Champ to retain title
Trentham, G1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph, NZ$250,000, 1200m
Defending champion Avantage (Fastnet Rock) is hard to go past following her resuming victory in the G1 Sistema and it will be a surprise if she doesn’t complete the feature sprint double. The weight-for-age scale is again also very much in her favour.
Looks can be deceptive and that’s very much the case with Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a diminutive, sway back 5-year-old. However, he is a talented professional and a multiple stakes winner who may offer the stiffest opposition to the hot-pot.
Spring Heat (More Than Ready {USA}) finished sixth in the Railway and would have got a lot closer with a clear passage.
Avantage’s stablemate Burgundy Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) and Wekaforce (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) are capable, but where they are ready to make an impact at Group 1 level at weight-for-age may be a push too far.
Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa) has twice won this race and was runner-up last year, a formidable record but there is a query whether he is going well enough this time to be a major player. Mascarpone (NZ) (Shooting To Win) races well on the course and is worth considering for exotics.
History a pointer
Trentham, G1 Devan Plastics Levin Classic, NZ$225,000, 1600m
Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) will be a short-priced favourite for good reasons – the colt has won his last three starts on the bounce and at his most recent appearance claimed the Listed Uncle Remus S. The last three winners of that race to contest the Levin Classic have successfully completed the double.
Whimsical (NZ) (Savabeel) was a comfortable winner of the G3 Eulogy S. and looms as a serious threat. She is lightly-tried and still improving and has had a trial to keep her ticking over since last racing.
Tokorangi (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) enjoyed a break after a luckless fifth in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and resumed with a tidy fifth in the Uncle Remus. The step back up to a mile on a roomy track will be ideal for her.
Bonham (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) had followed a similar preparation and following her seventh at Riccarton was a winner of her only start since while Moana (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is another filly with a strong chance after her third in the G2 Eight Carat Classic.
Bonham’s stablemate Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) has won two of his last four starts and the only question mark on him is his ability to run a strong 1600 metres. Frontman (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), a brother former star mare Bonneval (NZ), won his debut well enough to suggest he can handle a rise in class.
Conditions ideal
Trentham, G3 Dixon & Dunlop Trentham S., NZ$70,000, 2100m
Dolcetto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is perfectly-suited by the set weights and penalties conditions and will drop 5kg from his gallant run for second in the G3 Manawatu Cup. He was also fourth in the G1 Livamol Classic in the spring so is proven against better opposition than he meets here.
Camino Rocoso (NZ) (Shocking) won this race last year and a most recent victory showed he’s in good form to defend his title while Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) was runner-up 12 months ago. She was below par last time seen out, but is worth another chance.
Hunta Pence (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) has consecutive black type wins to his credit and doesn’t look badly off in his quest for a notable hat-trick.
Mohaka (NZ) (Nadeem) won the Listed Feilding Cup and two subsequent runs have been sound while Our Hail Mary (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and One Of The Best (NZ) (Monolith) have been impressive in the lower grades, although their place prospects look best.
Best form beckons
Trentham, G3 Wellington Seamarket Anniversary H., NZ$70,000, 1600m
Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) has had injury issues and has had two runs back after a lengthy break. He was a sound last-start sixth in the G2 Rich Hill Mile and might now be ready to make a return to his best form.
Super Strike (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) has fashioned a tidy record in a short career and this is a major step up, but he does drop a hefty 6kg on his fast-finishing second at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. He looms as a serious chance.
The Mitigator (Master Of Design) is a Group 1 winner over this course and distance and while he can mix his form, he’ll be a threat if he is allowed an easy time of it in his favoured front-running role.
Sinarahama (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) doesn’t help herself by leaving the barrier slowly and if she can jump on terms with the field, is a genuine winning chance and Motivation (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) has been closing late in recent outings and a step up to a mile puts him firmly in the picture.
Draw major help
Trentham, Listed IRT No.1 Wellesley S., NZ$50,000, 1000m
Quattro Quinta (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was runner-up in the Listed Fasttrack S. at his last appearance after racing three wide. He has been freshened and a recent trial outing should make him hard to beat from a handy gate.
Titled (NZ) (Exceed And Excel) had little luck on debut and powered home for fifth and will appreciate the roomy Trentham track. Ansu (Press Statement) enjoyed a trouble-free run to win that race and has to be taken seriously again.
Magneto (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) have place form and hopes again, if they get luck from tricky gates.
Weights favour Prezado
Flemington, Listed Kensington S., $140,000, 1000m
A swing in the weights in favour of Prezado (Denman) may see him turn the tables on Fabergino (Maschino) as he meets the mare 1.5kg better off after coming second best at their last meeting on the course in December.
Prezado’s stablemate Sword Of Mercy (Sebring) is unbeaten this preparation and ready to take on a black-type challenge while Bons Away (Bon Hoffa) has measured up well in far stronger fields than this and has won twice off a break in the past.
Halvorsen (Magnus) is another proven first-up performer whose chances have to be taken seriously and Pandemic (Sepoy) has winning form and hard to ignore. Seemingly Discreet (Sepoy) is a genuine mare and with All Banter (I’m All The Talk) another pair of genuine lighter-weighted prospects.
Carocapo to strike
Ascot, Listed Miss Andretti S., $100,000, 1100m
Carocapo (Husson {Arg}) is in fine form and posted two wins before third in the Listed Summer Scorcher behind Indian Pacific (Zoustar). He will meet that runner 2kg better off in this rematch.
Essential Spice (Gingerbread Man) and Misty Metal (Oratorio) were fourth and fifth respectively in that race and as the pair are in the early stages of their campaigns can be expected to be sharper for the outing.
Vital Silver (Wanted) was never in the hunt in the G1 Winterbottom S., but in this company is a definite chance while Saracino (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is fresh and is a past first-up winner. He has also had the benefit of a recent trial.
