The pressure of festive-season racing is starting to tell, not only on punters trying to keep track of horses but on the plethora of clubs competing for fields.
In what is generally regarded as the gathering catchment for Central Districts' horses we have Taupo today, Stratford tomorrow, Hawke's Bay on Sunday and Wairarapa on Tuesday. Subsequently some fields have stood up reasonably well, mostly the maiden races, and others are as thin as a sheet of paper. No Wairarapa horses are engaged at the Stratford meeting but a couple of locals have been entered for Hasting and a dozen or so are down to line up at Tauherenikau.
Stacey Dougan withdrew Rangi Boy a week or so ago and has the gelding entered in race 3 at Hastings in an attempt to clear maidens. Even though a bit of distance is involved, 2000m, it's a fairly sure bet Dougan would not be delighted with the draw as Rangi Boy is to jump from gate 16.
The other Wairarapa runner at Hastings is the Grant Nicholson-trained Squeast in race 7, a maiden for fillies and mares. Squeast has shown a little in her seven starts to date, with her best effort being a second to Jerrico at the November Masterton Racing Club meeting at Tauherenikau.
Robbie (the Pope) Hannam is down to ride her and the filly could secure some of the stake.
Wairarapa Racing Club officials will be hoping there are not too many withdrawals from the local meeting on Tuesday as two of the eight races are down to two-divvie affairs already and a couple of others are fairly light.
Alby MacGregor has Jack's Boy entered in the maiden 3-year-old and investors will keenly look at him as the full brother to Fritzy Boy didn't get all favours in his one raceday start so far. That was at Waipukurau on December 4 when Jack's Boy couldn't see daylight until late in the piece and finished on strongly to wind up ninth of 15.
Opaki trainer Gerald Innes has a first starter, Ura Nancy, in the same race but has drawn the outside alley and with no trials form to consider it would have to be a matter of watching the tote.
Aaron Bidlake has Scaremonger entered in the 1000m scurry. The former Northern 4-year-old mare never looked likely in her first start for the stable, at Awapuni on December 10. In the tailenders throughout she finished at the rear but may be worth another look before making any harsh judgment.
A better bet may well be Mask the Shadow in race 5. From the Stacey Dougan barn at Opaki, the gelding put in a fair effort at Awapuni two weeks back and steps up to the mile here. In the expectation the extra distance will suit, and a good draw, Mask the Shadow could figure in the finish at reasonable odds.