Wairarapa horses will be out in force at Trentham on Saturday and there is a fair chance of success coming their way.
Opaki trainer Roger Allen had the misfortune to lose one of his stable's best at Tauherenikau recently when Pesciolini had to be put down after an incident at the barriers but, as is typical in the racing industry, he bounced back to win the last race of the day with Liv'n Paradise.
That runner is back at Trentham - again in the last race on the card - and although she will not have everything her own way she is capable of getting some of the spoils.
Liv'n Paradise has won two and been placed twice from 11 starts with her best performances being on dead to heavy tracks. The Don Eduardo mare has a good record at the distance (1600m) and should make a good showing at good odds.
Another local to keep an eye on is Sins of the Father in race three, a maiden over 1600m.
This gelding, prepared at Opaki by Grant Nicholson, has had three race-day outings and has put in three good efforts.
At Tauherenikau he was a shade wide at the turn but fought gamely to finish third, less than a length from an impressive winner Hermosa Novia, and prior to that was a handy fourth at Awapuni and sixth at Waverley.
His best work has been late in the piece on each occasion and stepping up to 1600m should suit him perfectly.
In the same event Ian Wyeth has entered Betty's Boy who has been thereabouts over more ground.
First-start winner Sir Ferrari couldn't repeat that performance at Tauherenikau, finishing up sixth in a 10-horse field, but it was nevertheless a fair run. He lines up in race six, the 3YO Premier over 1400m, for trainer Gerald Innes but hasn't been treated kindly by the draw.
Aaron Bidlake has popped Elusive Tracy into the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes against the likes of the mighty Mufhasa, Hold it Harvey, Booming and Banchee but she will not be disgraced.
In the hands of the country's best front-running jockey, David Walsh, Elusive Tracy downed her open handicap rivals in the Masterton Cup much to the delight of the Bidlake camp and owner Barry Southey.
This is an attempt to get some of the really good money on offer with the weight-for-age event carrying a stake of $200,000.
Walsh is back on board again and his tactics on this occasion will be worth watching, especially as Mufhasa likes to vie for the lead too.
Elsewhere on the card other Wairarapa runners include Spot the Dot, Malaya, Hula Sister, Hula Dash, Sea Eagle, Jezaray and Gymdandy.