Form analyst Jason Teaz takes a detailed look at tonight’s meeting at Auckland
Race 1
5 Kayla Maguire
11 Lynton Creek
10 Mighty Monica
12 Edamfast
KAYLA MAGUIRE may have been beaten eight lengths last Friday but that was in the 1:54 mile race won by The Honey Queen. A huge drop in company and has Sheryl Wigg aboard, should win.
LYNTON CREEK is going better than the form reads. Suffered from a virus over the new year period after winning easily xmas eve. Just sent on too much of a mission last week at Cambridge and having his trainer Cheree Wigg is a big assist.
MIGHTY MONICA took advantage of the shenanigans in front of her and won the amateur race at Cambridge last Thursday. Second behind Kayla Maguire over 1700m at Cambridge three starts ago. It is her first run at Alexandra park though.
EDAMFAST has been battling in much tougher company than this. Did place in an Otaki cup five starts ago. One that can do work and stick on in this race.
PRODIGAL PETE was worked over last week but stuck on fairly well for his third placing. He galloped in his first run at Auckland but has the gate speed to go forward and be amongst it.
Race 2
10 Anditover
7 Mufasa Metro
2 The Big Bird
4 Still Eyre
ANDITOVER strikes the weakest field he has struck this campaign. 15m is not a prohibitive handicap. Placed behind Majestic Man three starts ago in listed company. Top pick.
MUFASA METRO has only had two starts so he concedes a multitude of experience. Has behaved himself in those both starts. Is fresh tonight but did have a mobile trial at Pukekohe last week. In which he won easily.
THE BIG BIRD was much better February 5, after going averagely in a juniors race January 22. At her best she can definitely win.
STILL EYRE is an old warhorse, it took Son Of Patrick a long time to beat him in the Cambridge cup two weeks ago. He has won here before and at least you know with him he will trot the whole way.
KRISTOFFERSON is a quck improver. Went the race of his life last Friday when third behind Rain Mist And Muscle in a fast run 2700m. A major player.
The distance may test BRO FAWKES S at this stage of his career but he stuck well last week in a similar race.
MONKEY SELFIE opted for this race tonight when she looked a home run at Cambridge last night. Interesting, so include on that.
Race 3
5 Shezadeal
9 Santa Maria
6 Mailman
10 Smokinhotcheddar
SHEZADEAL made ground up on a 55 half on February 5 in a fillies series heat. Good enough to win two here in December. This is not a tough option for her.
SANTA MARIA beat Shezadeal home in that fillies race on February 5. Has a tricky draw tonight as there is a lot of gate speed on the front line so could find herself buried.
MAILMAN was parked for a long way in the juniors race last week but kicked on for fourth. This is a lineup well within his reach.
SMOKINHOTCHEDDAR has been based at the Ray Green stable for some months, so technically hasn’t had a stable change. Has been freshened since taking on the big mares races here at xmas time. Looked short of a run in a trial January 29, but did beat Shezadeal home in that ironically.
POCKET BOOK can place at best from barrier one.
Race 4
10 Montana Storm
9 Bettor Listen
5 Cowboys N Bandits
2 Gracelands Rose
MONTANA STORM has been getting better every week at the trials. Put in a tradesman-like performance to win a workout on February 10. Draw will work out alright tonight. Looks a live chance.
BETTOR LISTEN is the bridesmaid. Twelve placings in fourteen starts and barrier nine following out a horse with little gate speed is not fun but he will give 100% and will run on. Can break his duck.
COWBOYS N BANDITS stuck on fairly against The Honey Queen two weeks ago. She has since bolted in again so that form stacks up. Does struggle a little on the last bend at speed which hinders him.
GRACELANDS ROSE hasn’t trialed or raced right handed. She was good enough to place third in the Futurity behind Pull The Other Leg and The Banker. Great form if she handles the track.
FOUR KISSES and OROUA are entered for races at Cambridge Thursday night as well as this so won’t start at both places. Both can be in the fight if they start here.
Race 5
7 Bolt For Brilliance
8 Temporale
4 Invictus
1 Call Me Trouble
BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE wasn’t bustled in defeat two weeks ago, bigger fish to fry. 2700m is a much better proposition for him to overcome the 45m. Too good tonight.
TEMPORALE was another who had no chance two weeks ago off the huge mark. The 2700m means he’s a big hope tonight. The main danger to the favourite even with the handicap, as he is trotting beautifully this campaign.
