Humidor has most bases covered
It will be cigars all round should rising star from the Central Districts salute in Hastings feature today
The point about Humidor in today's $ 250,000 Livamol Classic at Hastings i s it's difficult to find a negative around him.
Yes, he jumps from 53kg in handicap class to 57.5kg at weight- for- age, but let's be honest, this i s a touch under the overall grade of horses we've seen in this race in the past 15 years.
If Humidor ( No 9, R8) is going to make it as a weight- for- age horse — cotrainer Johno Benner believes he will — he should be winning today. He's unbeaten in t wo starts on rainaffected footing, unbeaten in t wo Hastings starts and will get his chance from a mid- field barrier.
Francaletta ( No 6, R7) is worth taking the short odds for in the middle of the programme. If you doubt that go back and watch her previous win at the carnival. It was fabulous. Only bad luck can beat her.
Ringo ( No 3, R5) has a good record fresh from a spell. He has not raced since February, which i s a bit of a stretch, but he has had a barrier trial.
He has 59.5kg, but the track rating should suit him perfectly and although there are some smart sorts opposing him, he looks a good eachway chance.
Persuasive ( No 8) is in career best form.
As we said in Onform yesterday, the way the track is racing, aka the track bias, will decide Race six, the Hawkes Bay Guineas. Outside of something going amiss, Ugo Foscolo ( No 2) will be leading into the home straight or soon after and lodging a challenge will be the favourite Heroic Valour ( No 1). What eventuates will be the highlight of the day.
Watch the previous races carefully to determine whether on- pace horses in the home straight have an advantage. If it does, Ugo Foscolo will also
have one. Wyndspelle ( No 4) is a must for all multiple bets.
Profile ( No 8, R9) is an improving mare. She will be fitter for her first- up Wanganui run and should be in good shape for this race. Lisa Latta's pair, Henree Winkler ( No 3) and Master Platinum ( No 4) look the dangers.
Rock On ( No 10, R10) has drawn wide in the last, but if Leith Innes can find him a nice run he will appreciate the 1600m. He was finishing nicely at the end of 1400m last time.
Back the Murray Baker- Andrew Forsman pair Highlad ( R3) and Eleonore ( R6) at Flemington tomorrow and keep following them.
Back to Hastings and Baker believes Get That Jive will be at his best at distances past 1400m but says there's no reason why he can't win the Red Badge Spring Sprint today.
He was rapt with Get That Jive's first- up win at Hastings in the Rating 85 1400m race a fortnight ago and wasn't ruling out an Australian campaign for the Street Sense 4- year- old gelding after this weekend.
“He's been running in group races right through and he was only once out of the money last year. We're having a go because it's a listed race and it fits in with his programme — and it's good money as well.”
Stakes- placed in the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie as a 2- year- old and in the Great Northern, Waikato and Avondale Guineas in consecutive starts last season at three, Get That Jive finished eighth in this year's New Zealand Derby before his winter spell.
Resuming under Matthew Cameron, Get That Jive settled midfield before reeling in the leaders to score his second win from eight starts and ensure his return to stakes company.
“We'll just assess what he does after today but there's always Australia. I'm addicted to Australia.”
Baker and training partner Andrew Forsman will produce seven runners at Hastings, among them Mime and Saint Emilion in the Livamol and Jon Snow in the Guineas.
Baker said Mime had progressed well since her second in the Windsor Park Plate ( 1600m) at Hastings and he had few concerns with the prospect of a slow track.
Drawing barrier 18 has done Mime few favours. Saint Emilion, backing up from his fresh- up win in the greys’ race at New Plymouth last Saturday, fared better with barrier two.
Jon Snow steps out for the first time on raceday for the season in the Guineas. “I wouldn't be lining him up if I didn't think he was capable of winning it. He goes pretty good, this horse. He's trialled well and he's fit, but whether he goes on a wet track, I'm just not 100 per cent sure.” Kawi’s broad shoulders will be put to a formidable test if New Zealand’s weight- for- age star makes one more appearance before chasing two huge paydays in Perth. “He could have a run on October 29 at the Feilding meeting at Awapuni in the Redcraze Bowl,” trainer Allan Sharrock said. Kawi won the race last year with apprentice Dylan Mo’s three kilo claim reducing his impost to 59kg. “They’ve told me that he’ll be allotted the phenomenal weight of 67.5kg, which even with the claim of Alfred ( Chan) means he’ll have to carry 64.5kg,” Sharrock said. “If I think the weight is far too much then I could trial him, but I’m trying to get him ready for million- dollar races and can I do that on a trial? I’ll have to have a think about it.” Rosehill trainer Chris Waller didn’t need to ask Hugh Bowman what shape Winx was in after her latest track gallop — the jockey’s beaming grin said it all. The champion mare worked in the Melbourne direction at Rosehill on Tuesday, as her trainer continues tuning her up for her next start in the Caulfield Stakes on October 8. “Hughie had a big smile,” Waller said. “Biggest smile I’ve seen so far so that was good enough for me.” A lack of opportunities closer to home has resulted in Kelly Burne chasing southern prizes with her under- rated stayer Saint Kitt. “There wasn’t anything for him on the last two days at Hawke’s Bay and there are some nice options for him down here,” the Hastings trainer said. “He also prefers it on top of the ground; he doesn’t like being bogged down as he’s a longstriding horse.” Saint Kitt has made two appearances after a lengthy break to now be approaching peak fitness and he will also be better suited to the 2000m of the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup at Riccarton today. Fanatic has been scratched from the Livamol Classic because of track conditions at Hastings. Trainers Graeme Sanders and Debbie Sweeney and breeder- owner Sean Kiernan will now take a few days to decide the immediate future of last season’s New Zealand Oaks winner. “We’re really happy with her, it’s just the track,” Sweeney said. “We’re not prepared to take any risks with her. We will probably decide on Monday whether she still goes to Australia or if she stays at home.” Fanatic’s withdrawal will allow another New Zealand Oaks winner in Savaria into the Livamol line- up. Kevin Gray picked the perfect stage on Thursday to produce the 1000th winner of his training career. He joined an elite club when Itsallbelt, a Handsome Ransom mare he bred and races with wife Kathleen, triumphed at Waverley, where Gray successfully trained in partnership with son Stephen for many years. He is also a former president of the club, while Stephen is now a prominent trainer in Singapore. These days based near Palmerston North, Master Belt, Daffodil and Legs have been among Gray’s leading representatives since he was first licensed 36 years ago. Powerful filly Mystery Show showed she had more than one string to her bow with a sterling performance at Te Rapa yesterday. Trainer James Bridge’s change of tactics resulted in the filly giving all rivals a start and a sound beating in the Goldsmith’s Gallery 1200. “I wanted her ridden a little quieter,” he said. “I’m very relieved and it’s always nice to see good horses perform going into the bigger races. We saw another side of the filly today and that gives up options.” The winner of two of her four starts and placed in the Gold Trail Stakes, Mystery Show will run in the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie on October 22 as her final lead in to the NZ 1000 Guineas three weeks later. Well- performed Taranaki mare Madonna Mia might have run her last race. Trained by part- owner Allan Sharrock, the 7- year- old will be served by Novara Park’s Sweynesse at Cambridge. “She’s done a great job for us and it’s unlikely she’ll race again,” he said. Madonna Mia won nine races, including the listed Wanganui Cup and she was also runnerup in the listed Rotorua Stakes.