Form analyst Jason Teaz checks out the form for Auckland’s big night (Friday)
Race 1
7 Springbank Mason
5 Rain Mist And Muscle
8 Forget The Price Tag
6 American Pride
SPRINGBANK MASON won the harness version of a boat race in the slush last Friday. That was his first look at Alexandra park so he must be still on the improve. Ran his last half in 58 and broke 2:00 for his last mile last week. The real deal.
RAIN MIST AND MUSCLE avoided last week after being very unlucky April 16. In great form all season and although harshly handicapped is a major player.
FORGET THE PRICE TAG is off long marks and 40m won’t be easy but he’s very honest and can’t be ruled out totally even though place hopes look best.
AMERICAN PRIDE had shoeing problems prior to last week’s race and he trotted accordingly afterward. The slushy track wouldn’t have helped either. A major turnaround albeit unlikely can’t be ruled out.
EMMA FROST sneaks forward to the 15m handicap and she is racing very well. A blowout hope.
Race 2
6 Ohoka Creed
3 Hesashorething
5 Lalibela
8 Four Kisses
OHOKA CREED created a big impression in early season two year old trials but consistent bad draws meant he never got to show up on race day. Second in a trial at Pukekohe Saturday and even though he’s against older horses here, they aren’t scary.
HESASHORETHING is the best of the older horses. He again draws well at three and he was only run down late last Friday. Each way.
LALIBELA only qualified April 17 and has carried on since with a workout placing in what will turn out to be a form heat by the time this race is run. Out of the very good mare Asuka.
FOUR KISSES never gets a fair suck of the sav. Barrier eight won’t worry her with her lack of gate speed anyway.
JOSHUA RICHARD ran a fair third first time out for the Blanchards. Won’t be long a maiden.
Race 3
3 Queen Of Strathfield
9 Aldebaran Flame
1 Cyclone Lebron
5 Phoebe Majestic
QUEEN OF STRATHFIELD is now nine seconds deep. She did have her chance last week and it is concerning how she wasn’t able to run down Constellation from the trail. Top pick but no past the post cert.
ALDEBARAN FLAME is the best horse in this field but is still a long way from reliable. Did trot all the way last week which is encouraging. Worth a gamble on the nose tonight.
CYCLONE LEBRON had trouble with the last bend in his debut third. Made up many lengths once straightening up for home. A work in progress but a definite chance.
PHOEBE MAJESTIC has a large private reputation but has yet to go faster then 2:59 in any trial. First time at Auckland is another negative but looks safe enough to watch. Oaks bound so needs to show she’s good enough for that.
Race 4
2 Cashlodo Flybye
4 Louie The Punter
6 Kerri Maguire
7 Blitzembye
CASHLODO FLYBYE was rundown on the passing lane April 16. Drawn to lead again and the field is not as strong.
LOUIE THE PUNTER is just out of maidens but won well and this is not a big jump in level. Racing too well to discount.
KERRI MAGUIRE was disappointing last time. Normally finishes off better than that, give another go.
BLITZEMBYE produced a nice close up fourth in an April 17th workout. Last time here on race day, he used his good gate speed in a strong field and was under a length from the winner in fifth. Potentially going further than many.
GOVERNOR’S BAY did very little and was unexpectedly sub par last time, but put that down to his lack of race fitness. It had been two years and you can’t beat race fitness.
Race 5
13 True Fantasy
2 A Bettor You
8 Dance Till Dawn
11 Montana Glory
TRUE FANTASY was brilliant in the Caduceus Club fillies classic last Friday. The draw evens things up but you can’t go past how she won that and many of her main rivals haven’t been helped by the barriers either.
A BETTOR YOU is one that has drawn well. Didn’t seem to handle the slushy track last week Had to work overtime but shouldn’t have to tonight. Each way.
DANCE TILL DAWN now has two group one placings in her career. Does suffer a huge reversal in the draws tonight but she is an underrated filly.
MONTANA GLORY ran the quickest last quarter in the Caduceus classic. Made up a heap of ground very wide. If she can replicate the finish, she’s a factor.
PLAY PHILLY was a disappointment April 16 but she had problems on the bends. Barrier one is good for her but being on the markers didn’t exactly assist her last time either. If at her best tests them.
MR KAPLAN is a group one winner. She was very unlucky two weeks ago and she’s the real sleeper in this division. The upset factor.
Race 6
3 Leaf Stride
4 Five Wise Men
2 Regal Attire
7 Time Up The Hill
LEAF STRIDE lost conservatively five lengths at the quarter last week in the Sires Stakes’ championship. Flew late when he balanced up. Sure to be better for the run and Phil would have got him sorted this week. He goes on top for me as he is “owed” this.
