OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 2000m

SOLDIER BOY / ROSETOWN PRINCESS / CANHEROC

The PROISIR gelding SOLDIER BOY could be much improved after a couple of tough runs and is better suited back on this New Plymouth track. The PROISIR gelding SOLDIER BOY was well set to perform strongly in Opunake Cup at Hawera and he mounted a firm challenge in the final stretch, ultimately finishing second after a slight decline. Secured a victory over 1600m at Te Rapa in June with an impressive effort, making a strong challenge from midfield and ultimately prevaling over strong gallopers. With a less strenuous effort this time, the gelding might be positioned for a strong finish nearing the line. Willing to allow him one more chance with Myers aboard from this inside gate.

☆☆☆☆

ROSETOWN PRINCESS was unable to pick up on a Heavy 10 at Te Aroha last start, but prior form this prep has been fairly compelling. We were quite impressed with how ROSETOWN PRINCESS, secured victory over 1600m on a testing Heavy track at Tauranga before a huge charge for 2nd behind TREGOR here in July. Although this REDWOOD mare's racing style may not always lead to victory, she has reached a new high this prep and has appeared much stronger. Performed relatively well racing in Melbourne before returning home and winning over the mile at Te Rapa. Stormed home to place at Pukekohe twice and New Plymouth before her latest result.

☆☆☆

CANHEROC resumed with a first class run for 2nd to SON OF SUN over 1600m at Te Aroha, suggesting he is in for a good campaign and can go one better here. Slow to begin but tracked wider and came home very well. Finished 3rd to MEHZEBEEN in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November, with some dominate lead-up staying efforts in the Egmont Cup, Waverley Cup and Waikato Cup Prelude. Has finished 3rd in the Wellington Cup, and won a Marton Cup, so the Central Districts really is his stomping grounds. Can turn around and win another one.

☆☆

ROAD TO THE JERICHO

RACE 7 - 3210m BM75

Approaching the end of the First World War the Australian Light Horse were planning a major offensive against the Turkish Empire. In order to lull the enemy into believing nothing unusual was afoot, a race meeting was organised on the eve of the assault. The main race was called The Jericho Cup over 3 miles through the desert sands. The winner was BILL THE BASTARD, probably Australia’s Greatest War Horse. It is Australia’s longest flat race and is held at Warrnambool Nov 30 over 4600m.

JESKO / QUID / ROC UP RALPH

Shaun and Hazel Fannin have done a magic job developing the jumper JESKO and his noteworthy record speaks for itself. Won the Manawatu, then Wellington Steeples at Trentham before taking out the Koral at Riccarton. Could have won the Grand National, but duelled hard the entire trip with HEY HEY HEY who did his head in, leading to CAPTAIN'S RUN overhauling the gelding at the final fence. Nonetheless, the ATLANTE gelding is a pretty handy flat horse who gave it plenty when three wide throughout over 2200m at Waverley and brave for 2nd. Possibly, this horse has the potential to be a Cup horse, but given his natural jumping ability and considerable talent, it seems probable this is merely a preparatory step towards the Great NZ Steeplechase (6400m) at Te Aroha, scheduled a week later. May surprise as a rock hard, fit endurance specimen who knows how to stay.

☆☆☆

QUID has a sound flat record and has been running well as a hurdler since June. Won over 2200m at Rotorua in May, then runner-up in the Bulls Country Cup at Trentham. Went jumping and finished 2nd to OUR DAYMO over 2500m in Wellington, then defeated the Grand National Steeples winner CAPTAIN'S RUN at Woodville. The RIOS gelding handled by jumping master supremo Kevin Myers ran 3rd in the Sydenham before a fine 2nd in the GN Hurdles at Riccarton, and you cannot question his hardcore grit and determination. 4th back on the flat last start with a brave finish, so with a clean run late he will be hard to beat

☆☆☆☆

ROC UP RALPH is a hardy soul who the Clotworthy's put over the sticks and he did well to win over 3100m off the back of a close up 2nd over 1560m at Rotorua in early July. Finished 3rd at Matamata in June and the ROC DE CAMBES gelding is as solid as the day is long as a strong staying type. A consistent horse, the gelding is often just in behind the finishers in endurance contests and covering E/W can pay off. The husband and wife training team appear to have him in the best possible condition and he could be worth following in here over this trip. His future may be a hurdler, but still a handy flat performer.

