Wairarapa is again thinly represented at today's central districts meeting at Awapuni with only Awahuri expected to line up.
Aaron Bidlake is bringing the five-year-old Keeninsky gelding back to the track after a raceday absence of five months but reports that Awahuri has been putting in some top work in training at Opaki, so punters shouldn't be surprised by a fairly forward showing.
Just a year ago Bidlake bought Awahuri at a Wanganui sale for a mere $350, syndicated the horse, and got an almost immediate result with the gelding winning first up at 40 to 1.
The win is the only one Awahuri has recorded but he has been placed on two further occasions in his 15 starts and the long spell has not been an idle one for him.
He has been worked on hills in pre-training and should be seasoned to the minute for his fresh campaign.
Although some tipsters are suggesting Awahuri would want rain to show his best, in fact although he could benefit from the sting being out of the track as could an awful lot of other gallopers who have been working and racing on rock hard surfaces, Bidlake is wanting to get a return from him in sprint races before tracks get too wet.
Should Awahuri not line up today then paste him in your hat as being at least one to keep a watching brief on, perhaps at Trentham in April.
The very good Woodville galloper Tyne Cot should extend his winning record in race 4, a Rating 85 over 1600m.
This fellow has looked exciting from day one and has chalked up four impressive wins from six race starts, the last being a top effort at Ellerslie.
He is trained by Neil Connors and about the only negative for him today is weight.
Tyne Cot will carry 59kg and has some fairly talented opponents down in the weights, notably Miss Ana who will carry 54kg in the very capable hands of Rosie Myers and Foxton galloper Irish Dream on the same weight.
That said, Tyne Cot is the class act of the field and all things being equal should provide an excellent anchor for double, treble and trifecta punters.
The big race of the day will be the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, a Group 1 contest for the youngsters.
John Bary's very smart two-year-old Recite would appear to have a mortgage on the race, being unbeaten on her three outings and looking very impressive to boot.
But she won't get the win without having to work for it as John Sargent has a promising filly Kirramosa in the field and the Baker/Forsman stable has Constellation lining up.
The latter won well at Ellerslie and has the services of master horseman Opie Bosson.
It may well be decided though on just which one of these good gallopers runs out the 1400m in the best fashion. The sires produce carries a handsome stake, being worth $225,000 so you can rest assured the whips will be cracking when they turn for home.