OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 9 - 1500m

BELLE TRIBUTE / BENEFACTOR / ENRICO

We have a strong admiration for the mare BELLE TRIBUTE, who was extra tough in winning over 1400m on her home course last start. On pace and ran out a strong mile to win at Wanganui in February and with 6 wins from 16 starts looks a touch better than a few of these gallopers. The four-year-old CONTRIBUTER mare is a versatile type, able to settle forward or back and drops 2.5kg on that on New Plymouth victory. With Myers aboard a repeat is on the cards.

☆☆☆☆☆

BENEFACTOR is a strong contributor mare who has the potential to perform well unexpectedly, despite her less-than-impressive record on the Trentham course. Nevertheless, Lisa Latta has more work into her and she did win easily over the mile at Otaki last June. Has been unpredictable since then and tends to jump away slowly, so some faith is required, although could be running on late from this soft inside draw.

☆☆☆

ENRICO has been handled well by trainer Ilone Kelly with evenly spaced racing proving effective. Finished 3rd in the Gr.3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) here in January before fighting hard for 2nd in the Taranaki Cup. Produced a game finish to win at Matamata over 1600m followed by a 3rd place running on at Otaki, but failed to keep straight over the final stretch. Handles the big weight then in with a chance.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 1200m

SINBIN / IMA BRAZEN ONE / TURN THE ACE

The DERRYN mare SINBIN appears well-placed to feature in the Open sprint and coming off a solid 4th running on late at Otaki she can go one better here. Impressive record over the trip and the Robbie Patterson mare does go extra well on the Trentham course. Last win was in Wellington last June, and although fresh up is normally her go, she likely needed that first hitout.

☆☆☆☆

IMA BRAZEN ONE did nothing first up but was much improved finishing 2nd behind SINDEE at Otaki in April. Set the pace and kicked strongly to win over 1200m at Otaki last start and Mike Breslin seems to have her in fine sprinting condition. One win here at Trentham, although down the chute should suit the BRAZEN BEAU mare and she is possibly try to stretch them on reaching the dog leg bend.

☆☆☆

It feels like TURN THE ACE has been around a fair while and the seven-year-old TURN ME LOOSE gelding has knocked out 9 wins in 33 starts which isn't a bad effort. Definitely prefers some give in the track and with a sound fresh up record he may be ready to fire after a nice 1000m Foxton trial win in May. Good move by Suzy Gordon to employ the 2kg claim, so not entirely ouf of this and should be among the early rush.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP

RACE 10 - 1400m

KOMOCEAN / KOSTA / MR JAY EIGHT

Lightly raced, but this gelding KOMOCEAN does have some quality about him and we can't see why he won't measure up. Won like a good horse at Taranaki in December before missing the jump in the next two and that seems to be his biggest issue and one that concerns trainer Allan Sharrock. Slow away last start and hampered at the 800m before being held up at the 200m, alrhough eventually the OCEAN PARK gelding is going to get it right and it could be here.

☆☆☆☆

KOSTA is not too dissimilar in that this WAR DECREE gelding can certainly pack a punch when the mood strikes him, but that doesn't seem to happen frequently enough. Fought hard for 3rd behind ANDERSON BRIDGE over the mile at Trentham and then lost traction momentarily short of the post when 2nd to LUCULLAN at Tauherenikau. Couldn't find a gap on the Awapuni poly last start but was doing his best work late.

☆☆☆

We do believe MR JAY EIGHT looks the upset horse with Jimmy Chung aboard and this PER INCANTO gelding is very good on his day. Ran some nice races late in 2025 but just couldn’t get across the line first as he tends to jump on the bunny fast before weakened out that last bit. Fairly sound resuming at Waverley and if able to press on early over the 1400m, may be in a position to hug the rail in an attempt to fight them all off.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1500m

MR MARIGOLD / DUBAI'S POTIKI / POSSESS

We quite fancy these odds on the Olivia Duffy trained SPIETH gelding MR MARIGOLD, who has produced some nice runs in the past and looks a decent E/W prospect. Moderate form in Australia before starting in NZ 12 months back with placings at Ellerslie twice and Tauranga. Won over 1200m at Te Rapa with a brave effort after being trapped wide throughout, and then defeated TOP SHELF at Tauranga in Oct. Ran on fresh up when 3rd at Otaki and ran onto heels at Waverley, but could be ready to fire. Looks a great bet.

