Profile fits Stakes bill
Recent results of feature races show a trend of horses down in the ratings stepping up and capturing the honours.
Lasarla set the ball rolling in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes which saw her rating rocket from 65 to 88.
Trainers Moira and Kieran Murdoch were fully prepared to take a gamble to get a black-type win.
The same day Rating-75 eligible Chocante won the Counties Cup and last weekend another in the same rating band, Lizzie L’amour won the Waikato Cup.
Volksraad mare Profile fits the bill this weekend in the weight-forage Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400).
She sits on a rating of 78 but father and daughter training partners David and Emma Haworth are confident of a good showing.
‘‘We think a lot of her,’’ Emma Haworth told NZ Racing Desk.
‘‘You can’t get too confident in a big race but we’re very happy with her.’’
Profile ($16) offers good value behind early favourite Scapolo ($4.80), Mighty Solomon ($5.80), Summer’s Day ($5.00), with Slice Of Class($8.60).
There has been support for Profile in the early betting and also for another off a low rating La Fille En Jeu ($16).
Trainer Nigel Nigel Auret is happy to take on the race this week with his in-form mare, the winner of six from 14 starts.
Summer’s Day opened at $5.40 but TAB bookmaker Stephen Hunt reports she has been the most popular runner in the first 24 hours of trading.
South Island visitor Maybe Miami ($14) is worth some thought.
‘‘He over-raced at 1600 metres in the Couplands Mile so we’ve dropped back to 1400 metres,’’ said co-trainer Kevin Hughes.
‘‘He’s good enough to be a chance in the race.’’
All the money in the Manawatu Cup (2300m) is for the favoured pair Five To Midnight ($3.50) and Chocante ($3.70).
‘‘Both are taking plenty of early money,’’ Hunt said.
King Kamada ($7.60) a stablemate of the favourite, is the next best backed despite being equal topweight with Sampson ($9.50).
Meantime, a six figure bonus has resulted in a change of plan for Nymph Monte. With $1 million on offer to any horse to win the City of Auckland Cup, the Avondale Cup and the Auckland Cup, trainer Grant Nicholson has altered his charge’s programme.
‘‘We were looking at the Zabeel Classic but that $1 million is a big carrot so the preference is now the City of Auckland Cup,’’ he said.
‘‘After that he’ll run in the Herbie Dyke Stakes and then back up in the Avondale Cup. He’s done it before – and then it’s three weeks to the Auckland Cup.’’
Nymph Monte showed his staying ability at Riccarton two runs back with a strong performance to win the Listed Metropolitan Trophy over 2500m before he ran fifth in the New Zealand Cup.
The 5-year-old was freshened after his southern trip and he will return to racing in Saturday’s Manawatu Challenge Stakes.
‘‘He’s doing handstands and this will give him a good blow out before we go north,’’ Nicholson said.