SPRING SPRINT G3

RACE 7 - 1400m

ARCHAIC SMILE / BOURBON EMPRESS / BELARDO BOY

Hollie Wynyard's runner ARCHAIC SMILE appears very well placed here, and although the mare goes even better 3rd-up, she looks a great chance after a nice returning effort. The 4yo SAXON WARRIOR mare was exceptional as a 2yo, finishing 2nd to Karaka victor, VELOCIOUS, and runner-up to ALABAMA LASS at Taupo. All got a bit tough, however, resumed and won at New Plymouth before second placings in the Wellington Guineas and Cambridge Breeders Stakes. Solid 4th coming back at Te Rapa and should be bang on ready to fire on 53kg.

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BOURBON EMPRESS did have a touch of class about her last season and this PROISIR mare can come to hand quickly. The PROISIR mare was particularly potent this time last year when finishing 3rd to JOSHUA BROWN, winning at Matamata, then 2nd to ARABIAN SONGBIRD at Ellerslie. Won again at Pukekohe before taking out the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile on New Year's Day. Good trial win three weeks back, so appears in the right condition and forward enough resuming.

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If the track remains heavy, then BELARDO BOY could come into his own after a fairly lacklustre campaign by his standards. The Latta-trained gelding finished 2nd in the Training Stakes back in May, then won here over 1400m on a Heavy 10. Fought hard in the Opunake Cup and Winter Cup down south, but for little reward. Slow away at Otaki in early September, then freshened before a sixth place finish in the Gr.3 Metric Mile at Trentham. Possibly better off back in trip, as an ultra consistent wet tracker and only needs suitable conditions to find himself in the frame.

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RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE 3 - 2100m

MCKHAN /IDENTIKIT / DEADLY PONY

MCKHAN let us down when looking likely to run well in the Interprovincial at New Plymouth, but was going great guns in the Autumn and only needed to bring that form. The seven-year-old MONGOLIAN KHAN gelding obviously needed the run and was too worked up in the prelim and behind the gates to be effective. Much better 2nd up, running home well behind KNOCK OFF over 1600m at Wanganui and that's the horse we know. Trainer Ashley Meadows can can more out her gelding going up in trip as this distance should be more to his liking 3rd-up, especially with some give in the track.

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The Lisa Latta-trained IDENTIKIT looms as a sound chance after a fine victory at Whanganui, and after a slow beginning, the OCEAN PARK mare took over the lead and kicked on from the turn to win easily over 2040m. After some good synthetic form last spring, the mare resumed in April at the mile before running on from midfield to finish 2nd at Hawera over 2100m. Won again at Otaki and Latta has developed a nice staying type that enjoys it wet and is sure to strike ideal conditions at Otaki on Saturday. Probably added some speed to those legs with recent runs and appears perfectly-placed to bounce back after the last few disappointing efforts.

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DEADLY PONY has been running very well in behind some strong winter gallopers and fitness shouldn't be an issue here. Finished 2nd to SWINGIT OUR WAY at Otaki in July, then fought hard for 3rd to PRIDE OF ASPEN attacking the mile again on a Heavy 10. Finished 3rd at Hawera, then 3rd last start with a tough effort over 2100m at Trentham on a Soft 6. The Latta trained PUCCNI mare will have Kelly Myers in the saddle and is drawn to get this a nudge if everything goes to plan. Odds are very good for such a consistent type.

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RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE - 1600m

MA TE WA / FREDDIE TIME / EXIT LEFT

MA TE WA is a pretty talented TIME TEST gelding from the Robbie Patterson yard who scored an emphatic victory by four and and half lengths at Wanganui in May, before repeating the dose there by the same margin in June. Failed to pick up ZA SPIRIT who had flown the coop over 1200m at New Plymouth, then was afforded a spell from July. Trialed up nicely over 1000m at Waverley and provided a bright return when winning over 1400m at Trentham. Come a long way in a short time and can only improve with more racing. An off track seems his go so any give in the surface while the rain is still about is advantageous.

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Kevin Tyler is obviously searching for an appropriate race for his TIME TEST gelding FREDDIE TIME, who was quite prominent in some strong 3YO South Island events last season. Won on debut at Riverton on New Year's Day, before finishing close up in the Gore, Southland and Dunedin Guineas, with PIVOTAL TEN dominant. Battled away in the Wellington Guineas, but put in a solid challenge for 4th behind KIWI SKYHAWK in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic. Went back South to win on his home course of Riverton before a poor run at Ipswich, then a four month lay off. Decent 4th fresh up at Otaki and can foot it will some nice types. Should be a much stronger 4YO now.

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EXIT LEFT, trained in Hastings, appears to be a promising stayer in the making, having demonstrated consistent performance in his initial four races. Trailed out and won nicely on debut at Woodville over 1340m, before being inconvenienced at Rotorua after shifting inwards onto poor ground. Bounced back when challenging hard running 2nd to LA DULCIN'EE over 1340m at Whanganui, then a solid 3rd over the same distance there. The TURN ME LOOSE gelding is out of the dam, ABEAUTIFULRED; a handy winter miler who finished her career in Australia. Will need to keep improving, but a progressive type who will appreciate conditions.

