RACING
Wairarapa stables have the wind in their sails after notching wins with the promising Lil Mer and Sea Eagle at Trentham last Saturday.
Both winners are trained at Opaki so, at least in theory, it should be the turn of Tauherenikau stables to add to the district's winning tally at New Plymouth tomorrow.
Aaron Bidlake will certainly be attempting to do just that with one, or both, of his charges Evasive Tracy and Elusive Tracy.
Both horses are owned by Masterton farmer Barry Southey and both have been putting in some pleasing work on the training track this week, according to Bidlake.
Elusive Tracy is entered in the big race of the day, the $65,000 Opunake Cup and has been "working super", said her trainer.
The mare was given a week off to freshen up after an impressive fourth placing at Tauranga in late June on a heavy (11) track and on one of the worst wet-weather days this winter.
David Walker was the intended jockey for Elusive Tracy but the mare was given only 53kg to carry which meant a change of plans and the ever-popular Rosie Myers will take the mount.
The Taranaki track will most likely be heavy but given a few days respite from rain before raceday it could be sticky rather than deep and that wouldn't prove any sort of handicap for Elusive Tracy.
One of her rivals will be the indomitable Kalgoorlie Bomber from Frank Stammers barn.
This 11-year-old gelding just keeps on keeping on, like Bergers paint.
On paper this looks a bit rich for him but past experience has shown Kalgoorlie Bomber should never be completely overlooked and combination punters would be best to pop him into the mix somewhere, just in case.
In the opening event the Bidlake-trained Evasive Tracy will be lining up after two good thirds on heavy going this month.
She is in fine fettle, according to her trainer, but may soon school over fences to see if a jumping career could be in front of her.
James Phillips has last-start winner Zedeedudadeeko entered in the same race and the gelding looks to be up for it here.
Comeback rider Tommy Russell is back in good form and Zedeedudadeeko has other things in his favour too.
His win in the mud at Wanganui last start was impressive and the ace draw could be a help in the early part of the day.
Elsewhere, Wairarapa will be represented by two runners in race 4, a rating 65 over 1200m.
Stammers has Desert Saboteur, who battled well enough at Trentham to finish midfield behind winner Lil Mer, but a better bet could be Stacey Dougan's Anniesstar.
This filly won at Tauherenikau in early June followed by a fourth at Awapuni on July 6.
She may not have appreciated the going at Awapuni and with a slightly better track and the services of 3kg-claiming apprentice Aimee Taylor could bounce back.