Trentham hosts a nine-race card on Saturday, featuring the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup and Napier Sprint.
With drying conditions expected, we’re likely to see an upgrade prior to, and possibly during raceday. Expecting the track to race fairly, tempo dependent.
Track: Soft7 (upgrade likely to a Soft5)
Rail: Out 6m.
Dujardin (#7) put in a sharp trial win with blinkers on and looked to show good improvement between her trials.
While she’s only had the one career start to date, her performance suggested she has enough ability to win a race of this strength.
Gets the right draw and finds a soft race to return in.
Should prove hard to beat, top pick.
2 Units – 7 Dujardin
Fawnzor (#14) is a first-starter from the Sharrock yard who looked good winning a jumpout last month.
Drawn to be handy if she steps away cleanly and the booking of Matt Cartwright looks a good push. Tricky race, but she looks capable enough to win a maiden of this quality.
Watch the market late.
1 Unit – 14 Fawnzor
First Edition (#4) produced a strong maiden win last time and gave the impression there’s more to come.
This is a step up but it’s not a deep R65 and his win rated well.
Looks a progressive staying type who may just go on with it now.
Each way play in a thin contest.
1 Unit – 4 First Edition
Croupier (#9) was excellent on debut behind Super Photon in decent 3yo company and now steps to 1400m back in maiden company, big tick.
That form reads very well for this and McNab now takes the ride.
Should have taken plenty of improvement for this second-up assignment and gets his chance to get the maiden off the back at start no.2.
One of the better bets of the weekend.
1 Unit – 9 Croupier
Complex (#3) hasn’t performed yet this prep but may get the right run to show some improvement.
I’m expecting he will roll forward and look to lead from the wide draw, and we’ve seen his best figures come from that setup, notably here over this trip under Madan Singh.
Can give cheek at a price if he finds the front early.
1 Unit – 3 Complex
1 Unit Truce (#5)
Truce (#5) won nicely here over the mile last time and maps similarly today from the inside draw, where he should be tracking the early speed.
Will settle midfield and look to be building from the turn.
If he replicates his last run, he’ll be tough to beat again.
1 Unit – 5 Truce
Whangaehu (#1) was luckless last time when Grylls lost the stick and he still had the audacity to clock the fastest final 200m split of the day.
This is a peg below what he has been up against of late and although he is not in as well at the weights, he still looks the horse to beat despite the impost.
Will be off speed and charging late. Hard to beat.
2 Units – 1 Whangaehu
Tomodachi (#9) is a progressive mare who’s gone bang-bang this prep and is quietly building a strong record.
Genuine tempo here suits her pattern, as she can reel off better closing sectionals than most.
With even luck from back in the field, she should be finishing over the top late.
2 Units – 9 Tomodachi
Ka Ying Lucky (#7) is a hard horse to catch but not short on ability when he gets things just right.
Hasn’t won for a while but gets back to a track he performs well at and the blinkers now go on for this.
Will possibly land back a fair way off them, but can absolutely blouse them late if he gets the right run in transit.
Worth speccing at odds.
1 Unit – 7 Ka Ying Lucky