Form analyst Jason Teaz gives a detail race-to-race preview of Cambridge tonight.
Race 1
3 Jimmy Richter
1 Mighty Monica
5 Prodigal Pete
4 Chalberg
In a race where the 2700m will be the biggest test for these.
JIMMY RICHTER has at least won over the distance previously. He has just been adequate since moving north but this is his softest assignment so far and the combination of Poutama and Phelan have been an unstoppable force.
MIGHTY MONICA was supposed to just lead and win January 28 but she just stopped a lap from home, maybe she couldn’t handle the task but has barrier one today and she will surely try and hold up early. A chance obviously but you would have to be gun shy.
PRODIGAL PETE has shown good gate speed but very little else in his two northern runs. This sort of race is what he was brought for though. Only query is the 2700m.
CHALBERG produced excellent sectionals in defeat last Saturday. He was also unlucky when having to switch ground multiple times late January 28 over the 2700m. A big chance of winning.
Race 2
10 Mackali
9 Demolition Man
13 Battle Commander
8 Majestic Harry
MACKALI has been in very consistent form in this grade for a long time now. She’s a fast beginner so the second line draw is a negative but can rough it. Top pick.
DEMOLITION MAN has upgraded but normality resumed last time when running his twelfth second. Another one inconvenienced by the second line draw but will still be hard to beat.
BATTLE COMMANDER had some bad luck in the Cambridge cup last Saturday. He stood on the mark and became a sitting duck for trouble and he well and truly found it. The fifth when beaten nine lengths by She Reigns the week before was a terrific form line for this.
MAJESTIC HARRY comes in slightly fresh tonight after having a virus. Still performed well given how sick he was last time and he is another who hasn’t been out of the first five in an age. Steps quickly as a rule to offset the wide draw.
MANCHESTER’S ECLIPSE is never too far away but still a bit of a risk with the manners. The fourth on January 21 was one of her best stand start efforts.
SAFRAKOVA is a six race winner and has banked nearly $100,000 in her career. She has found form again with her latest effort being a third last Friday at Auckland. Should lead them a merry chase.
Race 3
1 Satchmo
2 Hooray Henry
4 Ideal Prince
7 New Frontier
SATCHMO got caught three back on the markers from this draw on Saturday and never really got out. Would be a shame to waste another ace draw and must go close here.
HOORAY HENRY was massive on debut. One of the fastest last half and quarters out of that race. Had barrier one in his qualifier and showed no gate speed. But should settle handy enough to win if he backs up.
IDEAL PRINCE had no luck from a wide draw on Saturday. Not many in here can sit parked and get money, so is an each way hope.
NEW FRONTIER has changed stables to James Stormont, he’s had him six weeks. He has had no trials and by all reports the work has been patchy. A talented horse who has been a real disappointment but give him a chance on the change of scenery although he returns to a track he doesn’t like.
ALTA CASSINO won a qualifier here nicely beating Outlaw Man but has shown very little as a maiden, his last trial was woeful. Sure to be short in the market but whether he can front up today remains to be seen.
Race 4
9 Delson
1 The Last Gamble
8 Molly Bones
7 Our Gracie
DELSON hasn’t won over the 2200m yet but most of his starts over this trip he has started off long marks. 30m will not be an easy assignment but it’s a small field. His third in the Cambridge cup was good enough to suggest he can win this.
THE LAST GAMBLE was outclassed in the Breeders Stakes. She did underperform but the 3:26 may have sorted her out too, Stepping well for Luke Whittaker and can place.
MOLLY BONES had only one quiet workout in the eleven months away from the race so was in a desperate need of the run in the Breeders Stakes. Again being off 30 over the 2200m is a hard ask but she is a class mare.
OUR GRACIE’s effort on Saturday was much improved and she will relish being only 20m behind after her form lapsed starting off ridiculous marks at Manawatu.
AS FREE AS AIR is a hard horse to follow, found a purple patch of form in early January but has resorted to old tricks of late. Wasn’t all her fault on Saturday but the 2200m is not a start point you do things wrong at.
