Form analyst Jason Teaz casts his eye over the Auckland fields tonight (Friday). First race is at 5.20pm.
Race 1
5 Faith In Manchester
1 Double Delight
3 King City
4 Voronov
FAITH IN MANCHESTER had looked in good touch prior to galloping at Cambridge. Back right handed tonight is the key.
DOUBLE DELIGHT is a crazily bred trotter by Captain Treacherous who has looked OK at the trials. Hasn’t run overly quick yet and still hasn’t qualified but gets a great chance to pick up six grand and qualify. Wears half hopples so that is the only concern.
KING CITY was another who failed to cope with the left handed racing April 8. Hasn’t all been plain sailing since but looked good earlier in the year.
VORONOV finally found his manners April 23 when getting a non tote victory. Has real talent but may need a breaker or two again tonight to win.
QUIK BARBIE didn’t trot well April 23 but looked good in March, so give one more chance.
Race 2
8 Lynton Creek
9 Kayla Maguire
6 Mighty Monica
4 Prodigal Pete
LYNTON CREEK drops back to amateur company tonight. Last time he started in this company was February 19 when he won easily. Despite the draw he can be too good for these. Should be at good odds.
KAYLA MAGUIRE continues to race consistently well in this grade. The draw is a bit of a nightmare tonight, but she has a really quick sprint when saved for one run. So, a chance from anywhere.
MIGHTY MONICA and PRODIGAL PETE were fourth and fifth respectively at Cambridge last week, but both recorded quicker sectionals than Kayla Maguire. Both are speedy enough to settle a long way in front of their stablemate tonight and are win chances.
MAURICE continues to frustrate. I won’t give up on him but the end is nigh.
MT POCKETS went a blinder for third last week. He looks the likely early leader from gate two and he should also be fitter. The best of the runners without Wigg as their trainer.
Race 3
7 Blitzembye
5 Cashlodo Flybye
8 Bettor Listen
1 Arden’s Horizon
A massive first up run from BLITZEMBYE. Home in his last half almost a second quicker than the winner Louie The Punter. Again draws bad so his gate speed may not be seen. A huge chance of winning.
CASHLODO FLYBYE is knocking on the door. Good after sitting parked April 30. Consider on an each way basis.
BETTOR LISTEN trials average but races great every time. Hasn’t put a foot wrong since getting that elusive maiden win. Tough enough to overcome barrier eight.
ARDEN’S HORIZON is only a two year old and is also the most lowly rated in the field. Returns from Addington Group Two company April 9. Picked up a two year old win the start prior. From the draw you can’t leave him out.
LORD VERDE was beaten five and a half lengths April 9. That was a monumental step up from maidens. A pace chance from gate two.
Race 4
4 Cyclone Lebron
1 Majestic Princess
7 Willis Graham
2 True Believer
CYCLONE LEBRON is having his third run in three weeks. This is not a huge test with him learning more every week. Deserves favouritism tonight.
MAJESTIC PRINCESS is a veteran of twelve workouts and trials prior to her first up run tonight. The last two have been terrific. Second to a race winner and then also a next time out winner My Royal Roxy, then beat a few of these at last week’s workouts. Barrier one the only concern.
WILLIS GRAHAM was a well beaten fourth last Friday But recovered well from another untimely gallop. A slow learner but a chance with 100% manners.
TRUE BELIEVER has been unlucky enough to strike the best maiden trotters of late, until tonight. Trotted all the way April 23 so that’s encouraging enough in this field.
CRUISE LINER is one of the best looking trotters around and bred. He’s still learning but did trot a lot better when second behind Majestic Princess at last Saturdays workout. A blowout hope for an in form team.
Race 5
1 Santa Maria
2 Louie The Punter
4 Cya Art
3 Shes No Lady
SANTA MARIA led almost end to end April 23. This is a weaker field tonight. Should be no worse then leader or trailer. Tough to beat.
Same can be said for LOUIE THE PUNTER. Two impressive runs the last two weeks for wins. Targeting the futurity too, so winning may stay a habit. Surely one or two here.
CYA ART was disappointing last Friday. Parked on a pedestrian speed and gave in meekly. Backing up again tonight so take on trust.
SHES NO LADY is a past group one winner battling in this grade. Adds to the place chances outside of the top two.
