Form analyst Jason Teaz casts his eye over the fields at Cambridge tonight (Thursday).
Race 1
4 Kayla Maguire
6 Maurice
8 Mighty Monica
2 Boilover
KAYLA MAGUIRE is a model of consistency. You would be very hard pressed to say she won’t win or at least run second in this on her form. Top pick.
MAURICE was awfully disappointing last time. He is a hard horse to follow given he was woeful in his only start here too. If he fronts up can win this easily.
MIGHTY MONICA has won and run third in her last two amateur assignments. Barrier eight hurts but it won’t stop her being in the finish.
BOILOVER is the representative for the nearly unbeatable combination of Andre Poutama and Frank Phelan. In his last appearance for Michael House he went his best race for some time. Never liked doing much work but they will surely use the good barrier he has received.
PRODIGAL PETE has been a little hit and miss in the north. He stopped a long way out April 16. Take on trust that sticking to the markers could be beneficial for him.
Race 2
3 Nyla
1 The Sportsman
6 Toodaloolou
8 Shirley Bromac
NYLA is in the best form of her career. A strong second at the trials behind subsequent Auckland winner Louie The Punter was followed up by a second here two weeks ago behind Hooray Henry in good time. The draw suits her too.
THE SPORTSMAN was beaten by bad draws at Manawatu. Hasn’t showed a huge amount of speed in the past but having the stable mate only two spots wider says that he should be in the trail. Gets his chance.
TOODALOOLOU caught the eye in her debut run April 15. Her sectionals were comparable with Oroua, the winner that night. The draw is average but looks a filly not far off a win.
SHIRLEY BROMAC only qualified March 31 amongst already qualified maidens. Only finished a length behind Nyla that day and then beat The Sportsman last Saturday in a workout at Pukekohe. Only the draw drops her doing the pecking order tonight.
HARVEY SPECTER finished third April 15 first time out for the Blanchards. Cops a rough draw tonight but he’s still improving.
WET FLIPFLOPS has shown enough ability previously and has had a brief freshen since failing on day two at Manawatu. An outside chance.
JE T’AIME Drawing one on the second row is always advantageous in maiden races and she has done a reasonable job to date in her three starts.
Race 3
10 Griffins Hall
2 My Royal Roxy
9 Manchester’s Eclipse
7 Thank You
GRIFFINS HALL is due that next win of his career. He has become competitive again since dropping to around the R53 mark. 10m behind over 2700 is not a hard ask for him and this is a field well within his reach.
MY ROYAL ROXY never runs a bad race and she always steps fast and outs herself into the contest. Found the line with purpose first up for four months two weeks ago.
MANCHESTER’S ECLIPSE had a tough trip dragging the field up to the tearaway pacemaker April 8. Prior second was excellent in a stronger field behind I See Fire.
THANK YOU is doing things better lately. One thing you can’t question is this horse’s ability. A massive danger if he behaves again. On the last start second, can win.
RANDOM JUDE has had two thirds since coming north but of concern she did gallop late in a mobile workout against learner pacers on Saturday.
Race 4
12 Claudia Schiffer
14 Pocket Book
6 Settle Petal
1 Jaccka Cooper
CLAUDIA SCHIFFER bolted in when winning her maiden February 18. Then, in her first run for six weeks she went around in a Nevele R fillies heat and there was no disgrace in being lapped by The Honey Queen. Hard to beat tonight.
POCKET BOOK is at her happiest at Cambridge. The fourteen draw makes it tough for her but she has shown a lot more steel of late.
SETTLE PETAL just worked too hard for too long over the 2700 two weeks ago. March 26 at Auckland in a stronger field she paced 2:41 in defeat, on that go again.
JACCKA COOPER is a rank pacing horse who can beat himself but from barrier one he can be prominent throughout.
CLOUDY BAY hasn’t done much in her career but strikes a field she should be at least placing in.
MAYA ANGELOU is having a good run of form right now. Placed at nice odds here two weeks ago and with her breeding, doing a bit of mid race work won’t bother her.
