ROMILLY throughout her three-year-old campaign as progressive horse from the Richardson/Novall stable, bred and built for power and speed. The mare, sired by SO YOU THINK, secured her inaugural victory at Te Aroha, competing over 1200m. She subsequently contested the 3YO Karaka Millions, and delivered a commendable performance in the Uncle Remus. The filly then secured a 2nd-place finish in a tightly contested Windsor Park Trophy, narrowly defeated by TARDELLI. Nice performance to win a BM75 at Ellerslie, although a bit plain in the HKJC Stakes on Karaka Millions night. Go again as this could be her peak moment.

☆☆☆☆

The Marsh trained BOURBON PROOF raced in some high class three-year-old company last season and performed admirably up against the very best. Finished 2nd to CHECKMATE in the ArmaCup, then won at Matamata. Ran 4th in the 3YO Karaka Millions to DAMASK ROSE, then 2nd to TUXEDO in the Waikato Guineas. Run down by the Australian raider THEDOCTOROFLOVE in the Avondale Guineas (2100m), but found the Gr.1 NZ Derby a tougher assignment. Trialed up well, then resumed with a fair run over 1400m at Te Rapa, with the Heavy 10 probably not to his liking. The JUSTIFY gelding ran away to win here and looks a major threat on a firm surface.

☆☆☆

HAVE A CRACK was crowded early resuming at Matamata and lost ground shortly after the start, but he has run some cracking races since losing his rider on debut at Bendigo. Transferred to Chad Ormsby in the winter of 2025 and won on the Cambridge Synthetic before bursting through on the inner to win over 1200m at in Auckland. Decent effort running 3rd to KITTY FLASH and went even better when 2nd to SWEYNESDAY over 1100m at Ellerslie. Didn't like it too firm and over raced at Te Rapa before a spell, but maybe Ormsby believes the 1400m is ideal 2nd-up and probably needs to be taken seriously as a talented type. Stinker of a gate though.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1600m

ANDAHAR / CEASE AND DESIST / LERADO

The Ritchie/Murray team look like they have a nice developing type in the SAVABEEL gelding ANDAHAR, who has performed well in a limited number of starts. One decent run for 3rd on debut 12 months ago, then ran on gamely to break his maiden over 1400m Ruakaka in early January. Loomed and fought on when 2nd equal over the mile at Trentham before anothe bold effort for 2nd behind THE EXPONENT at Otaki. Just love this fine pedigree with some powerful Australian bloodlines in the mix. Should settle close enough to ne effective and in the right shape to be winning this sticking at the mile.

☆☆☆☆

CEASE AND DESIST set the pace and kicked on the turn running over 1600m at Matamata last start, doing well to challenge and hold on to 3rd place. The Te Akau-trained ZOUSTAR gelding finished 2nd here in January over 1400m, then finished best from midfield to win on his home course of Matamata up to the mile. No reason why he can't hold this solid patch of form but will need to settle early and better suited coming on from midfield if able to position away.

☆☆☆

The BELARDO gelding LERADO is such an enigma and just the hardest horse to catch. Won two this time last year, both over 1600m at Te Aroha and Te Rapa, as he is the type that likes to bide his time before presenting with a big, late burst of sustained power. Huge run at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, but just struglling to puck up sufficiently and get to line quicker. Big issue has always been the slow starts which can hinder his progress if trapped, too far back although if saved for one late charge, watch out. The upset horse in our eyes but wouldn't want it too wet.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 3 - 1400m

LYIN EYES / SUPER LEGOCY / RUBY RUSH

We've kept a close eye on the Chris Wood-trained LYIN EYES, especially since this SHOCKING mare has been running so positively in fairly strong company from November. Broke her maiden at Ellerslie over 1300m, followed by a fighting effort for 5th over the same trip at Te Rapa. Lost ground, but fought on for 3rd behind KHALEESI and GOLDEN WINGS coming back to Auckland, and a reasonable 5th placing at Matamata has the mare well positioned to offer up a top effort here. Will probably handle a wet track and has a high state of fitness on her side now.

☆☆☆☆

SUPER LEGOCY has been an ultra-consistent performer for the Marsh stable and could easily win again despite the awkward gate. Finished 3rd at New Plymouth and Ellerslie before proving too good over 1400m at Te Rapa after racing three wide throughout. Fought on for 3rd behind BOLLI BELLE in the big wet at Matamata but looked much sharper finishing gamely as runner-up behind IMPERIAL EMPRESS in the Matamata course. Should be in impeccable condition and hard to roll.

☆☆☆

Team Wexford has worked away on the RIBCHESTER filly RUBY RUSH, culminating in a strong victory over 1400m at Taupo last start. Trialed fairly efficiently four times before over racing on debut, then fought closer at Te Rapa racing ungenerously through the early and middle stages. Finally started to click and put it all together when challenging from the turn to finish 2nd to YOUNG JACKSON racing at Te Rapa again, before showing her real ability as a reflection of some good development and a more mature attitude.

☆☆

BEST BET: STERLING EXPRESS

NEXT BEST: DECEMBER

BEST VALUE: BOW HILL

LONGSHOT: LERADO