Meeting Overview:

Going: Heavy9 (29/09)

Rail: Out 3m

The weather, and consequently the track conditions, has been the talk of the week when looking towards this race meeting on Saturday. As of Friday morning, the track is a Heavy9, although the windy conditions in the Hawkes Bay could see this track get into the Soft range should they receive no further rain. I am expecting the track to be in the Heavy8 range early in the day, playing close to this mark through the day unless there is a downpour on Saturday afternoon.

MITCH DAVIS

Best Bet

Race 2 - #2 CHANNEL SURFER (Win)

He shed his “Best maiden in the country” tag when sitting three wide and beating promising type Rezeki at Taupo first up. The form has stacked up well out of that race, with Superbly Written and Still Bangon running the quinella at their next start. Channel Surfer looks to profile ideally for this race now 2^nd up, where the additional 100m looks ideal, whilst he maps to get a great trailing run behind Fancy Like Lass from the low gate (2). A Soft7/Heavy8 looks to be right in Channel Surfer’s sweet spot, I had him marked as the $2.50 favourite in this race.

Group 1 Bet – Arrowfield Stud Plate

Race 7 - #8 LA CRIQUE (Each Way)

I’m not willing to drop La Crique after her first up run in the Tarzino Trophy, where she looked to be set a near impossible task when the barrier draw came out. She got well out of her ground from the jump and was never a chance after, and although she looked only plain to the eye, La Crique did record the fastest closing 200m of the race outside of Legarto. The $11 currently available for La Crique is the best price on offer for her since she debuted back in October 2021. Similar to Legarto, connections of La Crique will be looking for the track to dry out, if she runs I am expecting a much improved performance second up.

ROBERT LOGAN

Best Bet

Race 4 - #9 PETRUCCI (Win)

A few runners in this race have had more runs this campaign alone than Petrucci has had in her career, but it is hard to argue against the record of this impeccably bred mare (4:2-1-0-1). From her 4 starts the only horses to beat her to a finish line are the likes of Puketiro, I Choose You, Westwood and Denby Road. She faces the step up to race the older horses in this and the prospect of a softer track are concerning, but the forecast suggests the rain may have finished between now and her race and the fast-drying Hastings surface has the potential to be in the Soft 7 range for this race. There is plenty of speed in the event which will suit her style of racing, she will launch hard at the line once Michael McNab presents her and she is certainly a star on the rise.

Group 1 Bet - Arrowfield Stud Plate

Race 7 - #1 CALLSIGN MAV (Top 4)

There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the horses near the top of this market and should the track start the day in the Soft 7 range with the potential of a shower through the day, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some serious shuffling of prices. A horse we know will run and can go on a Soft & Heavy track is the winner of this race in 2021, Callsign Mav. Just one of the four horses to beat him home in the Tarzino Trophy last start are in this field, and that is Legarto, who, by all reports may not run yet. He is a true warhorse and will strip fitter now after a good run first up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some of the lions share in this and at $3.80 to tun top 4, I am on!