Racing: Otto brothers have some great chances at Te Awamutu

It's far from a secret that local trainers win plenty of races on the Te Awamutu track.

Brothers and training partners Chris and Richard Otto have a great chance in the first half of the card on their home track today with leading chances in the first five races.

Goodlookin Al (No3, R2) has had three starts at Te Awamutu for two wins. Finishing last at Tauranga at his last appearance was way out of character, but the track was such that day that a number of leading prospects raced well below their best.

Go here on his previous start in which he came from the back of the field to win easily on this track.

You can end up a nervous wreck backing horses in 2000m maiden races in the winter, but at least the Otto-trained Logan (No2, R3) has the home track advantage.

Mainsail, a decent winning chance in stronger company later in the programme, ran him down by a bare nose on this track last start and he gave the impression the step up in distance would be right for him.

Sleeping Murder (No4, R4) provides the Otto stable with perhaps its best winning chance. He has taken time to mature and the benefits are being reaped. He was just beaten at Tauranga last time and the start before he was a stylish winner on this track, albeit in easier company than this. In a tough race, Spartica (No5) and Jungle Boy (No7) are chances.

Gentullah (No10, R5) was possibly one of those that couldn't produce her best on that heavy track at Tauranga last start. Her previous effort was a second that was useful enough to put her in this 1580m maiden with a winning chance. This is a very confusing field and Readallaboutit (No1) and Juliandean (No5) are multiple betting hopes.

The Ottos are not without a chance of kicking off the programme with a win in Race 1 with the well-bred Holloway (No5). She was stylish leaving maidens with a fresh-up win on her home track last start, the only reservation this time being she jumps from maidens into R80 class. That can be very tough, but it's not guaranteed to stop her here.

One of the best bets on the day should be Salvatore (No5, R6). If you ran his last three races again he'd be bound to win at least one of them. His three minor placings have been excellent and if he gets the money today he'll thoroughly deserve it. In a very even field behind him, Pinzee (No6), Just A Whisper (No3), Spare a Fortune (No4) and Sandblaster (No8) are all nearly impossible to leave out of multiple betting options.

Locally trained Elblitzem (No1, R7) makes appeal in a confusing line-up in the Te Awamutu Cup.

He's a bit of class on his day and despite topweight he'll be difficult to beat. Difficult to know whether or not to take a chance and go against Hurricane Mickey (No5). He's not going to get his favourite very wet conditions, the only factor balancing that is his drop to 53.5kg, 4.5kg less than he lumped into second at Tauranga last start.

Cent Per Cent (No4) and John Gray (No6) are musts for Pick6 punters and the real blowout is Elblitzem's stablemate Wida's Dream (No8). She didn't figure last start, but didn't have a lot of luck before that. The real pointer is her three wins from five starts on this track.

If you're desperate to get out in the last you might need to get in touch with Paul the octopus - it's a horrendously open race. To narrow it to one consider Cottonwood Sky (No3, R8). He was impressive leaving maidens at Pukekohe two starts back and his third on a very difficult Tauranga track last time wasn't that bad.

The best tip at the Marton meeting at Awapuni is to take the short odds about Royal Cluden (No2, R4).

He got home very stylishly into second on this track over 1300m last start and is going to be hugely suited to today's 1600m.