LEGACY LODGE SPRINT (L)

RACE 6 - 1200m

I'M UNSTOPPABLE / I'M ALL IN / RAREZA

This CHARM SPIRIT mare I'M UNSTOPPABLE from the Wexford barn did a few things wrong in her returning run on a Heavy 10 at Matamata, but was too good for them after setting the pace. Won the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders with a dominant win last year, then did little in two runs in the spring. Extended spell before resuming, however, her trial over 1100m at Taupo was a strong display. Cruised home in the black-type trial at Pukekohe last week and that's good enough to indicate she has trained on exceptionally well with a big run on the cards. Looks the one, unstoppable.

☆☆☆☆

I'M ALL IN came our and ran 2nd at Trentham last start, stuck on well and should only improve on from that performance. Took on some good horses as a 2yo and even faced DAMASK ROSE in the Wentwood Grange 3YO event at Te Rapa in December. Lost a plate but still ran a sound 2nd over 1200m at Tauranga in Jan but had no luck in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy at Ellerslie. The ZOUSTAR gelding is another fine chance for the Marsh stable, despite only a two win horse and we wouldn't be surprised if he gave this a red hot go with a brisk northerly up his freckle. Any rain a bonus

☆☆☆

The EXOSPHERE gelding RAREZA is a sharp little sprinter who can get right amongst it and cause an upset in the feature. Badly held up until the 100m in the Matamata Cup last start, however this horse has run in good company with pretty fair results. 2nd to HI YO SASS BOMB in the Gr.3 Breeders at Hawera and beat home AGERA and SINBIN in the Autumn. Finished 2nd to POKURA GOLD here last year, and even though regarded as mainly a wet performer with zero runs on a firm track, he may like getting across the top of the ground as a fit horse. Odds are enticing enough in a fairly even field.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1600m

ZORMELLA / WAR OF SUCCESSION / KIWI SKYHAWK

Originally set down for Te Rapa, this meeting has been moved north due to surface issues, and ZORMELLA will appreciate a firm deck here having won at Pukekohe back in February. The ALMAZOR mare encountered challenges in her recent return to racing, hindered by a wet track at Ellerslie in her initial outing, and subsequently drawing a wide position and being trapped back early in a competitive mile at the same venue. Rooke aimed up for a rails run, only to be shut out, before rushing through the middle late. Given that effort, we anticipate the mare can perform significantly better with more favourable racing conditions using this long straight. Caught the eye with nice work over 1400m Tues, clocked in 1.38.7 the 600m in 38.6. Needs to be winning here to get her campaign back on track, but really should take this out 3rd-up with her powerful turn-of-foot and Masa riding.

☆☆☆☆☆

WAR OF SUCCESSION scored a tidy win over the mile at Ellerslie last start, however, the roles have been reversed with ZORMELLA drawing (6), and the Te Akau horse the outside this time. Regardless, that previous victory where he picked up smartly was impressive enough and this field isn't any stronger. The 5yo TAVISTOCK gelding won two at Ellerslie in the Autumn, before a comfortable 2nd resuming there. Puke may be a slightly different challenge, however his trackwork at Matamata on Tues was super strong and with some room to move this boy could really get rocking that last bit. Dangerous but may struggle to pick up the Kingsclere trained mare.

☆☆☆

KIWI SKYHAWK may be a the forgotten horse here, although the CONTRIBUTER mare is unbeaten 2nd-up and she was highly impressive in her three-year-old campaign. The potential was there from the beginning, running 3rd to LUX LIBERTAS on debut, winning at Te Rapa, then finishing 3rd in the War Decree, 4th in the 2000 Guineas and 5th in the Karaka Millions 3YO to DAMASK ROSE. Came back to finish 5th in the Gr.1 NZ Derby, then really stepped it up when winning the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) and Gr.3 Trelawney Stud (2100m) at Ellerslie, just nosing out ZORMELLA by a whisker. Probably will appreciate this hitout as well, but can run home hard.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 1 - 1300m

SMART LOVE / FIRST DANCE / MISS ROCKETTE

The SAVABEEL mare, SMART LOVE is indeed a smart one, and, based on her prior performances, possesses the ability to outperform this field. This impeccably bred four-year-old secured a second-place finish on debut in September 2024, followed by another runner-up performance at Taupo, and subsequently achieved a victory at Te Rapa over 1600m. Far too good resuming in Hamilton over 1300m before another decisive victory over 1400m at Rotorua despite contacting another runner. Touch of class about her, back in trip but a nice 27 day gap between runs. Should be winning from the ace gate, although super short in the market. Multi's.

