Deserved win beckons
Riccarton, G1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas, NZ$300,000, 1600m
Bavella (Snitzel) has been narrowly defeated in two stakes appearances this season and she can go one better to claim the main prize here.
She was held up at the top of the straight when going under in the G3 Soliloquy S. at her most recent appearance and the combination of a roomy track and the step up to a mile looks ideal for her.
Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) kept her unbeaten record intact when successful in the Soliloquy and she too had to overcome difficulty in running. There’s no doubting her talent and she’ll be hard to roll.
Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has placed in all three starts this season and each time has powered home from the back. The distance will be spot on for her while Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) had her chance in the Soliloquy and will need to find a few lengths.
Kali (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) has won two of her three starts this preparation and was unlucky in the G3 Gold Trail when she was denied clear air in the straight. With better fortune this time she can be ultra-competitive.
Bavella’s stablemate Avadane (NZ) (Savabeel) booked her passage south with a dominant last-start win and achieved in the style of a filly who can handle a rise in class.
Avadane (NZ)
Stayer to go one better
Riccarton, G3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, NZ$250,000, 3200m
Duplicity (Duporth) was narrowly beaten in this race last year and his strong run to win on the first day suggested he’s in the right shape to go one better.
Duplicity as a yearling
Dee And Gee (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) finished runner-up last Saturday and, while worse off at the weights, she does run a strong 3200 metres.
Gorbachev (NZ) (Gorky Park) won his lead-up at Trentham under 60.5kg and with a 5.5kg drop down the handicap he’s going to pose a major threat.
Felaar (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) was fifth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy and that will top him off nicely, he makes each way appeal.
Golden chance
Riccarton, Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome S., NZ$55,000, 1000m
Laced With Gold (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) flew home to finish the closest of fourths on the track last time out over 800 metres so the extra distance is in her favour.
La Romanee (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) won that race with a gallant display so there’s no knock on him while Ohio Showgirl (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) didn’t have the best of runs when a last-start fifth and was impressive when winning at her only other outing.
Stablemate Watchmaker (NZ) (Pins) was a sound third on debut and will improve for the experience and Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) is getting better with each run and presents as a sound each way prospect.
Mare super chance
Tauranga, G2, Gartshore Tauranga S., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) is a quality mare and with a run under her belt she promises to take a power of beating under weight-for-age conditions.
She was narrowly beaten when resuming by Tiptronic (NZ) (Pins), who will pose a threat again, when she was conceding 2kg and there is a 4kg swing in her favour this time.
Supera (NZ)
Consensus (NZ) (Postponed {USA}) raced creditably in three Melbourne appearances and this represents a significant drop back in class, while Hinerangi (Fastnet Rock) is third-up and at her best would figure in the finish.
The Mitigator (Master Of Design) is in good form and looks sure to give another good sight, and Hay Tiger (Tiger Prawn {SAF}) won in fine style over this trip at Te Rapa and a repeat effort makes him a place chance at worst.
Guineas within reach
Newcastle, G3 New Zealand Bloodstock Spring S., $160,000, 1600m
Rule The World (Hallowed Crown) will be defending an unbeaten record following a pair of 2-year-old successes and a resuming victory at Rosehill.
In typical Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott style, he is a free-running type and if he gets to make his own rules he’ll be hard to defy.
Rule The World
Convinced (Not A Single Doubt) is a progressive colt and a tidy last-start winner at Hawkesbury, while Donandkim (Smart Missile) has also been impressive through the grades and deserves a chance at black type after three wins on the bounce.
There is strong representation from the fillies with Asiago (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) and Bright Rubick (Rubick) perhaps the best of them.
Smart filly fancied
Ascot, G3 Breast Cancer Care WA Champion Fillies’ S., $200,000, 1600m
Kay Cee (Playing God) has made a fine start to her career with three wins from five starts and looked good in claiming the Listed Burgess S. last time out.
Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock) finished runner-up, her first defeat, and she looms as a major threat again while Special Choice (Redoute’s Choice) hasn’t put a foot wrong in her brief career and getting out to 1600 metres looks sure to be in her favour.
Tuscan Queen as a yearling
Sanabreanna (Red Hot Choice) wasn’t far away in third in the Burgess and if she can get a bit of early luck from an awkward gate can be in the frame again.
Specialism (Safeguard) has been below par lately and would need to improve and More Fizz (Blackfriars) might be a better hope. She is already a winner over a mile and looks in the right form for the first black type test of her fledgling career.
Fresh mare best
Ascot, G3 RJ Peters S., $150,000, 1500m
Mississippi Delta (High Chaparral {Ire}) has been a first-up winner and with two lead-up trials, the latest outing a winning one, she can make an impression here in the hands of William Pike.
Stablemate Regal Power (Pierro) does have the benefit of a resuming run so he’s expected to be the major threat while Platoon (Playing God) is unbeaten this preparation and that race fitness can be put to good use.
Platoon as a yearling
Heart Starter (Domesday) was third behind Platoon last time out so with some improvement he’s a chance at a minor stake and Neurological (Gingerbread Man) is racing well so no knock on his prospects.
If there is to be an upset, and that does seem unlikely, the prime candidate might be Flow (Street Cry {Ire}). He failed to place when resuming, but has twice been a second-up winner.
Misty to shine
Ascot, G3 SA Airways Colonel Reeves S., $150,000 1100m
Misty Metal (Oratorio) finished runner-up when resuming in the G3 Prince Of Wales and the talented mare should be improved by the outing and hard to roll here.
Flirtini (Artie Schiller {USA}) had Misty Metal’s measure when they last met and he’s a serious contender again.
Stageman (Written Tycoon) is as an honest sprinter and from a handy enough draw it’s hard not to see him play a role in the finish. Battle Hero (Stratum) and Durendal (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) were both unplaced when opening their campaigns, but it is worth noting the pair are second-up winners.
Warrior up for fight
Ascot, Listed Seacorp Ascot Gold Cup, $100,000, 1800m
Spiritual Warrior (Blackfriars) in unbeaten in his last four starts and has won a trial since being successful in the Listed Kalgoorlie Cup. He’s well-placed under the conditions of the race as well.
Forceful (Hard Spun {USA}) was a winner over 1600 metres last time out and he’s placed at this trip before while Prize Catch (Zoffany {Ire}) looks a sharp improver with a run under his belt.
Prize Catch
Taxagano (Rogano) is a genuine type in decent form and he should give a sight and Missile Launch (Smart Missile) is coming back in trip, but he’s won over this distance in the past.
