Ruakaka Racecourse is primed once again for another big ITM Whangarei Gold Cup. Photo/John Stone
Last year's winner Smedley is nominated but the class runner will be Amarula from the Peter McKay stable who will be tackling his first middle distance test beyond 1600m.
Further interest will be added with three other local winners this season in Zafrenzy, Kaharau and Spider.
In fact, six of the eight acceptors for the race come from local stables - it is always a great achievement to win your local cup race. In the past nine years the Logan Racing team has won it three times and the Stevenson family twice.
The challenge for the punters will be lining up the proven middle-distance stayers like Smedley, Kaharau, Zafrenzy and Greencast against the quality of Amarula and the rising Spider.
The perpetual Whangarei Gold Cup is the original gold cup presented in 1929 to H J Brays for the win of Sir Archie. This iconic gold cup is held by the winning owners until the running of the event the following year.
It must be getting closer to the spring feature events when top class 3-year-olds like Wyndspelle make their return to racing. Wyndspelle produced top quality races earlier this year including an outstanding win in the Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas. The Iffraaj colt always produces a top class run first up and has finished in the placings or won at each of his previous first-up runs.
Wyndspelle is one of the 21 runners from the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs team that have accepted for the meeting.
After an amazing six-win haul of the last meeting the team will be well placed to produce a number of winners, starting with Not Usual Trip in the Tavistock Owners' Syndicate for 2-year-olds over 1000m.
Not Usual Trip is already a winner at Ellerslie, last April, and will take on the hardy Contessa Vanessa and the trial winners Blue Chip and Street Cat.
Race 4 the Lion Red rating 65 benchmark handicap over 1200m highlights how challenging it can be to win a restricted grade race at Ruakaka with the leading stables of Tony Pike, Stephen McKee, Roger James and the Logan Racing partnership pitting impressive maiden winners against each other.
The interesting runner could be the Roger James runner Crux who has not started since March 2016 when a winner on a dead rated track at Matamata. This Buffalo Man 4-year-old has had two unplaced trials but on heavy tracks, when ridden by Troy Harris who is engaged for the race on Saturday.
The last race on the day is the ITM/GIB special conditions for maiden horses at June 3 over 1600m and has attracted six maiden winners since that date. A win in this race is a bonus win at the good prize money of $20,000 and has attracted a very competitive field.
Chasing Great from the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable was super impressive when winning two weeks ago at Ruakaka but being by Postponed will he be looking for a slightly longer distance even at his third start.
The benefit of the Ruakaka track's capability to handle the winter conditions is to the fore again with an additional Wednesday meeting being allocated to the club for Wednesday, August 16, as no other northern club was in a position to conduct the meeting. With the short notice period, the club will limit the areas open on the day to the parade ring bar and decking.
There has been excellent support for the two Christmas in July functions held by the club and Saturday's was well booked out in advance. No doubt there will be a considerable number of building experts among the large number of Whangarei ITM guests joining director Shayne Heape to enjoy their annual racing event.
Race one on the seven-race card kicks off at 12.40pm with the Tavistock Owners Syndicate 1000m and the last at 4.05pm with the running of the very competitive ITM/GIB special conditions race.
The Whangarei Passenger Service bus will pick up at the Kamo Club at 11.10am; Kamo Hotel at 11.15am, Kensington Tavern at 11.25am, Rose St Bus Terminal at 11.35am and the Judge House of Ale at 11.40am.