LITTLE SUZIE couldn’t get into the contest April 15 after winning her maiden well. She could run on into a place tonight.
Race 5
10 Rydgemont Son
11 She Reigns
8 Special Way
3 Fira
RYDGEMONT SON surprisingly hasn’t won in the north yet. Much better second time out after galloping the first time. Should be winning.
SHE REIGNS won here April 8 off the 40m in dominating style in 3:25. If she strips anywhere near that form she will be tough to beat. A rare gallop cost her at Auckland last week but still found the line as per usual.
SPECIAL WAY comes to Cambridge for the first time tonight. Won a much stronger race March 5. Didn’t trot well in only workout since on April 17 so take on trust.
FIRA, when on her best behavior is suited to this company off the front tape. A danger if in the right mood.
AS FREE AS AIR picked up a rare placing at Auckland last week. Never out of the equation here.
MAJESTIC HARRY has been terrible in his last two starts at Auckland. Back to Cambridge he is a different proposition. However, he may be due for a spell. Looking for a free win tonight.
IVEGOTBILLS was handy on the hot tempo when running third April 8. May not have backed up the next week at Auckland so forgive that run and go on the prior form.
Race 6
8 J Bee
5 Eagle Watch
3 Hawthornden Hunk
7 Pull The Other Leg
J BEE races sparingly. He won in 2:37 for 2200m in February then sold to American interests. Things went wrong late March and he has been freshened. Having his first stand tonight but he qualified last Saturday at Pukekohe. His trial was terrific. He was slow away but safe. Top pick.
EAGLE WATCH is getting back to form as he gets back to race fitness. He still needs to lift however and an intriguing part of this race is how many of the leading players are first time stand starters.
HAWTHORNDEN HUNK isn’t well off here as only a two race winner but if he hadn’t have been savaged by an outsider mid race he would have won first time up in this grade April 15. The stand is a query as he is a slow but safe stepper but if he leads again he will be hard to pick up.
PULL THE OTHER LEG ran over top of them April 15. He didn’t fire the week before but thrived on getting a cozy trip on the pegs. The 20m handicap won’t be easy and he may need a war to win.
SPIRIT OF ANZAC is also off a tough 20m back mark but can take advantage of any hot pace up ahead.
Race 7
5 Oroua
1 Sarandon
10 Emmber
11 Hooray Henry
OROUA won his only race start at Cambridge which was two weeks ago. He dominated from in front and he will be looking to do the same again. Hard to stop.
SARANDON has the draw and should get a cushy trail throughout. Gamer after being driven upside down in the juniors race on April 15. Sitting and sprinting her go.
EMMBER is 11 and 0 at Auckland but 3 from 16 here. Her last run here was in a R57-65 race and after working hard she got run over. In this grade she’s a major player.
HOORAY HENRY steps up from maidens tonight. He’s a nice horse who won’t be scared buy any of these but the draw makes it difficult.
MR PERFECT, MAHIA and THE BLUE BEAT have Manawatu form in their form lines and have first four chances here.
Race 8
6 Skyzrclearnsunny
1 Love And Faith
3 Sonsofthemerch
5 Chicago H
SKYZRCLEARNSUNNY hasn’t raced since January 21. Hs had two slow workouts to fit her for this resumption tonight. In a race devoid of any form she must be tough to toss.
LOVE AND FAITH is a work in progress too. Galloped out of a great spot last Friday at Auckland but still ran home late for sixth. Looked really good at the workouts here earlier this month. If she trots the whole way out of barrier one, she will take some beating.
SONSOFTHEMERCH is a half to two year old winner Emma Joy. Looks to have some sort of ability. The toe weights coming off will help find some speed but won’t need much more than what he’s shown previously to win this.
CHICAGO H is the best bred horse in this by miles being out of Martina H. The third place on race day was in a non tote where he was beaten a country mile. Hasn’t done a lot right at recent trials either. Will be favorite but hasn’t earned that.
Best Bet: Race 6 (8) J Bee
Each Way Value: Race 2 (6) Toodaloolou
