OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 7 - 1600m

DEALT WITH / BRIDAL TRAIN / CANNON HILL

The James/Wellwood trained DEALT WITH could be a good chance to bounce back here after working hard to find the lead in the Aotearoa Classic at Ellerslie, only to weaken badly from the 200m. Looked good the run prior when 2nd to SUPER PHOTON over 1500m at Tauranga and admittedly the ACE HIGH gelding has taken longer to come up this prep. A strong three-year-old season up against a powerful crop put him on the map, running 3rd in the Karaka Millions 3YO and 2nd to SETHIO in the Uncle Remus Stakes. Can be a tricky type who needs a firm hand, although Tuesday trackwork was ultra solid, Bruno on and there's no TUXEDO or HINEKAHA here.

☆☆☆☆

BRIDAL TRAIN appears particularly well-positioned here on 54kg after showing high calibre form in the CD recently. The Alan Sharrock trained US NAVY FLAG mare was game winning on her home course in November, then finished best to defeat HE’S A DOOZY over the mile at Otaki on a Heavy 8. Lost ground and fell back to last in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) but made up good ground on a testing Heavy 10 to finish into 3rd. Kelly Myers aboard and she did win on the mare at Otaki. Better track really should be more beneficial for this fit girl.

☆☆☆

CANNON HILL has been a bit off the last few, although we know the Pike trained ARDROSSAN gelding is very sharp on his day and ran some strong races to begin his prep in the north. Produced a nice effort to win over 1500m at Ellerslie in November, followed by a game 3rd in the Gr.3 TAB Mile at Riccarton. Improved wide but had too much to do in the J. Swap Sprint, and dealt the same hand in the Phar Lap Trophy at Trentham, but fought on stoutly. Settled midfield and once again pushed wide when ending up 5th in the Fulton Family Stakes at Ellerslie, so it would be nice to see him closer to the action this time. Sam McNab claims 3kg and drawn to be in it.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 6 - 1200m

SLIPPER ISLAND / BRADMAN / COOPER

SLIPPER ISLAND has been seeking a return to form and was impressive this time last year when rampaging through them in Wellington. The NO NAY NEVER gelding failed to find that same vigor travelling to Riccarton for the Pegasus and Steward Stakes, although 4th place in both were reasonable enough results. Not terrible in the Gr.3 J. Swap Sprint when 7th to Telegraph winner FIRST FIVE after going back from an outside barrier, and held up at the 100m. No luck either in the Telegraph when crowded early and held up at the 300m. Good gate, 3kg claim, right in this at fairly appealing odds.

☆☆☆☆

He'll have to carry a big weight fresh up, and is now a spritely eight-year old, however, the grand milet BRADMAN has reportedly come back up in fine shape and could play a role sprinting fresh up in his 62nd start. Trained by Roydon Bergerson at Awapuni, the PINS gelding ran 2nd to ENRICO in the Masterton Cup last May, then ran 3rd and 2nd at Wanganui before claiming a victory over 1600m on a Heavy 10 at Trentham, followed by a well earned rest. Returned with a 3rd in the Gr.3 Winter Cup at Riccarton in August plus a 4th place down there. Possibly his last campaign, and based on some strong trial work, the team will want to see him finish with a flourish. Could surprise.

☆☆☆

COOPER is somewhat of an enigma for the Gray's, either winning well, or offering nothing with an in-and-out formline to boot. The TIVACI gelding from Copper Belt Lodge stables won fresh up over 1200m at Wanganui in November, before battling at Te Rapa in the next. Game and fired up again to win at Wanganui once more, then trapped three-wide and folded in the Open Handicap Sprint at Trentham last start. Possibly better suited on this course, although plenty of risk attached. Bruno Queiroz in the saddle and he does know the horse well, so a big run this time wouldn't shock.

