Maiden gelding may surprise

While all eyes will be on Caulfield tomorrow and flying mare Black Caviar in the Orr Stakes, it will be business as usual for a handful of Wairarapa-trained gallopers lining up at Awapuni.

An interesting runner in the opening event is maiden 4-year-old Pins gelding Lets Go Fratelli.

This fellow joined the Gerald Innes team at Opaki six weeks back, having had a handful of somewhat disappointing attempts to clear maidens while in the care of Murray Baker at Cambridge. Innes is fairly happy with the way he has settled in and reports the gelding has galloped well in work lately.

So, although his formline doesn't stand out on the page, he's got as much chance as anything else in the race and could start the day on a happy note for those who follow the local entrants.

Stacey Dougan is probably still on a high from an excellent stable victory at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.

First starter Smackdown just managed to pip hot-pot Crosslands in the Rating 65 sprint at good odds, impressing rider Darryl Bradley in the process, and in doing so showed he is likely to go on with it and become a handy galloper.

He isn't backing up tomorrow though and Dougan will be represented instead by Zetland in race two.

This gelding has failed to flatter in two attempts - five months apart - and a win here would be a surprise.

After a promising debut The Contender, from James Phillips Tauherenikau stable, has not fired a shot in his last two starts, but likewise hasn't had the best of luck in either run.

Last time out at Trentham on January 21, he was slow out of the gates, wide in the running and blocked for any sort of a run in the final stages.

Perhaps tomorrow will give punters a better look at what this fellow can, or cannot, do.

Frank Stammers has Dianna Rigg in the same race, the MacDonald Family Maiden over 1600m, and it is expected she will be well held.

Dianna Rigg is yet to show much, although she beat a few tailenders home at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.

She has also drawn the outside gate.

In race 9, James Phillips is lining up Jabez and he could be Wairarapa's best hope at the meeting.

Back from a three-month spell, Jabez won his last outing at Trentham over this distance, has drawn the inside alley and, unless he needs one under his belt, is a real show here.

Meanwhile, Wairarapa punters, like all others in Australasia, will be willing on Black Caviar in the Orr Stakes as racing needs champions and she must surely qualify.