Form analyst Jason Teaz looks at tonight’s card at Alexandra Park featuring the three Uncut Gems races. First race at 5.34pm.
Race 1
13 Heston Hall
14 Superfast Ninja
9 Saint Michel
15 Aldebaran Flame
In a very tricky race to open the night, HESTON HALL stands out. Excellent two starts ago when second behind Liaison then had a late gallop in a far, far stronger field than this May 28. Has since finished second behind Temporale on a 27 last quarter at the workouts. A tough draw but hard to beat.
SUPERFAST NINJA upset them last time but to be fair probably paid overs. The only penalty she has received is the second line draw but in good touch right now.
SAINT MICHEL has been permanently in the black book lately. After the uncharacteristic early gallop June 4, he got lost at the back of the pack and couldn’t find a way out. Racing very well and is an each way chance.
ALDEBARAN FLAME enjoyed the 2700m last time as it gave her plenty of time to settle down. The 2200m and a big field isn’t ideal but is one of the best in this field. Can’t be discounted.
TRIXTON TIME didn’t enjoy facing the breeze June 4, but with a better trip can win this. One of the few leading chances on the front line.
WANNA SNUGGLE will be one of the shortest commodities in the race but has been trialing averagely and winning this would be a surprise.
HILL OF PEACE has blown to bits in both races this campaign and must have ability but has no manners. Will trot one day though.
Race 2
8 Marathon Man
12 Murphy’s Reward
6 Bettor Listen
13 John Wayne
MARATHON MAN was savaged in front when here May 28 but did remarkably well to hold third. Got the penalty free win he wanted June 11 at Cambridge after getting a dream trip. Barrier eight is no picnic but this isn’t a testing field.
MURPHY’S REWARD decided to use the draw he had last time and got too much mid race pressure. Racing well and if anything the second line draw can work to his advantage. A sub 2:40 horse.
BETTOR LISTEN rarely finishes outside the top five, but did so May 28 after being left parked on 2:38 pace. He’s tough but that was a different tough. Don’t leave out.
JOHN WAYNE produced the second fastest last half in his race on June 4. Plagued with another rotten draw tonight but he will be running home at the end.
TOODALOOLOU did a power of work in defeat June 4 behind Cashlodo Flybye. Beat a Jewels blackbooker in her maiden win so she is no slouch. The value.
STAC has been backed and beaten consistently. Is up here for the Winter futurity. The reputation is waning but tonight could bounce back in a softer field than he’s been against.
CHABLIS beat fillies and mares May 28 but still paced 2:40. Should get a reasonable run in behind the one horse and has strengthened up.
Race 3
4 I See Fire
1 Salvo
9 Presidential Jewel
8 Emma Frost
I SEE FIRE dead set smashed many of these June 4. Showing his true potential in the process. Only needed to trot throughout and same applies tonight. Only question mark is the 2200m. He still can’t be bustled early.
SALVO is a very game three year old filly. Has terrific manners and even though she had a great run finishing two lengths from Three Wise Men is amazing form for this. Steps and runs too.
PRESIDENTIAL JEWEL is a class mare suited to this level. She is a better 2700m horse but has won twice over 2200m. Drops a grade tonight and 20m isn’t a huge hurdle.
EMMA FROST is a game little mare. Chased valiantly behind I See Fire last time four and five wide late. Never gets in the right spot but she’s so brave she can win.
INVICTUS is battling a shade off handicaps so 35m is a hard ask but he is still the distance specialist.
IN SEQUENCE went a big race first up in the north in the higher graded trot. Should only be better for that and with manners is a first four chance.
Race 4
7 Midnight Dash
8 Credit Master
3 Silver Power
MIDNIGHT DASH was a little disappointing Jewels day. He hasn’t set the world on fire right handed but he’s a quality open class trotter. He loves the longer trips so the 2700m is ideal for him. Top pick.
CREDIT MASTER bounced back to winning form June 4. Faces a luxurious 20m handicap in this race tonight and once in form he holds it. Definite danger.
SILVER POWER’s only win over the 2700m came in the Waikato Breeders Stakes but she is a great beginner and it took Bolt For Brilliance every metre of the race June 4 to knock her over. Trotted a magnificent time off the tape too. The value.
Race 5
8 Major Jellis
6 Raven Banner
1 Zarias
MAJOR JELLIS placed behind subsequent group on e winner B D Joe May 28. That was after doing a power of work in 2:38. Barrier eight limits his winning chances but don’t discount from placing.
RAVEN BANNER drops back from finishing seventh in the emerald. Beaten only three lengths there. Never runs a bad race and he gets in well here as an R58.
ZARIAS has had two cushy trips for little return so far this campaign. Fair to say he’s been disappointing but from barrier one he should be in the trail so you need to include him.
GOT YOU COVERED also drops back from the emerald. He drew eight there and this draw isn’t much nicer. Still very talented and again he has raced better fields.
Race 6
7 Folklore
8 Cheezel
10 Little Miss Perfect
11 Pearl Harbour
FOLKLORE has been a sit sprinting marvel in the north. Won the Northern Breeders stakes in devastating fashion before flying into second on June 4. The pace will be on and she can get over top again in a race full of visitors and she is a known handler of the last bend here.
CHEEZEL did very well for fourth last time after having to sit parked which isn’t her go. Best driven for one run at them and even from barrier eight she’s not to be left out.
LITTLE MISS PERFECT has her gate speed nullified by the second row draw but took ground off Group One place-getter Hot And Treacherous May 21. Sure to be at good odds.