FIVE WISE MEN is a star. Looking for eight straight tonight. He had a good run in the Sires Stakes but he still put them away. Trotted faultlessly right handed so he’s the total package. Only one horse can beat him.
REGAL ATTIRE should be on the improve. Things didn’t look quite 100% in the Sires Stakes but the extra distance won’t bother him.
TIME UP THE HILL is a marvel. Had no right to still hold fourth after the last few weeks of racing and travelling she’s had. A real brawler who even from the draw is a first four hope. Looks the Oaks winner in two weeks.
SON OF PATRICK doesn’t really fire right handed but he’s right in this distance wise. Won a Cambridge cup amongst two victories over the 2700 previously and a third in the NZ Derby. Will fight.
Race 7
1 Sundees Son
7 Bolt For Brilliance
9 Oscar Bonavena
6 Majestic Man
SUNDEES SON is a champion, But right handed he’s immortal nowadays. Only bad luck beats him. He’s a machine and he ripped their hearts out in the Anzac cup.
BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE looked at the 400 mark like he wouldn’t run a place but he made up a ton up the straight. His last quarter was just quicker than Sundees Son. Will be there when the whips are cracking.
OSCAR BONAVENA is the sleeper. The x factor trotter who is still reaching his peak showed he’s somewhere near his best in the Anzac cup. Distance the query?
MAJESTIC MAN looked short of a run in the Anzac. The big Australian trip followed by the trip to Oamaru then back north told in the end. As he showed in last year’s Dominion the distance is no problem.
TEMPORALE is 2017’s winner going round for another crack. From barrier two he will step and stay handy. if he gets a good enough trip he can definitely place. Trotting as well as ever.
Race 8
2 Copy That
4 Amazing Dream
1 Steel The Show
8 Christianshavtime
COPY THAT was too big and too strong in the Taylor Mile. Looked beaten half way up and lifted. He’s a beast who deserves favoritism.
AMAZING DREAM is the reigning Auckland cup winner. Third in the Easter cup three starts ago over 3200m. Needs to be at her best to win.
STEEL THE SHOW has amazingly drawn one again. Was very cheeky in the Taylor Mile. and if there’s mid race pressure he will be in the right spot.
CHRISTIANSHAVTIME is such a potent sit sprinter that he can run home over top of most of these. The extra distance is a first time test so expect him driven very cold. A definite place chance.
NEED YOU NOW did land the best half and quarter in the Taylor Mile. She’s drawn to follow her stablemate everywhere and can dive home up the pegs for a place.
BAD TO THE BONE is a dead set miler. Created a massive impression in Sydney and that experience over the sprint trips stood him in good stead last week. However the 2700m hasn’t been his friend when tried over the Derby trips. Watch.
Race 9
1 Last Tango In Heaven
8 Alta Wiseguy
4 Cya Art
5 Brookies Jaffa
LAST TANGO IN HEAVEN comes up with the ace draw. Not seen since placing behind Alta Wiseguy in the Waikato guineas in March. Resumed with a stand start trial last Saturday and won nicely holding off J Bee, running home in 27.9. Should dictate terms and go close.
ALTA WISEGUY slipped his crupper down the home straight two weeks ago when having the race at his mercy from the 1×1. Barrier eight is a tough ask but can atone.
CYA ART was entitled to win April 16. Consistent type.
BROOKIES JAFFA will no doubt be the outsider but did scare a few last time. Will be driven for one run at them from the 600 mark. Tough enough to roll over them.
LITTLE MISS PERFECT saw plenty of Alexandra Park last time from barrier eleven. Did record the fastest last quarter still although beaten by four lengths so include.
Race 10
2 The Honey Queen
5 Dance Time
3 Warloch
6 Havtime
THE HONEY QUEEN has been busy. She just keeps fronting up though and she is getting some cushy trips along the way. South bound after tonight. Should trail whoever she wants again tonight.
DANCE TIME is a horse I can’t work out. When I pick him he goes awful, when he don’t he fronts. Like last week, after a sub par trial he was much more like his old self. Possibly he isn’t quite at his best otherwise he may not have been run down.
WARLOCH was just unlucky he wound up four back last Friday. As he does he sprinted up nicely running into fourth beaten three lengths. Posting the equal fastest last quarter. A certainty for a top four spot.
HAVTIME is struggling with these PBD races. Even with her gate speed she’s not getting across them. Maybe with only five inside her she may be liberated but hard to see her still leading and winning.
Best Bet: Race 7 (1) Sundees Son
Each Way Value: Race 2 (6) Ohoka Creed
