G1 Railway, NZ$240,000, 1200m
Fastnet Rock (Danehill {USA}) was represented by last year's winner (Avantage) of this race and this time around the top two in the weights are his sons - Packing Rockstar who was tough taking out the Listed J Swap Sprint last start - and the imported Gino Severini (Ire) who was a game, close-up fourth after finding trouble in the G1 Captain Cook S.
Resuming off a successful New South Wales campaign (and trialling well) is Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) whilst also looking good at the trials was Levante (NZ) (Proisir) who has been kept fresh since winning the Listed Counties Bowl, a race in which Roch 'N' Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) were game placegetters.
It was four years ago since Summer Passage (Snitzel) won his Group 1; he was unplaced in this race last year but can pull out a run fresh - what a traveller he has been!
Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) rarely runs poorly and went so close in Group 2 company last start whilst many eyes will be on the exciting Rose 'N' Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) who is shooting for five in a row.
G3 City Of Auckland Cup, NZ$200,000, 2400m
Cheaperthandivorce (NZ) (Savabeel) looks set to continue a good recent run for her sire who has sired the winner of this race twice in the last three years - well represented by Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) last year and Prince Jabeel in 2019.
The winner of four of her 10 starts, she was great winning the G3 Waikato Cup and is again the one to beat. Second to her last time out, Starrybeel (NZ) (also by Savabeel) always tries hard and there is a big chance for Savabeel to trifecta this with Concert Hall (NZ) well-placed up in trip and down in class having been good to the line in the G1 Zabeel Classic.
Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) made a late dive in the G3 Manawatu Cup last start and is another suited up in distance as is She's A Maneater (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who has earned a crack at this tougher company having been good winning two of her last three.
G2 Eclipse S., NZ$120,000, 1200m
Nine promising juveniles line up here with six of them already being winners. Mascarinto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was dominant at debut, showing good heart when stakes-placed second-up.
Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) impressed remaining undefeated with her G2 Challenge S. victory whilst improving at her second outing was Gwen Stephani (NZ) (El Roca) who charged late over 1000 metres at Matamata.
I Choose You (I Am Invincible) was too good on pace at debut and Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) has been improving with racing. Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) has her first run since finishing off strongly to win at her Matamata debut in late September. Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) is still a maiden but a stakes-placed promising one.
G2 Royal S., NZ$120,000, 2000m
The High Priestess (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is a maiden but an exciting one having, at just her second start, finished off strongly for an eye-catching G2 Eight Carat Classic second behind the in-form Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Verona (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) and Social Distance (NZ) (Savabeel) didn't have the best of luck in that same race in which Princess Lowry (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) was a gutsy third having covered ground.
Just Dance (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) showed good fight when close up in the G3 Eulogy S., a race where Not A Brass Razoo (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was good without any luck at all.
G2 Auckland Guineas, NZ$120,000, 1600m
Australian-bred horses have enjoyed a good record in this race in recent years, taking out four of the last six runnings. Two here look chances to continue that run - Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner) seeking to atone after finding trouble in the Listed Uncle Remus S. whilst Eagle Tarzan (Tavistock {NZ}) is up in class but promising.
The latter is one of two of the Tavistock (NZ) breed lining up here, Tutukaka (NZ) resuming off the back of a successful Australian campaign that saw him win stakes races in Queensland and Victoria.
Field Of Gold is a grandson of the late Choisir (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) as is Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) who was great to the line winning the G3 Bonecrusher S. in which Whiskey (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) was a game second.
White Noise (NZ) (El Roca) showed plenty of heart winning the G3 Wellington S. last time out, improving with the addition of blinkers.
G2 Rich Hill Mile, NZ$120,000, 1600m
Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) is in good form as she attempts to become the very first horse to win this race twice - so strong to the line here 12 months ago.
Hard to beat will be the up-and-comer Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace) who has tasted defeat only once in seven starts, and that was at debut. He rises in grade but looked to have plenty in hand defeating the classy Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock) last start.
Another with a nice picket fence next to his name is Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) who has been successful at his last three, trialling nicely since his latest success at Te Rapa on November 20.
Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Providenceprovides (Real Impact {Jpn}), Slave To Love (NZ) (Savabeel) and Dragon Leap (Pierro) just keep racing well whilst Masetto (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}) - who was Group 1-placed in September - has trialled well.
