Sweet on mare
Randwick, G3 Daily The Press Nivision, $200,000, 1200m
Sweet Deal (Casino Prince) won the G3 Toy Show three runs back and has since been beaten in against stronger company. She wasn’t far away in either appearance though and from an inside gate can get back to winning ways.
Jen Rules (Redoute’s Choice) has been excellent this preparation with consecutive Group 2 placings and back a grade here can cap off those efforts with the fifth win of her career.
Sweet Deal (red cap)
Athiri (Lonhro) and Blazing Miss (Sizzling) have been in good touch in the lower grades and winning form can’t be discounted while Positive Peace (Stratum) was beaten from a wide alley last time out and has drawn closer to the fence this time and can be more competitive.
Wandabaa (Wandjina) is nothing if not consistent and there’s no reason to believe that trend will be broken, her last-start failure aside, Seasons (Sebring) has been racing well and might be worth another chance. She has won all four of her races over this distance.
Strong option
Te Rapa, G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial, NZ$100,000, 1400m
Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) made an impressive return to racing last time out at Matamata where he gave a competitive age group line-up a start and a beating.
That was his first race day appearance for four months so there’s every reason he is going to be more of a force to be reckoned with in this. He is a smart colt and capable of overcoming an awkward gate.
Need I Say More (No Nay Never {USA}) is a dual stakes winner who lost his perfect record when fourth in the G3 Hawke’s Bay Guineas. He raced wide throughout from an outside gate and fought well and has drawn a much better alley this time.
Bourbonaire (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was second in the Guineas and has to be considered on that effort, as does Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) who was runner-up to Not An Option last time out and will improve for the experience.
Tinker McPhee (Nostradamus), who is destined to join Chris Waller’s stable after her G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas bid, was a stylish maiden winner at Matamata earlier this month and on the strength of that performance won’t be out of place here.
Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) is another filly who has impressed in a short career, in which she has been Group placed and was narrowly beaten on this course at her latest appearance.
Tokorangi top chance
Te Rapa, G3 Waikato Stud Soliloquy S., NZ$70,000, 1400m
Tokorangi (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) was runner-up on debut last season and was then a runaway winner before a break. She resumed in the G3 Gold Trail S. and came from last to run fourth after being held up along the way and the extra trip will suit her ideally.
Sweet Anna (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was second in that race after enjoying a good run and Taroni (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) finished a sound fifth so both are accorded good chances again.
Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) is still a maiden, but has been stakes placed and was a luckless third last time out after a check and was forced to race wide without cover.
Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Waimoku Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Escudo (NZ) (El Roca) are a trio of last-start maiden winners who performed well enough to suggest they won’t be embarrassed in this company.
Unition leading hope
Riccarton, G3 War Decree S., NZ$80,000, 1600m
Unition (Fastnet Rock) was a Listed winner and Group-placed last term and he has opened his 3-year-old season in encouraging style. He was third behind the talented Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) at Matamata and that is a strong form line.
Marine (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has looked good in his brief career and fair to expect further improvement from him while Elizabeth Rose (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) was a handy third in the Guineas Trial and a place hope again.
Showbazz (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) was below par last time out but his previous form entitles him to a second chance and Fashion Shoot (NZ) (Savabeel) was a strong maiden winner at Te Rapa before she ran fifth in a strong Matamata contest and didn’t enjoy the best of runs.
