RYDER STAKES (L)

RACE 5 - 1200m 2YO

SPANDEEDO / ACCENTUATE / COSMOPOLITAN

Gavin Sharrock will run the stylish juvenile SPANDEEDO in this year's Ryder Stakes, and the trainer admits the FERRANDO gelding is a work in progress. Settled on the pace to win at Hawera in May, then hung badly and claimed late by PLATINUM DIAMOND over 1200m at Wanganui three weeks on. Went quick to win at Hawera at his latest and the stable would like to see him on better ground with less exuberance this time in. His outright speed the X factor in wins thus far, so as a three-year-old, and next season the gelding could offer more of the same, but with a little less enthusiasm. Will be very hard to haul in if allowed to dictate his own terms early, but may be vulnerable late.

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ACCENTUATE sounded a warning to her Ryder Stakes rivals with excellent work Tuesday morning at Cambridge. Galloping on slow grass, ACCENTUATE shaded stablemate FAT CAT at the completion of 1000m clocked in 1.7.2 sprinting the concluding 600m in 36. The TURN ME LOOSE filly followed two nice trials with a convincing debut victory at Tauranga late last month. The Mapperley Stud bred two-year-old is out of an unraced HIGH CHAPPARAL mare in HIGHLIGHTS, who in turn is out of a strong NZ middle distance mare in SHINING STAR. She's in fantastic order for Andrew Forsman and could offer up a big effort at Otaki, especially after that strong Tauranga performance.

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COSMOPOLITAN is an interesting second starter for the Richardson/Norvall stable at Matamata. The ANDERS filly led early at her home course over 1200m on debut but was ambushed late, weakening into 5th. Won a Waipa jumpout prior to that run and another 850m trial there three weeks ago. The filly is out of the dam VIKEZZCRISTAL (Big Brown) who never won in eight starts. Her dam VICKEZZCHADONNAY (Don Eduardo) was a quality racemare. One might need to have some faith that the horse has developed further endurance, and even if she goes quick, we wonder how much she will have left in the tank over the final 100 metres. Can place with slightly more track experience now behind her and a highly rated juvenile apparently.

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OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 3 - 1600m

PACIFICO / SWINGIT OUR WAY / BENEFACTOR

Easy to lean the way off PACIFICO in his current form and the ARDROSSAN gelding has faced much stronger fields this winter. Finished runner-up at Pukekohe and Rotorua on Heavy 10 tracks to begin this prep, then led and won quite comfortably over 1600m at Te Aroha. On pace at Tauranga to cling on with a rails runs in testing conditions, before kicking on the turn to win the Whangarei Gold Cup (2100m) stepping up in trip. Handy again last start backing up in the Te Awamutu Cup, but battled under pressure once headed. Three weeks between runs, so only needs a safe Joe Doyle ride to be in the finish. A drying track may be of benefit late in this campaign, so on top for us at reasonable odds.

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The Grey mare SWINGIT OUR WAY by the sire ZED just has to be in the picture here after a nice effort for 3rd behind BOZO over the mile last start. Performed well in the spring, victorious at New Plymouth over 2000m drawing out late and she did run 2nd last July over 1400m at Taranaki following a similar path. Strong finish when winning here over the mile two years ago and the Allan Sharrock galloper is weighted to give this a real crack 3rd up with Chris Dell in the saddle. It is possible that the challenge could become arduous if there isn't a sufficient level of residual fitness to rely upon, but can challenge the fave with the right run.

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The Lisa Latta-trained BENEFACTOR has surprised with her rapid improvement in recent starts, however she is a strong winter mare by CONTRIBUTER who can run on strongly in testing conditions. Strong late effort for 3rd behind BELLES BEAU and BRADMAN at Wanganui ovet 1340m, then led from the turn to win easily over the mile here at Otaki. Settled back before running on late at Hawera two weeks ago and won't mind an improved track surface. Will be coming at them late and more than capable returning to a course she appreciates. Probably prefer deeper, although super fit.

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OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 1100m

FARRAVELLO / WAIHAHA FALLS / CAITLYN’S WISH

FARRAVELLO looked on song for another victory at Otaki on Saturday when he galloped in fine style on his own at Awapuni on Tuesday morning. Fast work was held against the rail on the new course proper as Farravallo used the course proper and reeled off 1000m in 1.5.5, the last 600 in 35.9, and was keen to go faster. The BELARDO gelding is fourth race into a new campaign, with good form going into the open 1100m on Saturday, and won the same race last year when it was 1200 metres. Fought bravely behind SINBIN on a tough Trentham track last start and very good at Wanganui to kick off this prep. Appears to hard condition now and should be right there on the line carrying this weight. Blinkers go on, which signals some serious intent.