☆☆

THREE-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE 1 - 1400m

ARGO / BATTLE TYCOON / OH MAIMAI

The ALMANZOR gelding ARGO, trained by Tony Pike looks a capable horse with some fine ability and he's bred to be good. His dam, UNTAMED DIAMOND (Snitzel) was an outstanding racemare in NZ and highly successful with a good stint in Australia. The gelding resumed with a 3rd to the outstanding WELL WRITTEN in September before a 4th at Ellerslie over 1200m. Got it right near the end of November when winning over 1400m at Te Aroha with the extra distance proving advantageous, then deadheated for 1st with ONE MORE DANCE over 1200m when challenging hard at Te Rapa. Going in the right direction, so may be in position to fire up late jumping up in trip and the biggest threat to the favourite.

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Marsh was to able to extract the best from his WRITTEN TYCOON colt BATTLE TYCOON last start when winning his Maiden in front of CRIMSON SKY over 1300m at Tauranga. Only three runs thus far, with a 7th on debut at Ellerslie, before finishing 3rd at Ruakaka in June. Possibly not strong enough at that stage and the trainer would have had high hopes for the well-bred colt, who is out of a SNITZEL mare, with Bruce Perry Bloodstock paying $500,000 for him at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Led them up and appeared in strong shape when pressing on to win in dominant style at Tauranga, so could be hard to roll again.

☆☆☆

Robbie Patterson had another DERRYN filly he was originally aiming towards the Gr.1 NZ Oaks after the incredible success of LEICA LUCY last year, who waded through the girls class with some real quality about her, ultimately claiming 6 from 7 including the Oaks before departing to Waller in Sydney. OH MAIMAI is out of a fine sprinting mare in OAK PARK and showed some ability when running third on debut, before winning by two and a quarter lengths over 1400m at New Plymouth. Raced wide when 5th in the Oaks Prelude and the Heavy 10 probably didn't aide her chances much. Trip will suit again and won't mind some moisture about. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 2000m

COUNTRY SALON / PLATINUM GODDESS / PRINCESS ELLY

This time last year Stratford trainer Gavin Sharrock experienced the hype of Karaka Millions week with his then two-year-old DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, and 12 months on was hoping COUNTRY SALON could successfully launch his bid towards the Gr.1 NZ Derby in March. Stakes-placed at two, the son of DARCI BRAHMA was fifth in both the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) and Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) last spring, and won nicely over 1340m at Wanganui in January. Flopped big time in the Waikato Guineas and those plans may now be in tatters. Will be competitive here though and should be winning as a progressive type.

☆☆☆☆

The ALPINE EAGLE mare PLATINUM GODDESS won two in a row at Wanganui and Trentham near the end of 2025, and looked very good in doing so for the Lisa Latta stable. Under a ride and weakened with an unusual poor performance in the next over 2200m in Wellington, but possibly that was just a flat spot, as she set the pace and battled on gamely when 5th to THE PRECURSOR in the Remutaka Classic last start. Really looks to have come of age as a stayer and we expect much better here with Bruno retaining the ride. Appears the main threat to the fave and cannot be underestimated.

☆☆☆

PRINCESS ELLY was a highly promising stayer for Craig Ivil early last season, before three uninspiring runs in Sydney in the middle of 2025. Great training effort when resuming with a win over 2200m at Pukekohe in November before settling on the pace and fighting hard over 2100m at Trentham. Restrained from an outside barrier at Wairarapa, ending up wide and back, but still managed to run on well late into 3rd place. Could be in the best possible physical condition now and well capable of giving this a nudge with a sweet run in transit.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1400m

KOMOCEAN / KOSTA / MONOLOGUE

The Alan Sharrock mare KOMOCEAN has drawn out a bit here which won't aide her chances much, but the OCEAN PARK four-year-old has won 3 from 5, so does have some serious ability. Her sire, OCEAN PARK was exceptional, winning 8 from 15, including the G.1 NZ Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Underwood, Mafki Stakes and 2012 Cox Plate. KOMOCEAN won at Taranaki, then Wellington before a long spell since January 2025. Returned with a victory over 1200m at New Plymouth nearly 12 months later, then 3rd on a Heavy 10 on her home course last start. Could possibly be too good for them here.

☆☆☆☆

The Mike Breslin trained KOSTA has yet to race at Otaki as this WAR DECREE gelding has mainly performed well in four runs on the Trentham course. The four-year-old gelding was slow away and held up for a time, before a game finish to defeat the slick TORONTO over 1400m in October. Struck the nasty Riccarton Heavy 9 when taken south and still put in a brave effort for 6th place. Real blackbooker run last start, when badly held up here over 1200m, with no room to move. Looks very well-positioned here with Bruno in the saddle from the ace gate and these odds are big overs we believe.

