Commentator Matt Cross goes race to race at Addington Raceway tonight.
Race 1 – Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic Prelude – 5.08pm.
Gone Surfin lines up off barrier one, first up since the start of June when she won the G3 Helen Pope Fillies Classic at Ashburton. She’s had two trials, her latest one she was neutral off the gate, worked forward, led, and held on by 2 1/4L with a gap of 6 1/4L back to third. She ran home in 55.8 & 27.7. She looks ready to win here, and the market suggests that opening her at $1.45. Spicey Crunch drawn two looks a bit stronger this time in going off her latest trial where she got home well to finish fourth behind Allets who came out on Sunday at Ashburton and won in a 1:56-mile rate. She should get a great run from there. Elektra King looks a solid place hope and will be improved with her third on Sunday.
Selections : 1-2-4-6
Race 2 – John Jones Steel Mobile Trot – 5.36pm
I’m looking forward to the resumption of Princess Sadie here. She showed great talent through her last preparation, and this looks a great race to kick things off. The trip to Auckland during the Autumn was a great learning curve for her where she picked up a couple of placings in behind one of the benchmark three-year-olds, Paramount Kiwi. Not sure how she trialled as we don’t have the video of it but in Matthew Williamson we trust here. The River Boy is well placed after getting a penalty free win at Gore last start and is a four-race winner. Look To Da Stars has showed a lot of talent at times but can also do things wrong. I give him a pass mark for his latest trial where he led up but was easily run down. Hopefully he’s improved off that and from the All-Stars Stable is a must respect. Fear And Faith also looks to have plenty of upside, she wasn’t pushed in her latest trial with the pacers.
Selections : 6-2-7-8
Race 3 – Christ The Redeemer Catholic Parish Mobile Pace – 6.11pm.
Bettors Anvil looks the one to beat here even with the outside draw. His form is excellent. Second on debut to Got The Chocolates. He then beat Marketplace who went on to win the Saplings Stakes, he followed that win with a fourth in the Group 1 Diamond Creek Farm Classic. His trial on August 28 couldn’t have been any better, he will take stopping for sure. Bronson has come back in great order and used his gate speed last start. With race day fitness on his side he looks a danger. Renegade draws the inside second row but he’s another with exceptional form. Just needs some luck from there. I’m Rockin is also a top three hope after his win last time. He also moves off the unruly which will help.
Selections : 9-8-10-6
Race 4 – Thermo King Mobile Pace – 6.48pm
A tidy intermediate field headed up by Harrison John off the pole. He’s got gate speed to use the draw so should settle just off the speed and prove hard to hold off. He ran home in 56.8 to win his only trial to prepare for this. Looks ready. Xlendi is a big brute who will no doubt derive benefit for his fresh up third, he can probably make his own luck too. Laver drops back in class and meets a few of these better off under mobile conditions after giving them a head start off 25m last time. Respect Helium off a good draw and Justcallmemiki should be running on late.
Selections : 1-8-9-2
Race 5 – The Hickman Family Ordeal Trotting Cup Handicap Trot – 7.15pm
A great opportunity for the up and comers here with some of the top seed trotters still at home in their box. Mr Love has been racing well and I thought his opening price of $14 was a touch of overs. He comes in fifteen metres better off than Tectonic from when they last met. Mr Love was good late there and I think off even marks with the times he can run around Addington he can play a major role at good odds. Mighty Logan returned in great order with his first up win defeating Sunny’s Sister. He will need to be on the ball early from the stand, if he is he can win. Sunny’s Sister just got outsprinted by Mighty Logan last time, it was a walk-sprint race. With more tempo on she’s right in it. Gold Bullion has the Half Hopples added to his gear, his closing sectionals behind the Diamond Racing pair last time were promising. Tectonic and many others deserve respect too. But at the right price Mr Love would have to be an each way play.
Selections : 5-3-13-4
Race 6 – Ark Financial Group Mobile Pace – 7.40pm
Party Central fresh up looks the one to beat. He blasted off the gate in his only trial to prepare where he was beaten by Gone Surfin who is $1.45 fav to win the first race here. I expect Blair Orange will get him into the race early and he looks to get every possible chance to win. Carlin ran a cracking race on debut in a good field, don’t discount him. Sacetas comes from the same race, he looks to be improving with each run and Art Jordan has the inside draw. Luckless last week if he can hold up and trail then he’s a lock in for top three and four bets.
Selections : 4-6-7-1
Race 7 – Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup – 8.05pm
I think if the bookies could have their time again they wouldn’t have opened Ohoka Connor at $6. That was an early Christmas present for some. He gets in 10m better off than every horse other than BD Joe from the Maurice Holmes Vase. He finished fifth there. Bear in mind that he started off 10 metres and the first four in running at the mile were the first four home. Now there is still an element of risk around him stepping away but if he does, he could quite easily give them windburn. BD Joe will be improved off his run last start and is a top liner on his best day. Sherlock looks to have come up well this preparation. He did bobble away in his stand start trial which he won’t get away with here. He does look very forward though. Early manners from Charlie Brown and Dalton Shard bring them into play as place chances too.
Selections : 3-5-8-4
Race 8 – Nevele R Fillies Series No 46 Heat 2 Mobile Pace – 8.35pm
Queen Of Swords returns fresh after putting her hand up at a good level in Auckland through the autumn in some good races. I don’t think anything can beat her off the gate here if John Dunn sends her forward at the start. Her trial was good, and being a Neville R Fillies heat there won’t be any doubt she will be in the race at some stage. Melody Banner was brave after working early last time, she must go forward again with some roughies drawn inside her. Had Treacherous Baby drawn the front line she is the horse to beat. She could still be, but the draw means she’s going to have to wait or get around them. She can still win it but maybe today Queen Of Swords is the better bet. Look out for Shakira and Happy Harper late if the tempo is on.
Selections : 9-6-13-12
Race 9 – Maia Health Foundation Handicap Trot – 9.00pm
This one is tough. I can find so many positives about a lot of horses in this field. I’ve ended up landing with Aroha Kenny. She comes to hand quickly and her form from last prep is right up there with some of the best intermediate form going around. A Fine Patrick can win he just needs to find his feet a bit better early. Tyron Eros was rough early and rough late fresh up so he may need to sort that out to be winning, if he does trot squarely then he could dominate even off ten metres. High Step is an honest filly, and she looked good at the trials. Zoltan Boscik will find is slightly harder with some of these meeting him a lot better under the handicaps. He’s a player, he’ll just have to work for it. Royal Del off the front is going super, he is worth a place bet.
Selections : 7-4-12-8
Race 10 – The Hickman Family and Catholic Cathedral Parish Mobile Pace – 9.24pm
Miki’s Courage drawn one looks the best of the night for me. He won’t have to go around a horse, he’s got gate speed, and he’s trialled brilliantly. Looking at the fields he raced through his last prep this looks right within his range. Dangers include stablemate Dave Duley who trialled up nicely, Jack Tar can tough it out too. Glengarry Moonlight may go forward, he’s dropping back in grade too.
Selections : 1-4-2-7
Best Bet R10: Miki’s Courage
Value Bet R5: Mr Love
