BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 1600m

LEVAKIA / OCEAN ROAD / NANCY SHE WROTE

The three-year-old filly LEVAKIA produced the goods for the Kelso’s up in Whangarei last start with a bold performance. Settled back and delivered a big run after getting closer and there is no reason to believe she can't do it again over the mile striking similar conditions. By the sire PROISIR, she has been labouring this prep after some excellent spring form, winning at Counties and finishing runner-up at both Taupo and Matamata on Soft tracks. Just seems the perfect setup once again. Too short for us though, so looking elsewhere.

☆☆☆☆☆

After the Open Handicap was dropped with only three noms and a nasty track up here last meeting, we believe it's better to shop around in what will be an average punting day in the north. The Paula Wlkinson trained OCEAN ROAD sits at nice odds with Joe Doyle aboard and can take part in the finish. The SHAMEXPRESS gelding has been pretty consistent the last two preps. Fought well for 2nd to MACALLAN at Tauranga over 1200m before a good ride by McNab to win at Rotorua up to the 1400m despite being held up rounding the turn. No reason to believe the mile won't suit and if this track is digging up like previously, include.

☆☆☆

The topweight NANCY SHE WROTE came out out won for the Ben & Ryan Foote team in similar circumstances to the fave. Not the most consistent type, the WROTE mare produced a solid finish out wide to take over and win comfortably at the mile where the sand meets the surf, and seemed suited to the cut in the track. Bobbed up for 2nd at Te Rapa in April and she did prevail with an upset win over the mile at Trentham at the beginning of the year. May struggle to go back-to-back but in with a chance based on the latest.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 2100m

SUAVETTA / BARCELONA / ROSINA

The ALMANZOR mare SUAVETTA was under a ride up here at the last meeting, but it's best to go on the solid mile run prior behind BASSOROC at Pukekohe. Trained by the Clotworthy's at Byerley Park, the mare found the line well when fourth, then third at Ellerslie in May. Shown enough to competitive this time, although she tends to find a few better on the day. Much prefer these odds with Craig Grylls in the saddle and a gentle steer by the top jockey could see her run on well from the rear.

☆☆☆

McNab will take the reins of BARCELONA who appears well supported here but hasn't delivered much up until now. The BELARDO mare won her maiden at Te Rapa in June 2024 before plodding around throughout the spring. Checked, but ran a tidy fresh up third over 1400m at Ellerslie in May, then ran on wider attacking hard on a Heavy 10 over 1560m at Rotorua. Lost ground after jumping awkwardly last start at Waikato and she need to find her best to be in the finish.

☆☆

ROSINA really looks the one on an improved track and the team Foote trained EL ROCA mare has been close up a number of times this prep. Led, but unable to kick on when 3rd over 2000m on the Cambridge Synthetic on two occasions in June, then improved on the inner for 3rd after shifting out off heels over 2200m at Te Aroha. Settled back and stopped badly on a deep track at Rotorua last start and expect a much better effort if the track remains soft. Not the finest BM65 field ever assembled, so good luck snaring the winner here.

☆☆☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 3 - 1300m

ARABELLA / FREE BIRD / SECRET LIFE

Going super wide with local runner ARABELLA here, and the BELARDO mare is much better then recent form suggests. Trainer Michelle Bradley had the mare going reasonably well last year, closing hard to win over 1400m at Ruakaka after three fourth placings in a row to begin her career. Has struggled to make headway on the softer tracks, however likely to be much fitter now and home town advantage just has to come into play. Nice draw, fair weight and Fawcett aboard. Can run TOP4 at good odds but check how she presents in prelims on the day. Heart over head in this one.

☆☆

The TARZINO filly FREE BIRD appears a nice progressive type for David Greene with only three runs in the bag. Finished 3rd on debut on a very hard Good 3 track up here at Ruakaka in early January before sharing the pace and battling over 1400m at Te Rapa. More time allowed to strengthen up before resuming with a big run to win over 1200m at Ruakaka at the end of June before Greene put her away for another month. Up in trip slightly with McNab on looks a nice push and capable of winning on this track again.

☆☆☆☆

Cody Cole's runner, SECRET LIFE, has demonstrated some potential in its limited appearances, which is quite intriguing. The four-year-old mare by CONTRIBUTER was fair in her first prep, offering up a tidy 2nd behind SERVICE BREAK after kicking away slowly. Failed to respond behind BOURBON EMPRESS at Matamata, then spelled until the spring when she looked much stronger. Third at Taupo before a wide finish to win over 1400m at New Plymouth and a flat 4th at Tauranga. Never threatened in the lone run back, however, will strip much fitter and has won 2nd-up.

☆☆☆

THREE-YEAR-OLD SW&P

RACE 1 - 1100m

CASHLA BAY / LOVE THE SORT / CONSCRIBE

The Forsman trained filly CASHLA BAY has a fair bit of experience behind her now and a firm grounding as a two-year-old, which should hold her in good steed fresh up as a brand new three-year-old. Started off against RETURN TO CONQUER, then 3rd at Te Aroha and an improved 2nd behind WAR PRINCESS over 1200m at Whanganui. Lead and kept kicking to the line to finally win one at Matamata in April, but not so prominent last start in Listed company at Te Rapa. Will go quick which is the most appropriate weapon if the track is playing ok. Cartwright will offer a positive ride

☆☆☆

The Ritchie/Ramsey trained LOVE THE SORT does look a good sort by TASSORT and will be hard to beat here. Led to the turn on the Cambridge synthetic in her only run and had a bit left in reserve over the 970m. A nice $42,500 purchase at the Magic Millions’ Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and she carries the same silks as her Group Two-winning stablemate TUXEDO. An average-sized filly, but she’s built like a bullet, and they want to develop her as a sprinting type, so watch out here. Can be prone to jumping away a little gingerly, so just be cautious, but looks the obvious one in the opener.

☆☆☆☆

May as well throw in the Donna Logan trained CONSCRIBE as she nabbed the first up here two weeks ago with a nice juvenile in YOKOZUNA. Although not her home training base anymore, Logan is assembling a decent crop of horses after returning from a stint in Singapore. The RELIABLE MAN filly ran on well for 5th behind her victorious stablemate up here on debut and she will get better over more ground. The filly is out of a lightly raced mare in CONSTITUTIONAL (Medaglia D'oro) who was handy in only eight runs. Likely to be running home strongly again and E/W odds are tempting.

☆☆