Race 5
1 Shanlou
7 Claudia Schiffer
8 Mary Robyn
3 Nyla
SHANLOU has the draw to break maidens tonight. Gets off the gate well enough to dominate these. Sat in the trail and ran second two starts ago and fought hard. Only one danger.
That is, CLAUDIA SCHIFFER. Broke the clock when going back off barrier eight and following them round. Barrier seven isn’t much better but she is a nice filly. Bolted in when winning her qualifier and is a maiden winner at short notice.
MARY ROBYN continues to disappoint, and gets another rotten draw. Place chances look best.
NYLA gets her best draw in an age but is drawn outside of two horses with good gate speed, should get a good enough run to finish in the top four.
SIX TIMES A LADY had every possible last Saturday. Getting the lead and running along like she likes to do at the workouts and she still folded up. May have gone too hard. Sure to use the draw again.
Race 6
6 Pull The Other Leg
1 Show Me Heaven
3 Rough And Ready
4 Weren’t Watching
PULL THE OTHER LEG improved a heap off his January 28 second with a huge win in the Futurity last Saturday. Home in 57 wide on the track again. A big ask having his third start in two weeks but he’s the best horse at the meeting tonight.
SHOW ME HEAVEN loves a lead and should have that from barrier one. Her two Cambridge runs are hard to ignore. A 1:57 mile win on Xmas eve then a run down second to Hezacrocwatcher on January 14. Her last start run was run in a Nevele R fillies heat.
ROUGH AND READY galloped out of the Cambridge cup on Saturday. He’s a go forward horse but the lead won’t be easy to get tonight. Mobile is the key.
WEREN’T WATCHING broke the clock last week, drew eight in the futurity and had no hope of getting into it. Should get a better run tonight. The roughie.
J BEE was a spring revelation before getting sick over the new year period. In a tough spot in the ratings but can surprise also.
OHOKA ACHILLES’ form has tapered off but his efforts have not. Consistently running fast sectionals off long handicaps and bad draws. Another preferential draw eight for his trouble tonight.
SPIRIT OF ANZAC hikes up significantly in class tonight. But he was extremely unlucky. May have won had he got out. Back to his best but this will test him. Gives the Berger stable a good second stringer.
Race 7
9 Ruby Mach
2 Lynton Creek
8 Betterbebetter
4 Fleeting Grin
Plenty of winners will come out of the Futurity last Saturday. RUBY MACH has improved markedly of late. Has a sticky draw from one on the second row. But she must be hard to stop.
LYNTON CREEK lost his form on the grass but he wasn’t right. A better run in harder company at Auckland last week. Can surprise as last time he was here he won well.
BETTERBEBETTER has high gate speed but so does a few inside her. Only beaten two lengths on Saturday in a harder race.
FLEETING GRIN just battled from the trail in the Dixie Reign race on Saturday. Didn’t get taken into the passing lane by the leader with enough momentum and he just grinded. If he can lead here don’t expect him to hand up this time.
JACCKA LUCAS ran on fairly albeit a well beaten third on Saturday. A place chance.
One more chance for ROMANEE. Mysteriously showed no gate speed from barrier two on Saturday. Way better than that.
Race 8
1 Hezashadowplaya
5 Eighteen Carat
6 Pott Luck
2 Express Play
HEZASHADOWPLAYA had a rough Xmas. Back problems and then a bad virus stopped him in his tracks. Returns tonight and remember he was good enough to lead all the way in 2:40 when winning his maiden from this draw. Highest rated horse a long way down where he should be.
EIGHTEEN CARAT never got warm on Saturday. That was puzzling, give another chance to atone. Has won three races.
POTT LUCK has down nothing in her two runs this campaign. Had trialled well in preparation. Won’t get a better chance to find form.
EXPRESS PLAY surprisingly got crossed from barrier one on January 14 and in a weird race never saw daylight. Could end up in the trail and has a hope on that.
THE PEACEMAKER drops back majorly from the futurity and prior form was excellent. Include on an each way basis.
Best Bet: Race 6 (6) Pull The Other Leg
Each Way Value: Race 2 (13) Battle Commander
