CASTLETOWN STAKES (L)

RACE 4 - 1200m

BACK OF THE BUS / HONOUR ROLL / SHAMELIA KIRK

We witnessed the win of the Pike-trained BACK OF THE BUS at Ellerslie last start and it was an impressive effort. The HELLO YOUMZAIN filly showed plenty of courage to head off a swarm of challengers in the Ellerslie home straight and she seemed to appreciate the wet track. Drawn well and at these odds worth considering. Can go close and win again.

☆☆☆☆

HONOUR ROLL set the pace and kicked on well to win at Matamata at the latest and this beautifully bred SAVABEEL gelding looked to have some real ability about him. The Team Te Akau two-year-old finished 3rd on debut before claiming an Avondale trial on a Heavy 10, so these conditions shouldn't be an issue. Come up super short which is the only turn off but certainly looks the real deal.

☆☆☆

SHAMELIA KIRK is bred to go fast and the Robbie Patterson two-year-old SHAMEXPRESS filly has shown enough in only two starts. Won both trials before setting the pace finishing 2nd on debut to O'BABY at Woodville. Kicked from the turn with a strong finish to win over 1000m on a Heavy 10 Trentham last start and is certainly in with a chance. GRYLLS takes the ride. Will give them something to chase.

☆☆

RUAKAWA CUP

RACE 6 - 2100m

TENFOOT TALL / CONEY ISLAND / SWINGIT OUR WAY

Jasmine Fawcett was ultra keen on her mount TENFOOT TALL running well at Tauranga last start and as a genuine wet weather stayer she duly delivered with a strong performance. The STAPHANOS mare needs it testing and should be able to settle into a nice position prior to challenging from the turn. Everything in her favour here.

☆☆☆☆

CONEY ISLAND is another who will lap up the conditions and this SACRED FALLS gelding has done little wrong this prep. Comes back in grade after taking on Open Class last start, but won well at Wanganui previously and runner-up twice when scoring no luck. The Latta-trained gelding will likely go forward from the gate and try to dictate terms. Good horse.

☆☆☆

We don't mind the grey mare SWINGIT OUR WAY from the Myers stable and this stayer will prefer it deep to excel. The ZED mare has had two tough runs back but won here 12 months ago over the 1600m striking similar conditions. Would prefer if she was showing some form, although we won't underestimate the stable and likely to be running on late.

☆☆

FOXTON CUP

RACE 7 - 2100m

STARPELLO / ZIGGY KHAN / BOLD BRO

We've been quietly tracking the Lisa Latta runner STARPELLO who is very good on his day but finds it hard to achieve any consistency. The STAR TURN gelding won his maiden here over 2100m in Feb on a Good 4, and ran on for 3rd behind CONEY ISLAND at Wanganui in May. Should be hard fit, with the main concern being the Heavy 10. At these odds we go again E/W.

☆☆☆☆

ZIGGY KHAN will likely relish these Heavy conditions and this MONGOLIAN KHAN gelding will be hard to hold out once rolling along late. Improved from last to finish 2nd on a seriously Heavy Te Aroha track, followed by another 2nd running handy to the pace at Trentham. The Nicole Sinclair trained mare will be rock hard fit and she does looks the obvious pick based on recent wet-track form.

☆☆☆

BOLD BRO will need to manage the top weight effectively and that will be a big task by the last, although he can run into the money with a wise steer. A tough gelding, he won over 2200m at Woodville in April, then finished 3rd here with a game run. Settled handy before looming up when 3rd at Te Aroha and he is another fit horse suited to a ding-dong battle to the line.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1300m F&M

BALLROOM BLITZ / MISS UNDERSTOOD / OUR GIULIA

We can't take the shorts on the fave and the Robbie Patterson mate BALLROOM BLITZ is very good on her day so just has to be a royal chance in the wet. The ZED mare is ultra consistent and fought on well for 4th at Woodville resuming from a spell. Typically sticks to her home course, but with Grylls aboard we think she is right in this.

☆☆☆☆

Ralph Manning brings his four-year-old CONTRIBUTER mare MISS UNDERSTOOD down to Hawera and she has taken on strong company in the past with excellent results. Defeated ROCKING at Avondale 12 months back, then went down to her at Te Aroha. Three wide at Matamata when runner-up to QUONDO last start and in the right physical shape to feature prominently. Tough to beat for sure.

☆☆☆

OUR GIULIA is bred to be a brilliant galloper but just isn't showing much at present. Regardless, we like the horse from the Roydon Bergerson barn who was very good in the spring winning at Waverley over the mile then runner-up to DRESSE PAR JOLIE at New Plymouth. Masa gets on which may help but needs to really turn it around with a bigger effort.

☆☆

MAIDEN 2100

RACE 3 - 2100m

OFFERTORY / CAJOLE / DOUBLE EAGLE

Hard to go past the Didham trained OFFERTORY who looks poised to break his maiden after five runs. The CONTRIBUTER gelding ran a nice 2nd behind PEE CEE GIRL at Waverley in May but was unable to hold out SUNNY at Hastings. Three wide with no cover at Wanganui last start and did extremely well to hold on to 3rd place. Should be in the right condition to be winning.

☆☆☆☆

CAJOLE is an interesting runner from the Kevin Myers stable with only two runs to his name. 3rd in his only trial before the ACE HIGH gelding finished 7th on debut but was much better sticking on for 5th at Woodville. Floor Moerman has ridden in all his runs and may be able to extract a bit more at the staying trip with added experience now behind him. Could threaten here.

☆☆☆

Bit of a lottery with the rest, although the other Myers runner in DOUBLE EAGLE should appreciate the conditions and the ZED filly is still learning her craft. Not terrible in her only trial before offering little on debut at Woodville. She is bred to stay all day and really these Heavy track conditions shouldn't be an issue, although time will tell.

☆☆

MAIDEN 1200

RACE 2 - 1200m

YALDY TIME / BRUTIFUL LASS / ROSA

If YALDY TIME doesn't win this it would be a bit of a shock, but the TIME TEST gelding was beaten last start in a surprise result. Won both Foxton trials before running on late behind FLYHALF on debut. Flew at the line to just miss at Woodville after beginning awkwardly and really only has to start well to be winning. Very short odds a turn off but tough to beat.

☆☆☆☆

George Rooke will link up with the Lisa Latta trained filly BRUTIFUL LASS and by no means is she out of this. The three-year-old BRUTAL filly was close up behind PLATINUM DIAMOND in two Listed races last year, then runner-up twice. Missed the mark last start and hasn't had the best of luck this prep. Puts it all together then good enough to challenge the fave.

☆☆☆

ROSA has been a model of consistency and the SHAMEXPRESS mare finally clicked into gear around Christmas time to run some solid races. Finished 2nd at Otaki and New Plymouth twice over 1400m, before resuming with a bold effort for 2nd at Woodville and made good ground at the 1200m. Handled the wet track well so sure to be running on.

☆☆

MAIDEN 1600m

RACE 1 - 1600m

WING AND A PRAYER / MISSTILLYMARA / BOOTS TO FILL

If the favourite WING AND A PRAY doesn't win the opener, then we don't have a clue who does. Won a jumpout in April before finishing 3rd at Te Aroha over 1400m and 3rd in the Heavy at New Plymouth over the mile. Will require a positive ride from Nabba as this gate is very tricky and may not have it all his own way with the rail out.

☆☆☆☆

Trained by Team Foote at Cambridge, we like the chances of this SATONO ALADDIN filly MISSTILLYMARA who is out of a pretty handy Rich Hill racemare. Didn’t do much on debut in May, but better weaving thru for 5th over the mile at New Plymouth. Back and held up at Tauranga hitting the line well for 3rd on a Heavy track. Drawn much better with a 4kg pull on the fave, so well up to it and the one for us.

☆☆☆

Little is known about BOOTS TO FILL with no public trials so may pay to keep safe. By the sire ZED, the Heavy track won't be a bother, with the geldings unraced dam KYRENIA by HIGH CHAPARRAL. Owned by trainer Raymond Connors and family so it will be interesting to see just what this horse can deliver on debut at the mile. Win would shock, but stranger things have happened.

☆☆

BEST BET: TENFOOT TALL

NEXT BEST: BALLROOM BLITZ

BEAT VALUE: BACK OF THE BUS

WILDCARD: STARPELLO