☆☆

RATING 75 BENCHMARK

RACE 6 - 1600m

INDIAN GOLD / TISSE / SHAWSHANK

They way in which INDIAN GOLD won last start for Allan Sharrock, it will be difficult to bet against him on their home course. Draw may not be ideal and the OCEAN PARK gelding does seem to have an issue leaving BM65 grade, but he is an Uber consistent type who deserves another win. Ran 2nd here 12 months ago, then resumed with a tidy 2nd to LOTUS over 1300m at Te Rapa and a 3rd there over the mile. Returned to the Waikato and came home well over 1600m to finish 2nd again. Doesn't need to improve much and time to recover from that effort. Up in grade but down in weight and can cope.

☆☆☆☆

The other Sharrock runner TISSE is likely to be better suited to the Heavy track being by the wet specialist sire BELARDO. The four-year-old mare won over 1600m here at Hawera last October, then played up a bit and failed to produce her best work, racing greenly and going off stride. Slow resuming over 1300m at Trentham before improving wider to run 2nd to SOTIRIO. Game finish for 2nd at Te Rapa over 2100m and the step back in trip shouldn't be an issue with a sound mile record and the 3kg claim a bonus.

☆☆☆

SHAWSHANK has really stepped it up since July with a number of strong performances. The EL ROCA gelding has been a consistent sort who was very prominent when 2nd at Woodville over the mile, then 3rd at Waverley, before winning at Hawera in August with a strong front-running display. Trainer Kevin Myers has mainly run him on his home track. Brave finish to win coming back to the 1400m at Woodville before a nice 2nd to LIQUID LES last weekend. Backs up here for Kevin Myers, then just has to be a threat going up to the 1600m.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 2000m

SANDY LANE / OUR LADY BROOKE / KEEN ON BUBBLES

Craig Lupton brings SANDY LANE up from Waverley, and we do rate this ZED mare highly. Won at New Plymouth over the mile June 2024, then not far away with two fifth placings resuming in May after a long spell. Urged and ran on well when 2nd to FREEBELLE over 1600m at Trentham in super tough conditions, then ran on late at Waverley after being slow away and up to the 2000m at New Plymouth. Only needs to jump with them to feature over this trip, and the key may be the extra distance if they are running on late in the day. Strong type out of a RIP VAN WINKLE mare who can win with a clever steer from Joe Doyle.

☆☆☆☆

OUR LADY BROOKE does appear well-positioned here and recent form suggests another win is on the cards. The six-year-old DERRYN mare trained by the Thurlow/O'Malley team is out of a tough racemare in THE ALCHEMIST (Lucky Unicorn) and is bred to handle the Heavy. She was brave when 3rd to FREEBELLE in challenging conditions at Trentham before offering a big finish to win easily at Hawera over 2100m. Settled back then urged closer, winding up 2nd over the same trip at Otaki, 2nd at New Plymouth and 2nd at Wanganui. That form is good enough for this and will eventually knock another one off.

☆☆☆

With the Ashley Strawbridge 4kg claim, KEEN ON BUBBLES looks in a strong position to feature over the 2000m. The KEANO mare can be fully hit and miss, although his last run for 3rd when checked was fairly promising. Beat home KING KHAN over 2000m at Taranaki in June and led to the turn with plenty in hand. Heavy 10 at Trentham and Hawera didn't suit too much and the John Wheeler trained gelding may enjoy running handy on a more stable track surface. 2nd-up after a good blowout seems to be his thing, so keep safe as a possible placegetter.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1400m

WAR QUEEN / LADY PERFORMER / STEWART

The performance of WAR QUEEN in his previous race over 1200 metres is noteworthy, particularly considering the late surge to finish fifth at Te Rapa racing in strong company. The PROISIR mare was nice late winning on debut over 1200m at Hawera, then finished on for a strong 4th behind MA TE WA and CYPRESS over 1340m at Wanganui. She is out of a very powerful racemare in PASSCHENDAELE (Montjeu) who won a Waikato Gold Cup and placed twice at Group 1 level. She should get better over more distance, so expect a top run here.

