OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 6 - 2000m

BRIDAL TRAIN / STEAL MY THUNDER / SUNSET BOULEVARD

Some serious intent here with Allan Sharrock employing the young apprentice Toni Davis claiming 2kg for his fine mare BRIDAL TRAIN who has been running exceptionally well and looms as a major threat at home. The US NAVY FLAG mare won impressively over 1600m at Otaki on Boxing Day, followed by a 3rd in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) back in familiar surroundings. Hit the line hard for 2nd back to the mile at the latest at Oraki and sure to be in firm condition to face this field up to a trip the mare has never attempted. Solid chance.

We don't feel STEAL MY THUNDER is completely out of this contest despite the odds and the Thurlow/O'Malley combo have been working away to bring out the best in this grey DERRYN mare. Won down at Riccarton in November, then solid finishing 3rd to ROSSO over the 2600m there three days later. Resumed with a 5th at New Plymouth and 6th at Waipuk, but both on unsuitable Heavy tracks. Has won 3 from 5 on a Good surface and can be competitive on a firm deck. Jasmine aboard, so worth some thought.

Kevin Myers has SUNSET BOULEVARD in who is coming off a super strong victory at Trentham last Sunday and raced wide without cover before going forward at the 1600m. Two super wins down at Riccarton over Cup week, then took out the Greymouth cup, so has returned from a short break in top order. Can get one over stablemate BOZO, but this is a tight track and the draw is awkward. He will appreciate a hard track and can take rhis out with the right run. 3kg claim with Floor aboard and Myers wouldn't be backing him up unless he believed the gelding can win again.

OPEN HANDICAP
RACE 2 - 1200m

BASEL WARRIOR / CLEAT / WHEN STARS ALIGN

BASEL WARRIOR is an interesting runner who has looked tremendous in his last few runs. The SWISS ACE gelding settled well back over 1400m at Te Rapa before chasing hard out wide for an impressive victory, before just holding on to win over 1340m at Wanganui despite blundering the start. Whatever Jim Collett has done with this gelding seems to be working, although he did show a fair bit of potential as a three-year-old. This is another good test of ability, but if able to settle into his work early, then could be the one flying up to the line late.

CLEAT can be an unpredictable sprinter, although at times throws down a massive effort when peaked in the right condition. The RIOS gelding trained by Danica Gut is now a rising eight-year-old, but won at Wanganui in August when last seen despite suffering in episode of Epistaxis. Won at Matamata 12 months ago, then 2nd there and at New Plymouth in May, before two easy wins at Te Rapa and Tauranga. Ok fresh up type, but a small field and these odds are fair if prepped forward enough.

Impossible to rule out the Te Akau runner WHEN STARS ALIGN who comes down here looking for an easy win and the 2kg claim with Hassman aboard suggests they're not just across here for a pleasant road trip. Won at Tauranga in November, then again there over 1200m in January beating a good one home. Fought on for 5th last start at Te Rapa in a strong field and at the weights does look the one. Be surprised if the ZOUSTAR gelding isn't right there on the line when the whips are cracking.


BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP
RACE 7 - 1400m

SIXTH GENERATION / TRUCE / BEAUESK

Jim Collett is looking to back up his PER INCANTO gelding SIXTH GENERATION after being held up and running on late behind THOOZA at Matamata last week. Strong winning over 1400m at Rotorua in November, then 3rd there up to the 1950m. Bit tougher the next two before flying home wide out to claim victory over 1400m at Waverley in January, and not terrible last week when hindered on the turn. Gains a 3kg claim here with the sharp young Floor Moerman up from the South, and we believe he looks very well-placed by the stable.

TRUCE is a powerful gelding from the Sharrock yard  who should be closing in on some useful form. Ran on wide out last start over 1400m at Hawera after resuming here at New Plymouth on a Heavy track, although a little bit of give would be beneficial for the US NAVY FLAG gelding. Really impressive this time last year, so don't be surprised if he throws down a massive effort on his home course this time in. Tidy odds and probably the best Each-way bet.

BEAUESK shouldn't be underestimated after carving out a tidy record in only seven raceday starts for Robbie Patterson. The CHARM SPIRIT gelding won here in late December, then fought on for 2nd behind WIRE ROPE a month later. Raced keenly in the middle stages and ran on well when 2nd here over 1400m last start and wouldn't need to improve much to be winning at home. Tricky field overall but possesses the right attitude to feature late.

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP
RACE 5 - 2000m

IVY'S DANCER / SIR BRUCE / BRUNO

IVY'S DANCER is a strong CONTRIBUTER mare from the Wexford Stable who started this prep well with a 3rd at Te Aroha before a game finish to win her maiden over 1400m at Tauranga. No finish in a strong field at Ellerslie littered with Derby hopefuls, then doing her best work late over 1800m at Taupo. Couldn't find any clear room in the straight, so potentially better positioned here with the 2kg claim to run s big race up to the 2000m.

SIR BRUCE will need to lug around the full load of 60kg, but you can't knock his level of consistency and impossible to underestimate coming out of the strong Robbie Patterson barn. Finished 2nd here over the trip in December, then 4th after losing ground early at Trentham. Much better last start after settling last, but getting close when 2nd over 2100m in Wellington and sure to be as fit as a fiddle to face this field.

The team Keegan trained BRUNO has taken a while to get going, although it seems the stable now have the DARCI BRAHMA gelding humming along from a 4th at New Plymouth in November. Finished 2nd there over 1600m before a break, then resumed with a nice finish to win over 2000m on the track and he should be just as strong making the short trip up from Stratford once again. Jim Chung claims a kilo, should land in a nice spot from this gate and the track/trip record suggests he only runs well.


BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP
RACE 8 - 1400m

SATTRIYA / ROARING BEBE / SUNSHINE ALE

Alan Sharrock trains the beautifully bred SATTRIYA, a four-year-old SUPER SETH mare from the fine racemare RASA LILA (Darci Brahma). Only three runs to speak of, all on her home course of New Plymouth, with a 2nd on debut before a 3rd to OH MAIMAI over 1400m. Finished best over the same trip to break her maiden on a Heavy 9, but this improved track should suit better for the Peter Vela owned mare. Bit wider now, so possibly tough to roll from this gate.

ROARING BEBE has returned in really good shape for the Foote team and has to be a serious contender here coming off a win over 1200m at Waipikurau where he was just too tough in the end. Resumed with s solid 2nd behind the slick MISS JONES at Ellerslie in December and that was a challenging contest to try and break your maiden on. The PER INCANTO gelding appears the biggest threat to the favourite and can go on with it.

SUNSHINE ALE is a sound TELPERION mare who is improving with more racing and put in some fine trackwork on Tuesday, which points towards a strong showing in the last. The Lowry/Zydenbos trained mare defeated LANTERN WAY over 1400m at Waipuk in November, then unsuited by the Heavy track conditions resuming there a month ago. Looks to have trained on well and better suited at this trip.

BEST BET: SIXTH GENERATION

NEXT BEST: BRIDAL TRAIN

BEST VALUE: IVY'S DANCER

WILDCARD: STEAL MY THUNDER