Te Rapa hosts a nine-race card, headlined by the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile, with a strong support card also. With rain through the week and showers forecast for Saturday, conditions are expected to remain trying throughout.
Track: Heavy10
Rail: Out 2m
Selections for each of the nine races below:
Astoria Brooke (#6) resumes here, last sighted winning back in May on a testing Heavy10. She’s had a nice trial ahead of this but tackling a deep track first-up is the slight query. In a tricky race, her proven wet-track ability makes her the one to side with.
| 6. Astoria Brooke (4) 56kg0711X |
Tregor (#2) is a reliable wet tracker who has been in good form, including a sharp 2nd here a month ago. The concern is the 60kg impost and a four-week gap between runs, but his record on heavy ground is a big positive. He looks the one they’ll need to beat.
| 2. Tregor (9) 60kg14142 |
Jethro Tull (#4) brings race fitness into a field full of unknowns, with many resuming on testing ground. He maps to roll forward and likely lead, with only Reptak posing early resistance. If he finds the front without burning too much, he’ll prove tough to run down.
| 4. Jethro Tull (8) 58kg03211 |
Rocking (#3) drops back into MAAT grade and looks very well placed with just 55kg after Sam McNab’s claim. She gave a strong account of herself in R75 company on a heavy track here last start. Expect her to settle off the speed and launch late down the outer.
| 3. Rocking (8) 58kgX2113 |
Midnight Edition (#6) looks the likely leader, with only Lhasa a likely challenger for the front. He was very impressive first-up here, holding off his rivals in style. If he secures the lead and gets a breather mid-race, he can go back-to-back.
| 6. Midnight Edition (2) 56.5kg531X1 |
He Who Dares (#3) ran a good race for 2nd first-up at Ellerslie, producing the fastest closing sectionals behind race rival, Affirmative Action. He’ll strip fitter, and Opie Bosson taking the ride is a big plus. If he handles the heavy ground, he looks very hard to beat.
| 3. He Who Dares (10)SCRATCHED: | |||
Sweetazme (#4) has been very consistent this prep, finishing off well here last start after over-racing through the early stages. From the middle draw he maps to settle midfield with cover, and George Rooke will look to bring him into it down the outer. Another strong showing expected.
| 4. Sweetazme (7) 60kg8X122 |
La Crique (#12) added another Gr.1 2nd to her resume last start when wide throughout, yet stuck on bravely behind Quintessa. The Heavy track is the query, but it is the same for most of her key rivals. If she holds her form, she’s good enough to go one better.
| 12. La Crique (5) 57kg222X2 |
Si Exquis (#7) was better than her 9th at Ellerslie suggests, beaten only a couple of lengths in a bunched finish. Her prior wet-track form reads well, and she should be peaking now 4th-up. Matt Cameron takes the ride and a wide draw could be a plus late in the day. A key chance to close out the day.
| 7. Si Exquis (9) 58kg2X549 |