Stats point to Max-ing out on Connors horse
Npunting
ot all racing stats point you in the right direction, but some do. One that is applicable to today is Max's three wins and a placing from six steeplechase starts and that might well read four from seven after this afternoon's $50,000 Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase.
It's easy to forget greatness, but the late Ken Browne and wife Ann will always be the champions of the jumps game. But relative newcomer Raymond Connors, certainly in terms of percentages, is the newly crowned king.
The Connors family have a remarkable record of finding potential jumpers and give them the time to develop.
You can't exactly say Max started out well in his jumping, losing today's rider Isaac Lupton in his jumping debut at Manawatu in June 2016. A month later he and Lupton crashed heavily at Trentham.
Better was to come and, this effectively being the 8-year-old's just second jumping season the peak is still a fair way off.
Max resumed with a nice, comfortable victory in a restricted open steeples at Wanganui and will be very ready for a much stiffer test today.
The Big Opal will be much advanced by his third placing to Max at Wanganui where he lumped 71kg. He is fractionally better off against Max this time and looks the obvious danger.
Thenamesbond was a bit stiff to misjudge a fence a round out here two weeks back. That was a fresh-up run and he will be fitter for it.
Predicted rain will be no problem for him, unlike last start winner Justa Charlie, who appreciated the dead footing here two weeks back.
Big Mike (No 5, R1) showed the appreciation of his first up close second at Pukekohe when he scored stylishly here two weeks back. He is jumping two grades here, but is a stayer with a future and rates very highly with 54kg. Youwantmore (No 3) faded out at Rotorua last week, but we can probably put that down to the conditions. She does not mind rain-affected footing here and turned in a fine fourth in the Travis Stakes two back. Cherry Bay (No 7) isa roughie for trifectas.
The earlier the rain comes the better for Danza Lad (No 3, R3) in the Waikato Hurdles. He'd swim around if you'd let him. The horse to beat is the visitor It's A Wonder, who stuck to his task exceptionally well to win here two weeks ago and who rider Will Gordon declared would be fitter for the run. The rain won't worry him, nor veteran Sea King. He is the mystery horse because he has won both the Waikato Hurdles and Steeplechase and as a rising 12-yearold he's difficult to pin down. But if it comes to outright class he wins hands down.
The open sprint, Race 4, is a smallish field, but also a difficult one. Its nice to go for value in those races and it's not ridiculous to suggest
Nailed It (No 5) could surprise. She failed when resuming at Rotorua last week, but you could forgive anything for that. She is capable in this type of company.
Cinematic (No 8) jumps to open company from R75, but his apprentice rider — who has won the last two starts on her — takes her weight down to 51kg. Brilliant Shine (No 1) gets his chance to show something in this field.
Power O'Hata (No 3, R7) was sensibly pulled out of Rotorua.
The winner of three of her six starts faces a useful field of 3-yearolds here, but she beat a pretty handy lot here two back. Another by Power,
Padraig (No 2), could be the surprise. He looked exceptional here as a late two-year-old, but didn't find his best form in the Busuttin/Young Melbourne stable and is back here with Andrew Campbell.
There was a lot to like about his second at the recent Cambridge trials. If he is back to his best he will go close.
Sisterbeel (No 7) is heading into some fine form.
Capucine (No 5, R8) has not struck a track she's likely to find here, but has looked highly talented in winning three of four times to the races, two of the wins coming here.
Red Tsunami (No 14) was no chance after missing the start at Rotorua. Forget that and go here on her good Te Rapa stats. The wetter the better.
Roc de Bank (No 1) is another who likes Te Rapa. He will be improved for his first-up run.
Obsessive (No 8, R9) is one to stay with, although you might have to wait until next season after this.
She was beaten by a good sort here last time, but stuck on determinedly for second.
The dangers are Poker Face (No 6), Vittachi (No 4) and Grand Soleil (No 11).