HEADLINE ACT

Justaskme - $3.50

Off the back of his last start 5th at Te Rapa, Justaskme looks to be ticking along as well as possible heading towards the Winter Cup. He holds a nomination for this weekend’s Opunake Cup, where trainer Allan Sharrock steps him up over 1400m off the back of his impressive closing splits over 1200m at Te Rapa. Should he run at New Plymouth this weekend, Justaskme will then have two weeks between runs and a float trip to Christchurch, where he will be extremely hard to beat up over a mile should the track be in the Heavy range. The $3.50 looks a fair price, as he could easily be odds on come August 5th if we’re racing on a Heavy10 at Riccarton.

Watch Justaskme’s last start below.

MIDDLE MARKET

Secret Amour - $12

Secret Amour’s three runs back this preparation in the famous Makybe Diva colours have been full of merit. Her last start 2nd at Hastings was eye-catching, where she looked to be beaten a long way out before powering late under riding and recording the fastest closing 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m in doing so. She is one who may benefit from the rain not arriving in Christchurch over the coming weeks, as her turn of foot would see her awfully hard to stop should the track be in the Soft range or better. She’s another to keep an eye on in the Opunake Cup this weekend as she progresses towards the Winter Cup.

OUTSIDE CHANCE

Cork - $31

This Moroney/Gerard trained mare is simply a mudlark. Her rating of 77 would likely see her scrape into the Winter Cup on the minimum, should they head that way. First up, Cork was a pass mark in the Tauranga Classic, where she looked to get too far back and ran home moderately. She is now nominated for both Tauranga and the Opunake Cup at New Plymouth, both options likely being on a Heavy track come Saturday. Should Cork perform well on Saturday, she looks overs at the $31, as I expect she will be even better third up come the Winter Cup, especially if she strikes her favoured Heavy surface.

Watch Secret Amour and Cork’s most recent start below.

Winter Cup futures market available here: https://www.tab.co.nz/sports/competition/13734/racing/futures/new-zealand-thoroughbreds-futures/outrights?outrightseventid=1977161