UK watch on Te Awamutu

The $ 2.30 the TAB was yesterday offering around Lewis Caroll at Ruakaka today looked attractive.

The classy emerging sprinter looks a weight special in Race 3. He comes in fresh and appears to race best that way and you can imagine him running a huge 1200m around the reasonably tight Ruakaka circuit.

He has drawn the outside of the six runners, but has the speed to cross in front of them to get to the rail, especially with just 53.5kg on his back.

Don’t ignore his quite remarkable record: eight starts, five wins, two seconds and a third. When is the last time we saw that? Fully Funded ( No 2) could well this season be named Fully Developed because that’s the impression he gives as a 5- year- old. That fresh up 2.5- length win over Passing Shot at Ellerslie was not a fluke and from a nice gate he should give cheek as might Amarula ( No 1), despite his 60kg.

The Ruakaka Goliath, which is the Donna Logan/ Chris Gibbs stable will once again play a massive hand in today’s results. The stable has runners peppered throughout the card and one of the best prospects is likely to be Command Royale ( No 7, R8). He has turned in big finishes for minor placings coming from awkward draws since winning here fresh and this time comes out of gate No 1. The stable also has Floating Heart ( No 6) engaged who has been placed when fresh, but this time she has a tough outside barrier. Divorcee ( No 9) is a good runner fresh and Joanne Surgenor seems to have the knack of getting them fit for when they resume. Lucky’s Revenge ( No 1) and Way In ( No 14) are definite chances for the multiples.

Logan and Gibbs have a top chance to open the day the right way with I See Red ( No 9, R1). The Redwood filly has shown plenty of promise from just three raceday appearances and stepping from 1200m to 1400m for the first should suit. The barrier looks perfect. Normandy ( No 1) looked good on debut and Aleria ( No 8) should be improved for her first- up run here in May.

There are chances everywhere in Race 2 and a bit of caution may be required, but Logan and Gibbs rate highly with Dancing Light ( No 5) and Amazing Lady ( No 4). Dancing Light has drawn the better of the pair and that might be the difference. Their third runner Kyrie Eleison ( No 12) is also not out of it. She is on debut, but has won a barrier trial.

The training partners have four of the eight runners in Race 4. Toorak Tower ( No 7) won’t be the best backed of the quartet, but might prove difficult to hold out. When he won his maiden on this track last preparation he looked gangly and weak and was always going to strengthen with time. He resumes here and might surprise the others from an ideal barrier. Twentysixtwelve ( No 4) is capable of running a race and so is in- form topweight Playboy Prince ( No 1), whose 60kg will drop to 57kg with Darren Danis in the saddle.

Only seven runners in Race 5, but it’s one of the toughest. Nailed It ( No 5) from the powerful Baker- Forsman team, will probably start favourite, but the local Kaharau ( No 2) is worth an each- way look. At his best he is well up to these and will be improved for his first- up Ellerslie outing. The race could be a bit of a trap.

With just 54kg, Valante ( No 9, R6) will take beating even though jumping up t wo grades. He fought very strongly for a close second under 59.5kg in difficult ground at Ellerslie last start and looks better placed here.

Zafrenzy ( No 5) has won twice on her home track here and rates from the 54kg mark and Francis Drake ( No 3) generally puts in.

Spider ( No 5, R7) has always been a touch underrated and trainer Kim Knight says the local has become much stronger this preparation. He won well when resuming and the 59kg he carried into third at Ellerslie last start is reduced to 54kg by going up a grade. He has won three on his home track here and rates highly to make it four. De Niro ( No 2) is also going up a grade, but there was a lot to like about the manner in which he put the opposition away in winning at Hastings last start.

His trainer Peter McKay has a remarkable winning strike rate at Ruakaka.

Skyweka ( No 3) rates and Wolff Spirit ( No 6) is one to spice up the exotic options.

Logan and Gibbs will have a big hand in the result of the last, Race 9 with Green Spirit, Real Fun and Rikki Tikki Tavi as form runners and Gold Rosa as an upset chance. Green Spirit ( No 7) has drawn awkwardly, but has gate speed and over 1600m with its long run down the back straight can probably get across the face of most of the field. Real Fun ( No 8) looks a staying type and may be better when she gets to a middle distance, but if the pace is on here she will be right in the action. One of the dangers is Chambon ( No 5). Ben Ropiha will be keeping an eye on tomorrow’s events at Te Awamutu from afar.

The Cambridge trainer is currently holidaying in the United Kingdom, but he will still be following his mare Jayla Monet’s performance in the Waipa Hire 1400 with keen interest.

“It’s been a great break and I really enjoyed going to Epsom for the Oaks — it was a great spectacle and I had a good day on the punt as well,” Ropiha said.

To be ridden by Troy Harris, Jayla Monet will be resuming after a sixmonth break following a disappointing spring and summer campaign.

“It was probably our own fault and her first- up run over a mile in the Karaka Classic on a really testing track at Pukekohe probably took more out of her than we thought,” Ropiha said.

“We were trying to get her in the Auckland Cup, but that didn’t work out so she had a break.”

While 1400 metres i sn’t Jayla Monet’s pet trip, Ropiha still expects the daughter of Any Suggestion to give a decent fresh- up account of herself.

“The distance on Sunday will be too short for her, but we’ll be happy to see her hitting the line well,” he said.

Jayla Money showed her potential last winter when she won consecutive races over ground at Otaki, Hawera and Ellerslie. “She can get herself wound up and be a bit of a handful, but she is a talented staying mare,” Ropiha said.

Nailed It from the powerful BakerForsman team, will probably start favourite, but the local Kaharau is worth an each- way look.