Felton Road sensible way to start day at Te Rapa
Take the short odds on Felton Road in the opener at Te Rapa today.
The track conditions will be interesting and will probably hamper some fancied runners through the programme, but Felton Road has shown he can get through at least loose footing.
Bit of talent in the opposition, but the small field will help Felton Road.
The wetter the track, the better the chance of Youwantmore ( No3, R2).
She failed in open company last start, but could not have won more stylishly by more than seven lengths on a bog track at New Plymouth the start before. She should get a cosy passage from her rails barrier. Tough field to sort out, but last start winner Hard To Be Humble ( No6) should be competitive again.
Only the barrier draw beat Cosmic Storm ( No7, R3) on this track last week. Unfortunately she has drawn very wide again and Leith Innes will face the same issues Troy Harris tried hard to overcome 14 days back. Difficult to see what different tactics Innes can come up with than dropping back early that Harris was forced into. The former English mare is worth the risk that she could be improved for her first start over a middle distance last time. Divine Duke ( No2) is an eachway hope.
Wooden Edge ( No4, R4) couldn’t complete a winning treble last start, but any horse beaten on a wet track at Rotorua is worth the benefit of the doubt.
He’s twice won on the Te Rapa surface and I have a slight impression the move up to a middle distance from the metric miles might suit. Wrangler ( No9) is getting solid and with just 53kg should not be far away.
The big race, the $ 100,000 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate, is a raffle in the conditions.
The favourites Kawi ( No1, R5), Perfect Fit ( No9) and Coldplay ( No11) would probably share the spoils on a surface no worse than dead, but footing heading towards heavy could rule each out. If you rule the trio out, the raffle element comes into the frame. Difficult to know where to end up — perhaps Mime ( No8) each way. Tough race in the conditions.
Highlad ( No4, R2) was stylish enough at the Te Teko trials to suggest he can make a showing when resuming. He has drawn a fraction awkwardly, but i s pretty tough when some things go his way. Wildflower ( No3) can be in it.
Leica Lady ( No14, R7) won for fun last start at Tauranga. This is a fair step up in class, but she has real potential and if Leith Innes can get her some luck from a wide gate from the 1600m she can make it t wo straight. Quantum ( No2) gets a 3kg weight relief and that puts him right in contention.
You would have liked to be with Hartnell when he read that Winx was not among his rivals in the $ 200,000 Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield today. The champion mare, racing at Randwick, cost Hartnell at least three group ones last season, including the Cox Plate.
Without Winx he would be much higher rated, but make no mistake he is absolute top class. They will be hard pressed to test him this afternoon. Champion jockey Damien Oliver is appealing the severity of a 14- meeting suspension incurred at Sandown. Oliver fronts the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Tuesday to have his appeal heard. He pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge aboard Redcore in the opening race at Sandown on Wednesday. Pickngo is in the right order to retain her unbeaten record at Tauherenikau today. A smart debut winner at Otaki in May, she will resume over 1000m in the South Wairarapa Veterinary Services Handicap. “She trialled well at Waverley and I think she’s going to be pretty competitive,” said Johno Benner who trains with Hollie Wynyard. The lightly raced five- year- old Vanilla Moon has been tipped for higher honours. Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle has three wins from her seven starts with the last of them coming in the Marks Ewen & Associates 1200 at yesterday’s Taupo meeting. “That was really encouraging and she’ll get to black type for sure,” Scott said. I Got You is likely to be tested in stronger company during the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival. Trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman were given good reason to lift their sights with the three- year- old after he opened his account in the Telperion Sprint at Taupo yesterday. “We’ve always thought he had a lot of ability so we’re glad to see him do the job like that,” Forsman said.