Horse Racing: Big finale for Ruakaka winter season

All Roads will be looking for another win at Ruakaka this weekend. Photo/Tania Whyte

The last Saturday meet for 2016 at Ruakaka opens up a prime opportunity for the leading local stable to end as they began - on a winning note.

Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs have fourteen runners on the day, including four in the headlining event.

All Roads, the star of the winter season, will take on stable mates Zafrenzy and Greencast in his first taste of 2100m action.

His racing style and drive to the line will be hard to top despite his progession through various classes and weights.

The $50,000 Tavistock Northland Breeders Stakes has attracted a high class of three-year-olds, proving that it this is the race of the year.

The undefeated Heroic Valour, out of the Stephen Autridge/Jamie Richards stable, heads the ratings for the Listed Tavistock Northland Breeders Stakes.

Auckland's March carnival earlier this year is the best form guide for the race. Four of the top five horses competed in that race.

Heroic Valour came home strong to win, closely followed by Wyndspelle and O'Rachael.

The biggest challenge is getting an assessment on the level of fitness of the highly proven two-year-olds, given they haven't raced during the winter.

Horses like Mongolian Wolf, Mongolianlightning, Barabas and Ferando have won during the winter and no doubt their astute trainers will be using this race as a guide to their future plans for either Hawkes Bay or Canterbury carnivals.

The Cambridge Stud, owned by Sir Patrick Hogan is part of the sponsorship group for this feature event and it has significant signage at the course including the winning post.

Outside of the marquee race, the 10th Steve Haywood Master Jeweller Fashions in the Field competition is expected to have more colour than ever.

This will be highlighted with a special prize for the best outfit 'inspired by Hundertwasser'.

The Homeworld Supports Hundertwasser Art Centre 1400 metres has attracted a wide range of good quality stayers returning for the spring, with locally trained Kaharau being a great chance for success.

However, stiff competition will come from What's the Story, runner up in the NZ Derby at Ellerslie last March.