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It was somewhat challenging to predict how the sprinter WAIHAHA FALLS, trained by the Lowry/Zydenbos team would perform after a seven-month absence from competition, but he went ok here. The SACRED FALLS gelding has primarily raced across the Tasman, and performed quite well against some reasonably good sprinters. However, he hasn't won since a BM100 victory over 1400m at Randwick in December 2023. Only five times to the races since then, but he is a very solid type who did finish 3rd to LAZIO at Trentham in October last year. Solid enough trial over 1000m at Foxton late June and could blow these away if he put his mind to it and gets rolling along once turning in.

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CAITLYNS WISH returned to her best sprinting form last start when crashing the party with a brave finish to win at Te Rapa over 1200m. Trainer Stephen Autridge had been slowly building strength in the BELARDO mare since May and she had faced the likes of VELOCIOUS and TWAIN twice in the Waikato. She really is a true winter galloper who needs deep conditions to excel, so a soft track may not be as beneficial. Regardless, claims 2kg and now she has hit top form we imagine the mare can go on with it and run another top race.

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BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 1 - 1400m

LIQUID LES / VIBRATION / PRIORESS

The eight-year-old ECHOES OF HEAVEN gelding LIQUID LES is getting on a bit, however he set the pace and kicked well to hold onto 3rd place fresh up over 1200m here at Otaki. Settled a moderate pace when winning at Te Rapa 12 months ago and he does have the ability to keep giving when the race pattern suits. Took on good company in the spring with very little success, before a tidy 3rd behind BELLEZOR and MALBOROUGH BAY at New Plymouth in November. Claims 3kg with Elle Sole grabbing the mount, so appears well placed at this trip while still in a fresh state.

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No suprise to see VIBRATION trained by Gavin Sharrock a firm early favourite here and his recent record speaks volumes. The three-year-old PROISIR gelding was slow away and crowded early in his first two runs resuming in May, but gave plenty in the latter over 1400m at Taranaki. Handy when leading to the turn coming back to the 1200m, and was just too good for them on a Heavy 10 here at Otaki. Went to Hawera and started off strong, then showed some serious grit and was too much to handle. Does look the one and should be hard to contain with a sweet run in transit.

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Sticking by PRIORESS, who has been rock solid this campaign but just unable to knock one off. The PROISIR mare finished 2nd to PROCUL BOY at Wanganui, before a tough effort in testing conditions at Trentham behind SINBIN. Snagged back but came home wider to wind up 2nd to PEPPERY here at Otaki in a similar field, before doing well for 3rd behind ZA SPIRIT at New Plymouth a week ago. Backs up here and probably couldn't be any fitter, although has faced some challenging tracks in recent times. Yet to win here, although Bruno will have her wound up to fly home late. Odds are very appealing.

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BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 2100m

OUR LADY BROOKE / AUTUMN BEAUTY / KWANZA

Bill Thurlow had OUR LADY BROOKE ready to fire after two runs back and the five-year-old DERRYN mare delivered with a big finish to win easily over 2100m at Hawera. Battled on bravely for third the run prior at Trentham, but signaled she was near peak condition and close to a win. The mare won here 12 months ago when wide without cover throughout but rallied to fight hard and prevail over the mile. Craig Grylls takes the reins and looks set to go on with it now. Could be hard to hold out in the last.

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AUTUMN BEAUTY is another last start winner, and you really hsve to follow them in once hitting peak form in winter. The Caley Myers trained stayer by THE AUTUMN SUN was urged on to run 2nd at New Plymouth over 2000m before improving from well back to finish 2nd over 2100m here at Otaki with a nice finish. Very brave to hold on over 2200m at Trentham after running handy and we expect another tough effort from the mare in this contest. Definitely a major player, and versatile enough to challenge from anywhere in the field.

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The Nelson/McDougal stayer KWANZA may have a jumping future coming out of this stable, but the ZED gelding has been strong in the wet lately and won with a big finish on a Heavy 10 at Woodville last start. Possibly lacks the class of the other two, however sure to be in a peak state of fitness and can handle the worst of conditions. Considering the substantial weight of 69 kilograms he previously carried, the reduction of 10 kilograms should not present a significant burden. Would prefer it Heavy, but we wouldn't be putting too much on that.

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BEST BET: FARRAVELLO

NEXT BEST: PACIFICO

BEAT VALUE: ACCENTUATE

WILDCARD: FLYING CELEBRATION (R7)