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RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE - 1200m

PART TIME LOVER / ERIN GO BRAGH / CYPRESS

Willing to give this SWISS ACE mare PART TIME LOVER a serious chance of taking this out after a tidy 3rd place finish over 1200m at Ellerslie resuming. Second placings at Tauranga and Rotorua before winning with some authority at Woodville last year. Came back with a 3rd and 2nd at Ellerslie, before a big finish to win over 1200m at Ruakaka in June. Lightly raced for a six year old but has a touch of quality about her and the Cody Cole stable should have her ready to fly late we believe.

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The Marsh-trained ERIN GO BRAGH looks a good one in the making and the stable have handled this VADAMOS gelding very carefully. Won exactly 12 months ago over 1300m at Taupo before a tough run in the Gr.2 J&A Sarten at Te Aroha. Cruised along before a smart victory at Pukekohe, then won, but relegated to PENMAN over 1500m at Ellerslie in April. Equally firm effort when 3rd over the mile at Te Rapa, before a decent break ensured. Trialed up nicely with two solid efforts and might try to lead from go to woah. Last bit will be the real test.

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CYPRESS came out for the Myers stable and crushed it on day one of the Riccarton winter carnival over 1200m, and he found another gear at the 300m to cruise away and win easily. Repeated the dose a week later, thriving in the Heavy track conditions. The four-year-old TELPERION gelding finished 2nd to MA TE WA over 1340m at Wanganui before a strong trial at Foxton to prepare for the trip south. Despite the fact Kevin Myers had his strong jumping team down there, this nice mare was his best over this period and looks a talented winter galloper. A month break before a solid 3rd at Otaki, should strip in sharper physical condition and can show up.

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THREE-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE 1 - 1400m

SWISS PRINCE / SIERRA LEONE / BELZONI

SWISS PRINCE raced wide but fought hard on debut before an impressive effort chasing home the smart CHURMATT over 1230m at Rotorua in August. Shifted out abruptly near the 50m in the Wanganui Guineas but fought on well for 3rd behind PLATINUM DIAMOND. the EL ROCA gelding trained by Stephen Marsh then finished 2nd to his nemesis Churmatt over 1400m at Ellerslie, but beat home some good young talent and can only improve further. Holds the right constitution to push this right to the line after showing some real fortitude up to this point.

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Worth considering SIERRA LEONE after what this SUN CITY filly achieved as a two-year-old when finishing 2nd to COOL AZA RENE on debut at Otaki before pushing RETURN TO CONQUER in the Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) last November. Fought well for 3rd after being held up at the 300m on Boxing Day, anf threw down a big finish when clear. Tough, but hard pressed in the 2YO Karaka Millions before a spell. 2nd fresh up to the fast SPANDEEDO at Hawera, then an ok 5th place at Trentham after a four month break. Should strip much fitter for Johno Benner and not out of this at all.

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The Lisa Latta-trained BELZONI finished 3L off WAR PRINCESS last start and is backing up here a week later for the stable. Super green kicking off as a two-year-old last year, then resumed much wiser when winning at Waverley over 1100m in April. Certainly wasn't overworked before a nice 3rd in behind TESTWIN coming back in September, then came up wider on the turn last start to chase home a very good one. Being by BELARDO won't mind it wet and definitely capable of getting into the finish.

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BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 1200m

FANCYPANTS / SPERLARI / LUCULLAN

The Bryce Revell trained FANCYPANTS may hold a tad more fitness over a few of these and hasn't been going too badly. The ECHOES OF HEAVEN gelding didn't disgrace himself when finishing 3rd over 1200m at Ellerslie. Won easily here at Otaki in June last year then went on to win again over 1200m at New Plymouth, cementing himself as a solid CD sprinter Nonetheless, he ran into a few better and had to be satisfied with placings behind some good winter sprinters, such as TWAIN and LUX LIBERTAS. Can get into it late with a strong surge nearing the line.

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We won't be discounting SPERLARI who came out got on with the job to win his maiden over 1400m at Matamata early on. The VANBRUGH filly looked good when 2nd at Tauranga, then was badly held up at Pukekohe in February before winning on his home track. Does appear a talented type from the Cody Cole stable and gains the services of Craig Grylls which will give him every chance from a middle draw. Money is on and been handled very carefully, so keep safe over this trip.

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LUCULLAN has been developed well by Peter and Trent Didham, and could run a much improved race 2nd-up. The four-year-old RICH ENUFF gelding finished 2nd, then 3rd to begin his career, before leading from the 200m to win at Waverley over 1100m. Hung outwards when 3rd at Ellerslie in May, then afforded a winter break. Has always trialled up well, then overraced resuming at Trentham in September. Won a 1000m jumpout since, so likely to be in sturdy condition for this assignment and can't be discounted.

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BEST BET: ARCHAIC SMILE

NEXT BEST: MA TE WA

BEAT VALUE: IDENTIKIT

WILDCARD: EXIT LEFT