Local trainer Antony Fuller has a great chance of recording back-to-back wins with Kati Cat at Gate Pa tomorrow.
Fuller lined up the China Cat 4-year-old at the last Tauranga meeting on July 18 and the result was a runaway win over 1600 metres in Rating 65 company. Kati Cat even surprised rider Craig Grylls with his winning margin of 7 lengths.
He faces the same class and distance again tomorrow and provided he has trained on, there's no reason why he can't once again come up trumps.
Kati Cat actually recorded his first win on the Gate Pa track, beating the useful pair of The Flying Affair and La Pinnacle over 1200 metres in July last year. He struck a heavy track that day and the going was rated the same when he won his next race, over 1670 metres at Paeroa last May.
That Paeroa win was even more impressive than his last-start victory in heavy ground. He carried 65kg in the highweight event and won by 12 lengths.
With the track again rated heavy for tomorrow's meeting, Kati Cat should find conditions to suit in the Waikato Branch NZ Farriers Association 1600.
Main rivals for Kati Cat tomorrow include another last-start Gate Pa winner, Pump Up The Volume, who had to survive a protest from the connections of the runner-up, Storming The Tower, before being credited with his first win.
Pump Up The Volume had hinted a win was close when fourth to Alt Control and Storming The Tower at Te Teko and he should improve further.
Princessabeel caught the eye with a late charge for third behind Chapchick over 1600 metres at Pukekohe following a second to Pump Up The Volume's stablemate Black Attack.
Le Bon Fin, Proposed and Seams Like Magic also have recent form to recommend them, while Imogen's Brother is far better than his recent performances suggest.
Selections
Best Bet: Kati Cat.
Best Longshot: Wing Naprayer (R6)