☆☆☆☆

DUBAI'S POTIKI did look very promising early in his career as a consistent type and has returning in top shape for Chrissy Bambry. This OCEAN PARK four-year-old was close up multiple times and finished 2nd to KIWI SKYHAWK in the Manawatu Classic (2100m) here in Wellington back in March 2025. Finally won one with an easy victory at Otaki in Sept last year and resumed with a 1600m Woodville win in fine fashion. Has the ability to repeat and he just has to be considered.

☆☆☆

The Myers runner POSSESS has come across as a good horse at times but doesn't always put his best foot forward. A PIERATA gelding with Irish influence in the pedigree, he won down at Greymouth in January over 1500m, and then challenged hard from the turn coming wide to finish into 3rd at Otaki behind the good Marsh stayer, THE EXPONENT. Has been freshened since then with one trial, and although a bit unpredictable, a bold first up performance wouldn't surprise.

☆☆

MANAWATU HURDLES

RACE 3 - 2500m

DICTATION / BILLY BOY / SO CALL ME

Loved the way in which the Nelson/McDougal trained gelding DICTATION took apart a good field in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m), and the TAVISTOCK seven-year-old jumped perfectly to street then by nearly 5L at the post. Defeated JESKO over 3100m at Te Aroha, before winning over 2500m at Hastings. Continued to jump well in the latter part of the campaign back up North before taking out the SYDENHAM in dominant style.

☆☆☆☆

BILLY BOY is a fine hurdler who came out and won this race twelve months ago before taking out the Wellington Hurdles (3200m) and despite misjudging the last jump at Te Aroha, made it three-in-a-row as a new star over the sticks. Didn't handle the testing track in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle and restored before the last jump, although two out of three runs back on the flat have been excellent which points towards a winning proposition back jumping.

☆☆☆

Trainer Kevin Myers looks to have the right amount of work into SO CALL ME to suggest this SWEYNESSE gelding can get into the finish as a progressive jumper likely to play a big role over the sticks this campaign. Never a star on the flat, he won his hurdling debut a year back, then went back onto the flat throughout the spring. Ran on over 2100m in April followed by a 3rd at Woodville over 3000m getting back to the hurdles. Fought on over 2200m at Otaki last start and may be good to go here.

☆☆

MANAWATU STEEPLECHASE

RACE 5 - 4000m

NEVER LOOK BACK / NEDWIN / BRUCIE

NEVER LOOK BACK won the Wanganui Open Hurdles for Gail Temperton in May and has more then enough work in the legs to be winning thix with the 4.5kg pull on the topweight. The seven-year-old SHOCKING gelding won his hurdles maiden 12 months back and claimed the Hawkes Bay Hurdles, but it was a learning curve, so he should be much wiser this year and has some grunt on the flat. This trip should suit well with Farr in the saddle

☆☆☆☆

The old warhorse NEDWIN returns over the sticks and fell in the Great NZ Steeplechase when last seen over the jumps, which wasn't the most ideal way to finish the season. But he is a champ who won the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and is triple Wellington Hurdles winner. Naturally lumbered with the big weight, although a clean jumper who knows how to preserve energy and the Nelson/McDougal team will have him fit enough we imagine. Hard to bet against even as an 11yo.

☆☆☆

BRUCIE fought on behind FORTY EIGHT at Wanganui in his first run back for trainer Raymond Connors and will only improve with anything he does here. By the classic jumps sire, RAISE THE FLAG, the now ten-year-old finished 2nd to VERRY FLASH over 3900m In Sept, then 3rd to THE BAMBINO back over the hurdles. Misjudged a jump at Te Aroha to finish the campaign, although potentially better suited to the Steeplechase role this prep and a strong jumping display is possible.

☆☆

BEST BET: KOMOCEAN

NEXT BEST: BILLY BOY

BEST VALUE: KOSTA

WILDCARD: WHAT A CHARMA