Conditions should be perfect for an exciting afternoon of racing at the first meeting of the season at Tauherenikau tomorrow.
Eight races are on the card, with two rating 75 races, one over 1000m and the other over 2050m, and a Pearl Series rating 65 over 1300m with a bonus of $20000 for the winner, the feature races.
Wairarapa Racing Club general manager Matt Sherry is rapt with how the course has presented and is expecting some good racing.
“[Trainer] Roger Allen ran five horses around the track on Wednesday, and he said the track is lovely, there is a good sole of grass, and the jockeys were delighted with it,” said Sherry, who added there has been a good response from local businesses and organisations.
“We’ve got 17 marquees, we’ve got groups of people who have told us they’re coming, and we have a theme ‘Christmas at the Races’, and we’re delighted it’s a Sunday meeting because we should get a good crowd.”
Let’s have a quick look through the fields and try and tip out a couple of winners.
Race 1 – Two-year-old maiden races early in the season are notoriously tricky to pick. The only one with race form is number one, Take the Crown, but it has made no impact in two starts. Full Force from the Benner-Wynyard stable has won two trials and could be the one to go for.
Race 2 – There will be plenty of interest in the locally owned Navy Bride, trained by Roger Allen at Ōpaki. After a promising third first-up, she disappointed in her second run but should appreciate the better track. Tightly Laced comes in with two trial wins.
Race 3 – Subtle Tease is the only locally trained horse in the rating 75 over 1000m, but the Roger Allen-trained mare is resuming and is likely to find the distance too short. Vesmart loves to lead, and if he gets his way in front could be hard to pull back. Likely favourite Belucci is fresh up and looked above average in its last campaign.
Race 4 – Johnny Boy is making its debut from the Gerald Innes stable and is the only local lining up in the 1300m maiden. The gelding won its only trial. Sevenayes has two thirds in its recent formline and could be hard to beat.
Race 5 – Ōpaki trainer Aaron Bidlake starts Barri Hyde in the Pearl Series race. The mare made an encouraging return with a fourth fresh up but would probably want more sting out of the ground. Great Escape comes into the race with winning form and has the services of top jockey Lisa Allpress.
Race 6 – Roger Allen lines up Ruby Rocks over a middle distance. The 7-year-old mare showed encouraging form with a third and fifth in her first two runs back, and the better track conditions should suit. The Kevin Myers-trained Yolo could be the toughest to beat.
Race 7 – Touch O’Paradise and Subtle Image give Roger Allen a strong hand in the 2050m maiden. Both had third placings in their latest outings, and the distance should suit. Aaron Bidlake lines up Banksfield, who has struggled in all three starts. Verardino has placed in its last five starts and looks the likely favourite.
Race 8 – Gerald Innes’s Pace Attack is the only local entered for the lucky last, a rating 65 race over 1600m and would need to improve on recent efforts. The topweight Rockburn ran a game third last time out and should appreciate the distance.
The first race gets underway at 12.50pm tomorrow.