☆☆☆☆

The Lance Noble trained FIRST DANCE was held up around the final bend over 1400m at Ellerslie and fought closer when finally out. Same deal when winning there over 1100m in September, although the ZOUSAIN mare managed to come through with a big finish. Didn't fancy the Heavy 8 at Te Rapa much, although well-suited at the trip and Wazza should press into a fair midfield slot from this gate and he has been on for her only two wins.

☆☆☆

We rate the EL ROCA mare MISS ROCKETTE who has been close up on multiple occasions and deserves consideration here after a couple of mediocre runs since resuming. Ran some super races last summer, winning over 1200m at Ellerslie, then not far off them at Tauranga and Te Aroha. Marshy could have the mare in reasonable shape as the two runs back were on unsuitable wet tracks and she really prefers it firm. There is a robustness about the mare, with the dam by ZABEEL which allows her to truck along at quite a strong tempo. Gets into a tidy position early then could be quicken well and play a role for second or third.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 2200m

GIPPSY GOD / HAUGHTY / SI EXQUIS

Difficult to knock the consistency of this Wexford runner GIPPSY GOD, who should be competitive in a pretty average BM65 field. The TARZINO gelding resumed with a 4th at Te Rapa before a nice finish for 2nd over 1800m at Taupo. He returned there to achieve his first victory over that same trip with a strong performance, then settled back before finishing well for second place when stepping up to the 2200m at Te Aroha. Can handle this weight and likely to be running on powerfully.

☆☆☆☆

Currently up for auction on Gavelhouse, HAUGHTY is a genuine type who has run well here at Pukekohe Park. A handy IFFRAAJ mare, she finished 3rd on her home course in February, then 2nd in March when up to the 1400m. Came back in the winter with another runner-up slot over 1500m, before a 3rd at Avondale on Heavy 10 tracks. Broke her maiden over 2100m at Ruakaka in September getting onto a better surface and fought well for 4th over 2200m at Te Aroha last start. Drawn to ne in this with Masa aboard and certainly can run TOP4 at home base.

☆☆☆

SI EXQUIS is just the type to turn things around with a strong performance following two poor efforts, and getting back on a firm surface will aide her chances. The 5yo VADAMOS mare trained by the Alexander's at Te Awamutu, was a standout this time last year and finished 2nd here over 2100m. Not terrible in the two runs back, before being held up over the mile at Ellerslie on a tricky track. No go on the Heavy 9 at Te Rapa last start, with plenty of time to get over that run. Drawn poorly, but better than recent runs and just needs to find some of the old grunt late in a race. Can get into this Saturday.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE - 1500m

RAMBLING ON / THE NOMAD / PAX MUNDI

The Andrew Forsman trained RAMBLING ON can go on with it here and his bloodlines are drenched with quality. By ALMANZOR, the geldings dam PAYETTE (Volkaraad) was a fine sprinter who won six, with her mother a handy ZABEEL racemare. RAMBLING ON finished 2nd at Te Aroha over the mile in February, then unsuited by the Heavy 8 at Hawera resuming. Game getting home strongly to defeat LUVABEEL over 1600m at Te Aroha and likely to be in even harder condition rolling up here. Needs to step in up again, although odds are tempting.

☆☆☆☆

We prefer the Cody Cole trained THE NOMAD over their more favoured runner, KIND THOUGHTS, and the MONGOLIAN KHAN gelding could produce something more noteworthy on Saturday. Had no luck when 4th on debut behind a couple of good ones last year, before proving too good over 1350m at Wanganui coming back fresh in April. Won a 1000m trial in September, then resumed with a reasonable 5th at Ellerslie after striking a ton of trouble in the running. Steps up slightly in trip which should suit his pedigree winding up late. Can make some kind of impact if Ryan Elliot can settle early.

