Form analyst Jason Teaz gives us a detailed race by race breakdown of today’s meeting at Manawatu (Tuesday). Racing starts at 4.03pm.
Race 1
4 Get On The Sauce
9 Gazza Galleon
7 Mackali
8 Ardee Trouble
GET ON THE SAUCE is only a maiden but gets at least a 30m head start on the race winners which is huge. Hasn’t raced since running second at the early December two day meeting. Qualified at two and is still getting his head around the stand starts but if he trots he wins.
GAZZA GALLEON outclassed many of these February 23. Has always possessed a heap of ability and given he won by six lengths last time, an extra 10m shouldn’t hinder too bad.
MACKALI blotted her copybook with a terrible run at Cambridge just last Thursday. Racing well prior and may have just been a run short. 40m tests with the half hopples off.
ARDEE TROUBLE has won five races and one at Palmerston North. Well handicapped only being 50m behind, but needs to lift significantly to win.
MUCHACHA BONITA has headed to the House road show but hasn’t set the world on fire at the trials to suggest improvement is evident, yet.
Race 2
3 It’s A Laugh
2 Easy Does It
8 Wriggles Rufus
7 Mop
IT’S A LAUGH was a rank failure first up in the north on February 23. Had only been in Scott Dickson’s care for a few days so an extra three weeks of sorting out my have occurred. On his southern form he must win.
EASY DOES IT has done a good job to date. Two nice thirds from bad draws at the last two. A better draw today but hasn’t shown any gate speed.
WRIGGLES RUFUS went well as expected first up for Andre Poutama but then underperformed at Cambridge last start. Draw won’t suit his rolling style though.
MOP hadn’t beaten a horse home in any trials prior to the first up third. Can’t do work as illustrated with the last start flop. Will battle to win from this alley.
Barrier one has always been a nightmare for NICKY JAY but she is good enough to get that one day in the sun.
Race 3
5 Zircon Lass
4 Needamargarita
2 Themightyserina
7 I Won’t Back Down
ZIRCON LASS cost herself galloping pre start first up in the north two starts ago. Showed her real form when stiff February 23 flying home into second. Southern form is vastly superior to these.
NEEDAMARGARITA is on the quick back up after running fourth at Cambridge on March 11. This field is well within her grasp.
THEMIGHTYSERINA may well be on a one way trip after not firing in the north. Has very little gate speed but won’t get a better chance.
I WON’T BACK DOWN didn’t back up February 23 after having a tough one the week before. Three weeks between runs should suit better today. Fewer convictions than most.
MAIDEN CHINA showed absolutely nothing when with Jay Abernethy. Now with Andre Poutama and on that she’s a consideration.
SIPOWICZ has big gate speed so he will be up on the pace.
Race 4
2 Superstar Legend
10 Smokin Annie
6 Jimmy Richter
1 Golden Lace
Three times at Manawatu for three placings for SUPERSTAR LEGEND. Throw in a good draw and she is top pick.
SMOKIN ANNIE will win a race at short notice in the north. Just keeps ending up in the wrong spot. A big key is the addition of Peter Ferguson for this.
JIMMY RICHTER is backing up from finishing fourth after getting an unsuitable barrier one at Cambridge last Thursday. He has no gate speed and he wound up five fence early. Racing consistently.
GOLDEN LACE picked up a penalty free win on February 23 after outstaying her rivals. Was just plain at Cambridge March 4. Barrier one is an asset in this grade. Last time she drew one here she had the trail throughout until the leader stopped in her lap.
ZIP CODE wasn’t bad at Cambridge last Thursday. Prior two seconds here was against mainly maidens, but has improved lately.
Race 5
6 Ticking Over
8 Mahia
7 Midnight In Memphis
11 Play Ball
TICKING OVER just does enough to lure you in. Is a sit sprinter so can be a frustration to watch. 2000m is not really her go either. Still racing well and due a winning turn.
MAHIA ended up parked the trip February 23. Still was entitled to go better mind you, so give another chance as she should end up in a reasonable spot as the horse she follows out has gate speed.
MIDNIGHT IN MEMPHIS has been mildly unlucky in each of her last three Central Districts assignments. A senior driver added today who can overcome the wide draw.
PLAY BALL has been freshened since pulling a flat tyre at Addington. He has won well here before and he’s a short course horse. Maybe the value.
WAVETHEBILL has been disappointing. Sent south to now be locally trained by Stephen Doody. He went around in a sires stakes final last November after his Auckland maiden win, so maybe a change of scenery will switch him on.
FORWARDY is a strange horse. Has an element of ability but beats himself with some of his antics pre race. Travelled down to Andre Poutama’s stable last Thursday after winning a workout at Cambridge beating maidens March 6. Another whom a change of scenery won’t hurt.
Race 6
7 American Me
10 Chase The Hat Trick
8 The Kapiti Express
6 Optical Illusion
AMERICAN ME is chucked in here. An R69 is rated six points higher than the his next highest rival. The outside of the front row was the best he could hope for and it won’t stop him winning. A winner of just one here which is interesting.
CHASE THE HAT TRICK is doing just that today. A reinvigorated individual since joining the House party. Peter Ferguson has driven him well as he likes to feel big and brave. Can certainly place.
THE KAPITI EXPRESS is an old trojan on his home track. Made good ground later from the second row February 23. He does tend to go better with racing as three weeks away for him is like three months.
OPTICAL ILLUSION is an up and comer. He ground down his rivals March 4 at Cambridge sitting parked through out. Outside of American Me this field won’t scare him.
SANTANNA MACH is a past Taranaki cup winner and also won a Palmerstonian on this track. Nowhere near that form but racing honestly.
CLASSEY ROBIN won at the last meeting February 23 in a lowly graded race beating Superstar Legend. Hasn’t drawn ideally but does try hard.
CAPTAIN NEMO has headed south for this. Won at Cambridge last Thursday in a tradesman like manner. Beaten only seven lengths in a Northern derby prelude February 25. Needs to lead to win. But he’s here to win.
Best Bet: Race 6 (7) American Me
Each Way Value: Race 1 (4) Get On The Sauce