Race 6
4 Blameitonthenight
5 Mercury Rising
6 Sugar Apple
7 Ohoka Creed
BLAMEITONTHENIGHT is top pick in a moderate lineup. The qualifier was the first run in public so probably was OK in the context. Has since run fourth at the workouts against some of these and finished right along side them. Out of a champion filly Gotta Go Harmony.
MERCURY RISING has a power of gate speed and led from gate four in a young guns heat. This is a drop in class tonight. A good each way hope at value.
SUGAR APPLE looked a little weak in the early part of the season. Hasn’t lived up to his brother’s ability yet. Sprinted up well from last on a 27.2 quarter on Saturday. One of his better runs.
OHOKA CREED is on his last chance with me tonight. Beaten by bad draws in the young guns series but was just plain average last week. Draws the outside again tonight but needs to put up or shut up.
Race 7
2 High In The Sky
12 Saint Michel
10 Lord Popinjay
6 My Royal Roxy
HIGH IN THE SKY had to go around in a race she was hugely unsuited to last week as only a one race winner taking on horses who had won up to five races. Gets a good draw and should go close here as her only win came over the 2200m.
SAINT MICHEL is always competitive as an R50 as an eight race winner. The back row draw is the only negative.
LORD POPINJAY is a horse badly hindered by the second row. One of the quickest stand horses going around but may have to be driven with a sit tonight. An interesting proposition.
MY ROYAL ROXY ran her rivals into the deck in 3:31 last week at Cambridge. She’s in career best form. Steps so well that it’s hard to see her further back then three back on the markers.
SUPERFAST NINJA went the race of her life April 16. Quite unlucky, throw in your first fours.
ASTERIA LAVRA, like High In The Sky is dropping back to this level tonight, far from being totally outclassed last Friday. Beaten only eight lengths is not bad form. The blowout.
Race 8
4 Shirley Bromac
12 Melanion
1 Polka Delight
7 I Expect Bettor
SHIRLEY BROMAC drew eight on debut at Cambridge but paced home in 58.2 which was faster then the winner. A better draw tonight and had shown up right handed in trials prior to that debut run.
MELANION hasn’t set the world on fire at the trials and cops a major problem in the barrier draw stakes tonight. Did run second last Saturday and looks on the improve.
POLKA DELIGHT was last sighted here in November and has only had one tame workout with a learner driver on to fit her for this. Becomes a chance with the one on though.
I EXPECT BETTOR is the sleeper. Three trials for three wins. The last was a 2:38 qualifier but on a very wet track so could have gone faster. An old fashioned home bred who is the best horse potentially in this field but maybe too inexperienced to win.
ART NOUVEAU has had his wings clipped tonight with the second row draw. Racing in fine fettle and deserves a win.
JOSHUA RICHARD is more adept right handed then JE T’AIME but both stablemates can get a piece of this.
Race 9
7 Kay Cee
4 Monkey Selfie
5 Forget The Price Tag
1 Kelvinz Luck
KAY CEE drops back the Rowe cup last week. Seven lengths from Sundees Son is good form particuarly on a sprint home in 55 over the two miles. 35m isn’t easy but can win.
MONKEY SELFIE goes back to the 25m handicap tonight. Did win off the 20m March 12 as well so this should be no bother providing she again steps fast. This is a harder field than last time but in career best touch.
FORGET THE PRICE TAG continues to be plagued by big handicaps. Does everything right so will be given every chance.
KELVINZ LUCK took forever and a day to warm up April 23 but only missed by a nose in landing some big bets. Barrier one off the front is a big head start.
INVICTUS is of course the distance specialist with five wins over the 2200m, however being off big handicaps are going to hinder that record in the near future. Needs a few thing to go his way.
Race 10
7 American Dealer
5 Warloch
6 Dance Time
1 Raven Banner
AMERICAN DEALER returns north after failing in the NZ Derby April 9. Draws the outside of the gate tonight but he’s game enough to overcome that.
WARLOCH is the ultimate sit sprinter and they played into his hands last week. Peter Ferguson droves him so well. There is a heap of gate speed in this so the prospect of a war will have them licking their lips.
DANCE TIME is not in the form he was two months ago. Sure to be driven to the front as it’s his only hope. Tempo the key for him to hold on.
RAVEN BANNER will be crossed from barrier one. Fourth at best is likely.