☆☆☆

We typically don't overlook an Alexander Fieldes runner like MONOLOGUE, as the small time trainer is an astute judge who doesn't muck around when bringing them to the races. Although potentially a better 2nd-up horse, this CONTRIBUTER mare has won 2 from 6 and the 2kg claim dropping her to a lightweight 52.5kg shows some real intent. Won impressively by three and a half lengths at Trentham over the 1600m when last seen and looks to have developed into a much stronger mare. May win another one this campaign, and although it may be tough at this trip first up, we're not willing to take the risk she hasn't been prepped well forward for a return.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1600m

THE EXPONENT / ANDAHAR / POSSESS

Really like the look of THE EXPONENT from the Stephen Marsh stable in the last and he usually strikes a few when the trainer brings them down to the Central Districts. The five-year-old SHOCKING gelding has been quite hit and miss since winning at Matamata last Autumn, going on to struggle though the Heavy 10 winter tracks, before winning over 1300m on the Cambridge synthetic in July, then finishing 3rd there. Only three runs back this prep, but the last two have been very tidy. Finished 2nd to UP THE ANTI over the mile at Ellerslie and 4th to ASKIL in a super strong field there at the end of January. Nice let up, so does look the one ready to show his best.

☆☆☆☆

The Ritchie/Murray-trained ANDAHAR has drawn out a bit, but that may be offset by the 3kg McNab claim and this SAVABEEL gelding has shown enough in only three raceday starts. Finished 3rd on debut at Waverley last March, then brought back to win fresh up over 1400m at Ruakaka in early January despite being held up at the 200m mark. Raced keenly in the early stages, but still gave it plenty when 2nd equal to HOORAH HENRY over the 1600m at Trentham last start and that should see him tuned up nicely for this. If able to settle and slot in somewhere, then a royal winning chance.

☆☆☆

We really need to include the Myers horse POSSESS, who we just don't know enough about, but the gelding has never been far away and hasn't struck much luck, despite an impressive win at Greymouth when the trainer took him on the West Coast summer circuit for a confidence boost. Raced three wide before taking over to win easily over 1500m, and sure, he didn't beat much, although the style in which he did was noteworthy. Absolutely no luck in the two runs prior before his southern sojourn and did trial up very nicely three weeks ago. Could pay to be a little cautious with this one.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 3 - 1200m

CASINO / SHACKTIME / SPANDEEDO

The Bryce Newman trained CASINO had difficulty obtaining clear racing room when failing at Trentham last start in a strong field on Cup day, but we know the lightly raced SAVABEEL mare is better than that and can turn things around quickly. Her mother SWEEPSTAKES was high class and she herself proved her ability with a game win over 1200m at Waverley in October. Beaten by a good one in TORONTO returning to that track, before fighting on moderately for 5th at Wanganui behind PLOY. Has certainly faced some formidable talent, but probably requires a confidence boost.

☆☆☆☆

SHACKTIME looks a progressive type for Allan Sharrock and the New Plymouth trainer has taken his time with the mare to try and bring out the best in her. We were big on the TIVACI mare last start, and she didn't perform too badly, finishing 3rd over 1400m at Trentham after tracking the pace. Similar result the run prior at Wanganui when working closer, so she should be in peak condition for the stable. Just needs to find that little bit extra and surely Sharrock can bring out the best with Myers aboard jumping from a tidy inside gate.

☆☆☆

Gavin Sharrock had the stylish juvenile SPANDEEDO up and flying last season, but the trainer admits the FERRANDO gelding has been 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 and the stable would like to see him on better ground and less exuberance this time in. Goes flat out with his outright speed the X factor in his wins thus far, so as a three-year-old the gelding could offer more of the same, but with a little less enthusiasm.

☆☆

BEST BET: DEALT WITH

NEXT BEST: KOMOCEAN

BEAT VALUE: THE EXPONENT

WILDCARD: HERBERT