PEARL HARBOUR had every show at the Jewels from barrier one but couldn’t keep up with the top four. This is not as strong tonight and she has winning form on this track as a two year old.
TRES CHIC is flying at present but didn’t handle the right handed way that well at the trials on Saturday at Pukekohe. In her favour is the fact she can rough it but needs to improve to win.
I’MALLABOUTTHEBASE still looks the early leader from her wide draw. She has previous experience here placing in two of three and her recent racing in both premier company at Addington and in the Bluff cup in quick time was first rate. Another sneaky chance.
Race 7
6 Hot And Treacherous
3 Last Tango In Heaven
8 Plutonium Lady
7 Havtime
HOT AND TREACHEROUS was an outstanding third in the 3YO Emerald. Got left three wide and kept grinding away on the supersonic sectionals. With Krug’s run could have won. Won a stand race at Cambridge and was placed in Cambridge cup behind a tape. Bet of the night.
LAST TANGO IN HEAVEN is a real tradesman. Another good stand beginner and being off the front means he will be handy throughout. This is a step up in class but he can overcome it.
PLUTONIUM LADY got second prize in the 4YO Diamond. She has a excellent stand record having won twice in four starts included in those were a Cromwell cup win. She won both listed mares features in March beating Need You Now and also ran second in the Queen Of Hearts. An each way must even off 20m.
HAVTIME hasn’t won in an age but shes been slugging it out with the best on offer since her return form Australia and she did blaze home in 26 seconds flat on Saturday at Pukekohe.
Race 8
9 Steel The Show
11 Pembrook Playboy
10 Double Rocket
8 Dance Time
STEEL THE SHOW has been battling it out in the big four-year-old features this whole season. Made good ground in the 4YO Emerald in 1:51. One on the second row is tricky but Mailman has gate speed so that can keep him prominent.
PEMBROOK PLAYBOY couldn’t get into it Jewels day from four pegs. Again, the draw cards haven’t fallen his way and this is his first look right handed. Quite possibly best in the field.
DOUBLE ROCKET faces a huge ask first up since March last year. Has steadily improved through the three workouts he’s had. In the latest on Saturday he got home in sub 26 in a dash home. Too good to discount although he will need a run.
DANCE TIME wanted a front row draw and got it. Only one way for him to win and that is go to the front. Won’t be easy but the harder the better.
FABRIZIO has an up and down record at Alexandra Park, started with a hiss and a roar but has been patchy in recent attempts. Beat Laver nicely May 7 before flopping behind South Coast Arden, subsequently freshened for this. An outside chance.
Race 9
7 Spice It Up
2 Doctor Steve
6 Whooshka
3 Eyecon
SPICE IT UP has stepped up in her last two trials after just being adequate in her first five. Has good speed and finished off her trials well in 27 quarters. Meets moderate opposition tonight and has to go close.
DOCTOR STEVE was only beaten four lengths in a much stronger field June 4. Still on the improve.
WHOOSHKA did well after facing the breeze June 4. Was a close up third and the trial form prior suggests another strong run tonight.
EYECON brought cheeky amateur form back into maidens and hasn’t run a bad race. Has big gate speed and if finds the front will remain prominent. The blowout.
WILLSHEROCKNROLL has the biggest motor in the field but is still very unruly, showed a heap of zip before folding up June 4. Has a short sprint and if saved showed in that 300m dash that she’s nippy enough.
THE MISSING SOCK ran second behind Spice It Up at the workouts last Saturday. Burned off the gate on that occasion so barrier one is an assist. Blew the score up here resuming so take on trust if she behaves.
Race 10
1 Arden Velocity
8 Getn Wiggy Withit
9 Hector
2 Betyahavtime
ARDEN VELOCITY has done nothing wrong in his two starts. Draws the ace so will receive every opportunity. Hard to beat.
GETN WIGGY WITHIT draws badly tonight but backed up the trial form with a big first up run May 28. Has big gate speed but no chance to use it yet. A really nice maiden who only had to draw better to be top pick.
HECTOR is also consistent and stuck on OK in a stronger maiden field after doing work June 4. Follows out the stablemate so may well be in a prime spot to win.
BETYAHAVTIME ran the fastest last quarter in his race June 4 and couple that with a 55 last half. Looks an improved customer who can win this.
Stablemate RASANA produced some of the best sectionals May 20 at Cambridge. First look at Auckland tonight.
FATHER QUINN was unlucky a couple of times in Southland from bad draws and that continues tonight. Will be running on late.
Nothing wrong with JOSHUA RICHARD’s latest efforts since changing stable. Peeled off a 56.6 last half May 20 so is capable.
Race 11
9 Phoebe Majestic
1 Soledad
6 Willis Graham
3 Cruise Liner
PHOEBE MAJESTIC cost herself with a mid race gallop June 4. Trotted her last mile in 2:02. All things being equal she should win this.
SOLEDAD galloped late June 4. Had done everything right up until then. If she trots early like two weeks ago she will be hard to run down. Can obviously run.
WILLIS GRAHAM also galloped late June 4. Will relish being back in a maiden only like many of these. Had been trotting much better.
CRUISE LINER is a good looking well related trotter who is still a work in progress but he did trot faultlessly in his most recent workout win last Saturday. Don’t discount.
DEBBIE LEE GALLEON is much improved and is one that is a certainty to trot throughout. A major win chance on that alone.
Best Bet: Race 7 (6) Hot And Treacherous
Each Way Value: Race 1 (13) Heston Hall
