NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Racing

Racing: Silverdale early hope at Te Rapa

NZ Herald
8 Feb, 2013 07:23 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Final Touch, pictured beating Mufhasa (rails) and Lady Kipling at Trentham last month, has some strong rivals at Te Rapa today. Photo / SNPA

Final Touch, pictured beating Mufhasa (rails) and Lady Kipling at Trentham last month, has some strong rivals at Te Rapa today. Photo / SNPA

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
The $200,000 Darci Brahma is not an easy race for punters but Artistic has a touch of class.

Silverdale is going to be at short odds in Race 2 at Te Rapa today - possibly too short for some - but he rates highly as the best prospect on the day.

He's carrying his full topweight of 59kg as a 3-year-old against older horses, which doesn't get the excitement going, but he is a smart type, has drawn No 2 and has Opie Bosson to guide him around.

He's not the fastest over the first 200m of his races and Bosson had a problem keeping him handy when he resumed from the rails gate when he finished second at Rotorua.

But from the inside this time, Bosson will know Silverdale better. He is very strong in the final stages of his races and will be fitter than he was at Rotorua.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

This race is sponsored by Hamilton Veterinary Services and because of that a win by possibly the main danger in Exabelle would be appropriate. HVS veterinarian Douglas Black is a part owner of the beautifully bred mare.

There will be plenty of betting in Race 1. It will not be an easy race to win, but Savabella Rose (No8) is a Savabeel filly that might be worth following. She impressed in her debut fourth, was spelled and came back with a narrow but stylish maiden win first-up. She looks like a staying type and the jump from 1350m to 1600m might be the key. Usainity (No2) looks promising and is drawn to get a great trip.

The Keith and Brendon Hawtin stable is on fire and dashing juvenile Devour (No2, R3) is going to go around as favourite. Barrier draws are very important in 2-year-old races any time and particularly at Te Rapa. Devour has drawn the outside No 9 gate, but she has got back in her two races and powered home, so the barrier could be somewhat negated. If she gets a fair crack she is the one to beat.

Probably bad luck is the biggest problem for Fix (No1, R5) against the good fillies. She overcame obstacles to win the 2000m Royal Stakes at Ellerslie and this time has drawn perfectly at No 2. Take the short odds.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Have No Mercy (No2, R6) was trapped wide when well beaten at Trentham last start, so you can probably forget that and go on the winning run in open company at Hastings the previous outing. He has drawn better this time and drops 1kg. Guns At Five (No1) is capable of a big race, particularly with 4kg off his back.

The $200,000 Darci Brahma International is not an easy race on the punt, but Artistic (No10, R7) has shown this time that she is coming up beautifully.

She worked very well with Zurella between races at Te Rapa last Saturday and is primed to produce her best from a perfect barrier draw from the 2000m starting point. There are plenty of chances, but Artistic has a touch of class.

Lady Kipling (No8) has the right form behind her and Sangster (No2) and Historian (No2) have the class to be big threats.

Discover more

Racing

Racing: Logan sticks with Plan A

04 Feb 04:30 PM
Racing

Racing: Mufhasa heads to Caulfield

05 Feb 04:30 PM
Racing

Racing: All Too Hard should boss depleted group one ranks

05 Feb 04:30 PM
Racing

Racing: Ladies to fore at Te Rapa

06 Feb 04:30 PM

Medici (No2, R8) was hampered by a slow pace and a sprint home in the Cup at Manawatu last start. Under the circumstances he did well to finish only 1.7 lengths from the winner, Ransomed, in seventh place. There will be more pace on in this race.

The $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint is a great betting race. You can make a case for at least four of them, Better Than Ever (No1, R9), Final Touch (No8), Fleur de Lune (No9) and Xanadu (No10). And if Guiseppina (No11), Fazzle (No12) or Zurella (No13) won no one would fall over with astonishment.

Better Than Ever might be the forgotten horse - a term made popular in Australia, but one that fits this former outstanding Singapore star perfectly. He had no luck when second in his New Zealand debut on December 22 and trainer Jason Bridgman has kept him fresh for this, which is at his pet 1400m distance. Mufhasa went a fast 1.22 for the 1400m at Manawatu, which made it hard for Better Than Ever, who was not getting his ideal passage. He has drawn awkwardly at No 10 this time, but there is a reasonable run down the back straight at Te Rapa from the 1400m and he has tactical speed.

Fleur de Lune is going to take beating if she can cross the field from gate No 9. Winning three of her four Te Rapa starts is a wonderful stat and she has a heart right out of the ordinary in the closing stages of her races.

Final Touch has to be New Zealand's most underrated horse a month or so back and Xanadu is massively talented. Her second to Final Touch in the Telegraph at Trentham was stunning and the 1400m is going to suit better.

Black Hennessy (No 9, R10) didn't get all the breaks when close up at Manawatu last start. He had to overcome obstacles to win at Trentham and is a horse of real potential. This race is well within his scope. Zonza (No7) is up for the fight and Eightlives (No5) is strong.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Racing

Racing
|Updated

'I got my ear sewed back on': Jockey has no memory of being kicked in head by horse

Racing

Mick On Monday: Wood's feeling Smug after making brave call

Racing

Words of warning as superstar steeplechaser returns


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Racing

'I got my ear sewed back on': Jockey has no memory of being kicked in head by horse
Racing
|Updated

'I got my ear sewed back on': Jockey has no memory of being kicked in head by horse

'I got my ear sewed back on, they removed fragments out of the fractures.'

14 Jul 02:32 AM
Mick On Monday: Wood's feeling Smug after making brave call
Racing

Mick On Monday: Wood's feeling Smug after making brave call

13 Jul 05:00 PM
Words of warning as superstar steeplechaser returns
Racing

Words of warning as superstar steeplechaser returns

12 Jul 05:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP