Bet of the week - 8 August
Te Rapa - 8 August 2020
Race 3 - Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle 3200m
The Prestige Jumping Season starts in the north with a potentially one of the best fields assembled in recent times. You have the harden warriors at the top in the form of current Great Northern Champ BAD BOY BROWN, runner up in LAKEEPER, NO CHANGE and TRISHA LEA. Mixed into this is the young guns in AVE MARIA, REVOLUTION, SENASSY and the very impressive last start winner in ALI BABA so it promises to be a beauty.
At the time of scribing not all riders had been confirmed so I am making an assumption that with the promising Ryan ELLIOT engaged for AVE MARIA, the blistering hot Shaun FANNIN has secured the mount on LAEKEEPER and for that reason I am swayed toward him. He was super impressive at the Cambridge Jumping Trials on the 2nd July (with A KURU in the saddle) and his first-up run on the flat at Avondale was full of merit. The obvious danger has to be BAD BOY BROWN whose jumping record is super impressive with his only missed been that when his saddle slipped and he had to be pulled up. It has to be noted that Aaron KURU (who one assumes would have had the choice of rides from the Nelson & McDougall camp) has opted for REVOLUTION. He was very impressive last time at Waikato and if Aaron get him to relax again then he has to go into your multiples.
Suggested Bet: LAEKEEPER appeals as a solid each-way chance to stall off the new kids on the block.
Race 5 - Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase 2800m
Another really strong field of Steeplechasers has been assembled but for me, it looks like the PARSONS and WILSON Stables again going head to head again for the major prize in this one.
Last time DELACROIX impressed when he rallied strongly late to overcome not only the Wilsons other runner Justacharlie (sadly since retired) and many other also line up here on Saturday. The PARSONS team have a terrific record when invading the north and one suspects that there has been some improvement from that first-up run here on the 18th July.
I suspect that IT’S A WONDER will to try and reverse the stable fortunes. His first-up run over the hurdles at Wanganui was fantastic, narrowly going under to the promising Ave Maria late in the run to the judge and to me presents as a real chance of reversing the result between the Harvey WILSON and PARSON stables
Suggested Bet: IT’S A WONDER looks to be the best bet with DELACROIX not far behind.
Multiple Play for the Weekend: $20 LAEKEEPER FFP / IT’S A WONDER FF