INVICTUS claimed two big scalps February 5. The 2200m helped him and tonight the job will be tougher, but he’s an up and coming open class horse.
CALL ME TROUBLE is dashing but can still blow it. Trainer Zac Butcher hops back on tonight and with the head start he will look to make them pay.
WOODSTONE was good enough to run fourth in NZ trotting FFA two starts ago before being spelled. Has won five at Alexandra park so include on that. No workouts to prepare though.
Race 6
5 Artisan
7 American Beauty
11 Chantilly
2 Chevrons Bypass
ARTISAN has been good in both starts to date. Shouldn’t have to work too hard tonight and is top pick.
AMERICAN BEAUTY had the good draw in the previous young guns heat, led and was too good. Tougher assignment tonight but is a talented filly.
CHANTILLY looked the goods at the trials pre race night. However, the barrier draws haven’t helped her thus far. One to watch.
CHEVRONS BYPASS has received pass marks in both starts to date. Looked better then that at the trials. Give her one more go.
MITSI GAYNOR was second on debut then broke in start two. Expect an improved performance.
KACHING KACHING was the subject of some inspired support February 5 and displayed erratic barrier manners. The one draw is of concern but can place.
GOSSIP GIRL was one making ground up late two weeks ago, A second row draw limits her tonight but is another that could win something big later in the season.
Race 7
6 Luke John
1 Aladdin
7 Jack Ryan
4 Tartan Robyn
LUKE JOHN has been freshened. Was a revelation pre xmas and did a big job in Harness Million after breaking early. Has had two trials lately, needed the first up run then produced a short margin second to BD Joe last week. Ready to win.
ALADDIN was the Harness Million winner on December 31. Probably should’ve done better first up for the Blanchards last week. Won a workout January 29 beating many of these. Must rate highly.
JACK RYAN has been flying lately. Just so tough. Given his age in contrast to the others he may have to lead the one wide line which means he may not win but you can’t write him off.
TARTAN ROBYN is first up in the north tonight. Enjoyed leading up at the workouts January 29, beaten by Aladdin but beat Luke John, Darling Me and Enjoy me. Fast enough to win.
RAVEN BANNER won two straight in softer races than this. Faces a sharp rise in grade here. Dangerous sitting off a hot speed.
Race 8
1 Montana DJ
9 Mr Ibiza
2 Ohoka Creed
6 Classy Operator
MONTANA DJ was favorite in the young guns heat two weeks ago, not disgraced when fourth. Things just didn’t pan out for him but barrier one gives him his chance to show them how good he is tonight.
MR IBIZA stepped up hugely when running second February 5. In these races being handy to the pace and being on the pegs is where you want to be so given where he is drawn looks a great place bet.
OHOKA CREED has huge raps on him but drew two shocking alleys in starts one and two. Time to put up or shut up tonight from barrier two.
CLASSY OPERATOR blazed across them in young guns number one two weeks back. Will have to really launch to lead tonight but he has gained respect for that victory.
CASINO ACTION won on debut then pulled up with an issue two weeks ago. Give another chance on the strength of what he did on debut.
I liked the look of POWER UP at the trials, but he did nothing on debut.
Race 9
2 Drum N Bass
3 Ruby Ridge
1 Who’s Queen
6 Lord Popinjay
DRUM N BASS is improving, chased home a good one in Bohemian Rhapsody on February 5. With a similar performance he looks the best hope in here.
RUBY RIDGE should have won last week but was nailed on the post. The only pleasing thing was how she trotted faultlessly throughout and that maiden win will come.
WHO’S QUEEN is better suited to the stand than the mobile. She has terrific stand manners to put herself into the contest and is a first four must.
LORD POPINJAY has been patiently handled by the Manns. He beat up his rivals February 10 in a trial. It wasn’t flashy given the time and the opposition but he just seems to trot. Could be another Easy Whiz.
ALDEBARAN FLAME was punted in both starts and blew to bits.Hasn’t done anything yet to suggest that support was yet warranted but expect improvement at any tick of the clock.
SKY HIGH FLYER has trotted faultlessly in both starts as a four year old. First look at Alexandra park tonight but looks sensible enough. Probably entitled to finish off better at Cambridge January 21. But has been freshened.
Best Bet: Race 1 (5) Kayla Maguire
Each Way Value: Race 2 (10) Anditover
