SUNDAY 02/03

RACE 1 - 1400M 3YO

2. WINGMAN / 3. DETERMINATAL / 1. BALLON D'OR

Craig Grylls hops aboard this progressive SWISS ACE three-year-old gelding and he looks every bit the part. Profiles well for this with 2 victories from 4 starts. Only needs to be held together early in the running from a tidy draw to be winning the first.

RACE 2 - 1400M MAIDEN

7. DUBAI'S POTIKI / 1. NOZUMI / 6. ARGYLE

An OCEAN PARK gelding who seems to be heading in the right direction for Chrissy Bambry. Out of a very fine staying racemare in DUBAI BELLE (E Dubai) and this three-year-old put in a solid effort over 2060m last start. Drops back in trip so should be winding up hard late.

BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP / RACE 3 - 1400M

2. ONE BOLD GIGILO / 12. CARIJILLO / 1. PEPEHA

Looks a Robbie Patterson special and this gelding by THE BOLD ONE is bred to be a tough fighter. Won in the wet at New Plymouth and although up in class has the ability to feature prominently with Grylls in the saddle. Can go back-to-back here.

RACE 4 - 2200M HANDICAP

1. SWORD IN STONE / 6. TITLED / 8. DANJURO

This nine year-old REDWOOD gelding should eat up the trip and although he doesn't win many, he will be very fit and was pretty tenacious fighting hard over 2060m at Whanganui last start. Handles the weight then likely to be thereabouts on the line.

RACE 5 - BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP / 2100M

4. SIR BRUCE / 5. CALL A FRIEND / 9. USAIN

Not the kindest draw, however the Robbie Patterson trained four-year-old PREFERMANT gelding looks well-placed here and is likely to draw back and line them up. Capable of handling the step up in grade as he was just too good for them over 2000m on his home course last start. Tough to roll again.

RACE 6 - BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP / 1200M

1. BRAVE SPIRIT / 4 . IVY DAZZLER / 11. RAYET

Scratched yesterday in favour of this race and if the Ritchie / Ramsey team are willing to make the trek to Wellington then it can only be to secure a win. Won at the track/trip so can get amongst it early and drive to the line. Stott riding well and the draw is perfect. Beware RAYET. Shaping up to give this plenty.

RACE 7 - 1200M OPEN HANDICAP

6. FANCY LIKE LASS / 9. INSATIABLE / 7. THE STONEY ONE

Resumed with a tidy 2nd placing behind THE STONEY ONE and this is a nicely bred HELLBENT sprinter capable of going one better today. Excels on the course and at the distance so impossible to overlook. Kate Hercock sticks and remains on 54kg. Will go very close.

RACE 8 - LOWLAND STAKES G2 / 2100M

1. LECIA LUCY / 5. COTTON ROCA / 2. CONNELLO

Brilliant three-year-old who just wins it. End of story.

RACE 9 - BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP / 1600m

9. LATRELLE / 8. LANIKAI / 12 NANCY SHE WROTE

Heading in the right direction, stable are firing and gets a gun jockey aboard. Not much to dislike and only has to find a nice spot in the running to be effective. Looks awfully difficult to beat in the last.

BEST BET: LECIA LUCY

NEXT BEST: LATRELLE

BEST VALUE: DUBAI'S POTIKI

WILDCARD: RUSTY LANE (R9)

RACE 1 - 1000M (C4)

9. JUSTIFYING / 1. GRAND NOVA / 5. KA YING RESILIENCE

On debut and looks to have a ton of ability. Won a trial at Benella last April before two more smooth jumpout wins in Hong Kong. By JUSTIFY, his dam MONTANA FLIGHT is by the speed merchant champ FLYING SPUR with the grandam producing CARAVAGGIO. Can fly out of the gates here and kick off his career with a win.

RACE 2 - 1200M (C5)

8. HO HO STAR / 12. SPEEDY CHARIOT / 7. FLYING PHANTOM

Won over 1200m last start and can go on with it here. This TIME TEST gelding has taken a while to work it all out but it now appears he is on his way. HO HO STAR travelled behind midfield on the fence, weaved a run near the inside and quickened nicely to just overhaul Flying Romantic in the last few metres. The mother LAUBERHORN is by SWISS ACE and was quite handy winning three in NZ

RACE 3 - 1650M (C3)

9. ENDEARED / 6. NEVER PETER OUT / 5. FIGHTING MACHINE

Craig Williams will steer this DARK ANGEL gelding who was very good last prep but struggled fresh up. Much better when chasing NEVER PETER OUT for fourth last start over this trip with more improvement to come. Irish bred with FRANKEL in the pedigree so should he pretty sturdy. Can feature at reasonable odds.

RACE 4 - 1200M (C4)

3. MASTER PHOENIX / 4. BALLISTIC WIN / 8. LUCKY MY WAY

Coming off a win and a short let up which should have freshened up this David Eustace trained four-year-old. Won a Class 4 over 1200m at the end of January and trialled over that distance mid Feb. His dam MILLENNIUM STAR is by the great OCTAGONAL so he will produce plenty of fight and can win again.

RACE 5 - 1400M (C4)

11. PATCH OF STARS / 12. LUCKY FIONN / 10. SLIGHT DREAMER

Nearing something positive and you can never underestimate an ALL TOO HARD bred horse over this distance. Maps to do no work so likely to track the speed and look to challenge from the turn. Riversley Park and Michael Guerin paid $100,000 for him as a colt and he could produce a far more dominant performance today. The JMac mount looks a major threat and the hardest to beat but chasing better odds here.

RACE 6 - 1650M (C4)

3. PRECISION GOAL / 9. LUCKY BANNER / 6. LAKESHORE HERO

Will jump quite short and difficult to knock this formline. This David Hayes trained TAVISTOCK gelding is a classic miler and seems to thrive at this trip on the track. Capable of replicating the last two winning runs. Scores a much better gate here from the previous dual victories, therefore looks hard to hold out once again.

RACE 7 - 1800M HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP

13. STEPS AHEAD / 1. MY WISH / 5. JOHANNES BRAHMS

Will likely get amongst it early and try to stave off all challengers. Certainly tougher than last start when defeating LO RIDER by a neck, however no real knock on this formline as a progressive, developing type aiming for a big payday. This distance appears his limit, but with a soft run near the front he can fight hard to the line and run into the money.

RACE 8 - 1400M (C2)

11. LUCY IN THE SKY / 3. RAMADAN / 9. LADY'S CHOICE

Like his chances over the 1400m sitting down on 52kg from this draw. Went down to a good sort last start over the 1200m, and the NO NAY NEVER gelding should really be open to more improvement going up in trip. Bred to be a fighter and more distance will suit his style.

RACE 9 - 2000M (C3)

14. MIDORI GIANT / 11. ENTHRALLED / 10. SHARPEN BRIGHT

Could be closing in on some worthwhile form and Craig Williams may be able to get a bit more out of the MAURICE gelding. Only win came at Kembla Grange 12 months ago with six trials in Hong Kong since October. Put in a nice run for 4th behind CALIFORNIATOTALITY two back and up in trip could be the solution. Plenty of risk but willing to back E/W in a hope the gelding is primed to see out the 2000m.

RACE 10 - 1200M (C3)

9. BLAZING WIND / 5. MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE / 1. FAST NETWORK

The Danny Shum trained DEEP FIELD gelding has performed well in three runs back and can make his presence felt once again. Won two back over 1200m then run down last start. Three weeks between runs so should be suitably fit and will be in this for a long way.