☆☆☆☆☆

The way LADY PERFORMER came home from the rear last start you'd have say she can give this a real shove with the right trip. We tried grabbing LADY PERFORMER at big odds a few runs back and the mare charged home to run 2nd to KNOCK OFF over 1340m at Wanganui. The SACRED FALLS seven-year-old had been quietly building, with a third there and a battling run behind HORONUKU at Hawera, but getting through the winter tracks with some confidence. Got up to win with a big finish over 1400m at Hawera before a 3rd at Otaki over the same distance. Trainer Lydia Pickford has managed his campaign extremely well to bring out the best in the underrated mare. Hard fit and may not be quite done with yet.

☆☆☆

STEWART performed well throughout the winter with a 2nd over 1400m at Te Rapa, before challenging hard with a tough effort to prevail over 1200m at Hawera. The DARCI BRAHMA gelding trained by Gavin Sharrock at Stratford then finished runner-up at Otaki after being urged along on the turn. Came back to the Waikato and experienced a nice run through the middle to finish 2nd to JETHRO TULL. Battled hard last start after being a bit too keen, but he is a tough competitior on his day and could bounce back here with an improved run.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 3 - 990m DASH

FANCYPANTS / JELLY ROLL / SUPER DALIO

Bryce Revell took FANCYPANTS on a road trip to Ellerslie, and the ECHOES OF HEAVEN gelding didn't disgrace himself when finishing 3rd over 1200m. Won easily here at Otaki in June last year then went on to win again over 1200m at New Plymouth, cementing himself as a up-and-coming CD sprinting star. 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. Forget the weight and just hope he can get into it late with a strong surge nearing the line.

☆☆☆☆

JELLY ROLL is a fascinating character with the weird name by the sire SWISS ACE, and the way in which the gelding won at Rotorua on Heavy 10 suggests he's in with a shot here. Came home late for 4th at Matamata on debut, then Arawa Park in the next before offering up a mighty finish to win there over 1230m. The Sam Logan trained four-year-old then failed to let down in the BM65 Seeka Cup (1400m) returning to Rotorua once again. May run home late and get into the fight coming back in trip and we're not discounting this fella at all in the wet. Has the ability to upset.

☆☆☆

SUPER DALIO goes fairly quick and will likely streak to a lead from this wide draw and try to stretch them early. The 7YO SWISS ACE gelding has only a single win to his name, but worked to the lead over 1200m at Te Rapa in April and has enough in reserve to just hold on. Trainer Ceton Pool has made plenty of trips away with this boy and he seems to go ok on Good - Heavy tracks. Gains the 4kg claim with young Strawbridge in the saddle and she will look to shoot out of the gates and try to balance him up once turning in. Place ot TOP4 is possible at big odds.

☆☆

NZB READY TO RUN 3YO

RACE 1 - 1200m 3YO

QUONDO / SPANDEEDO / LUMINANCE

Few good three-year-olds starting in the opener and we've been waiting for the Andrew Forsman trained QUONDO to debut. Forsman rates the WOOTTON BASSETT gelding, being out of a SEBRING mare in LAZUMBA who finished 2nd in the Gr.2 VRC Sires in a short career. QUONDO picked up very strongly to win an 800m jumpout at Pukekohe in April and them warmed up nicely when 3rd at Te Rapa in a 900m trial. Moved very smoothly to the eye and could play a major role in the spring features if able to get away with a dominant finish here.

☆☆☆☆

Gavin Sharrock will run the stylish SPANDEEDO, 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 and the stable would like to see less exuberance. 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. 4th in the Ryder but stopped quickly and right in this.

☆☆☆

The Kurtis Pertab trained LUMINANCE has been unpredictable but shown glimpses of ability. Quite a few runs as a two-year-old this year, taking on some good juveniles without exhibiting too much. After two Listed events, the TIME TEST filly won on a Heavy 10 at Trentham against the older horses, then given a short let-up. One strong trial before a strong 2nd behind PLATINUM DIAMOND in the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki which was highly admirable. No chance in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders at Ruakaka, however getting better and stronger with more racing.

☆☆

BEST BET: WAR QUEEN

NEXT BEST: INDIAN GOLD

BEST VALUE: SANDY LANE

WILDCARD: JESKO