☆☆☆

PAX MUNDI may not be the worst here and is just the type to put in big 2nd-up. The MENDELSSOHN mare was very good running 2nd to PEERLESS at Ellerslie in June, then went to the synthetic searching for a firm surface. Settled midfield and held up rounding the final bend when resuming over 1215m at Rotorua and that was on an unsuitable Heavy track. Worth giving Tony Pike some credit here that he has the mare back in good nick and she looks the surprise package, especially with the 3kg Sam McNab claim.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE - 1200m

FOXGLOVE / RICHARD AND I / KIA KAHA

The SAVABEEL mare FOXGLOVE achieved a notable victory in her second start at Matamata in January 2024, representing the Wexford team and generating considerable enthusiasm. Finished 3rd behind I'M UNSTOPPABLE in the next at Te Rapa with a good finish, then unlucky when 4th to CERTAINLY in the Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes at Trentham. Off the scene for eight months before resuming with a tidy 3rd at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, then suffered a vet problem. Second in her last trial and a long time away from the track, but she is very talented. Could deal to them here if Masa is instructed to go full bore, but do they really want to.

☆☆☆☆

The Murdoch trained RICHARD AND I promised a fair bit of potential early in his career, but a few set backs hampered his progress under the guidance of Andrew Forsman. Won on the Cambridge synthetic in August 2024, then finished 2nd at Matamata. Finished a solid 5th resuming then suffered breathing issues folding at Tauranga and was sent for a spell. Returned with a couple of fair runs on the synthetic and a hard fought 4th over 1200m on a Heavy 9 at Te Rapa, but an opportunity exists here to really show his true worth. By OCEAN PARK, his dam UNTAMED DIAMOND (Snitzel) was an outstanding racemare who won the Legacy Lodge Sprint. Rotten gate, but the odds reflect such and probably worth holding close.

☆☆☆

We were keen on investigating KIA KAHA at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day, but the Marsh team scratched in favour of this contest. Will jump well over the odds here for a SUPER SETH who has won one from two to begin her career. Cannot be totally ruled out leaving from a tidy draw and we really don't know how good this mare actually is. Did well to hold on over 1200m at Matamata in March, then completely blew the plot overracing at Ellerslie resuming and never in it. Hopefully that erratic behaviour has been blown out and a more relaxed animal arrives here. Her mother COLDPLAY (Savabeel) was pretty damn good, so expect a better display and an opportunity to come to grips with her real ability.

☆☆

HALLMARK STUD 2YO

RACE 2 - 1100m

RUPENI / PERFECT POUR / MISS PERNA

Marshy has a couple of promising juveniles in this race, and RUPENI appears to be particularly ready to win, having had two previous sound runs. By the Australian sire HOME AFFAIRS, this two-year-old gelding won his only trial, before racing three wide on debut from a wide barrier draw and couldn't go on with it. Lost ground early over 800m at Trentham on a Heavy 8, but did well after losing ground from the jump, then closed well to finish 2nd to MIDNIGHT DART. Sweet inside gate, Cameron in the saddle, just needs to jump with them here.

☆☆☆☆

The stable will also front PERFECT POUR on debut who is owned by the deep pockets of the Bourbon Lane lads. Marsh paid $450,000 for the DUNDEEL colt, with the dam GRACE AUGUSTA out of the US sire DECLARATION OF WAR, who was a world-class G1 performer. Two trials to go on, with the second over 800m at Ellerslie a hard hitout which should serve him well. George Rooke gave him full bore at the 200m after being challenged, with the colt responding strongly to hit the line nicely.

☆☆☆

Expect a bold performance on debut from the Te Akau trained MISS PERNA, who is beautifully bred with a couple of solid barrier trials under the belt. By SATONO ALADDIN, her dam, the unraced mare IF PERHAPS is by NOT A SINGLE DOUBT, with speed and power within the pedigree. Knowing this stable the filly has been well grounded and can improve on from a 2nd to JUSTIN CASE in her last 900m jumpout at Taupo. May prefer a but more distance but worth keeping safe coming out of this barn.

☆☆

BEST BET: ZORMELLA

NEXT BEST: SMART LOVE

BEST VALUE: RAMBLING ON

WILDCARD: SI EXQUIS