Racing: A couple of winners will warm the day

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Matamata trainer Graham Richardson admits it was tough leaving the Queensland sun behind at the weekend.

But a handy team of runners on his local track today should help compensate for the few extra layers of clothing.

Providing any further rain stays away, Richardson rates all five horses each-way chances, with Letmeby (leg two) a stand-out for punters chasing the $100,000 terminating Pick6.

Richardson, enjoying a career-best black-type season, has just two runners in the Sunshine State and both look set for a profitable campaign.

Under unsuitable weight-for-age conditions, stable headliner Atom Cat was run off his feet early in Firebolt's Lord Mayors Cup last month.

However, he made ground stylishly for fifth, suggesting he will be much tougher to roll in the listed A$80,000 Strawberry Road Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday if he strikes a rain-affected track.

Richardson has the A$200,000 Tattersall's and Caloundra Cups as Atom Cat's main targets.

Stablemate Rich'n Unhitched is also on track for richer Queensland prizes after an impressive debut win on the Sunshine Coast last Friday with James McDonald aboard.

The Bachelor Duke 3-year-old, part-owned by Richardson and wife Rochelle, is being set for the listed A$100,000 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) on July 2. He will get a final tune-up in a one-win event on the Gold Coast on June 18 and Richardson would like to see a firmer track than the one he struck at Caloundra.

The trainer has also ordered the forecast rain to stay away at Matamata today.

The track was testing enough yesterday, a heavy (10), and Richardson's confidence levels hinge on it staying that way, or improving.

He rates Andi Black a Pick6 bank contender in race two, the maiden 1400m.

The Black Minnaloushe filly wasn't suited by the puggy conditions she struck last-start when well supported at Rotorua. "She goes all right and I wouldn't say that's an overly strong field," said Richardson. "She worked really good on Saturday on the grass."

Richardson said Letmeby, a half-brother to Atom Cat by Don Eduardo, will be suited by the step up to 1400m in leg two of the Pick6.

"He went a good race last time; he's drawn out but that doesn't matter much at Matamata over 1400m."

Richardson said Everpoise (leg six) is forward enough and has form in a fresh state. But she is probably the most inconvenienced of all his runners by the track conditions.

Lightly-tried race rival and stablemate Boy Star is probably the better bet. Richardson, however, would have preferred he kicked off this campaign over 1200m.

"There's just not a lot around that suited. He's working okay and he is from a family of wet-trackers but he is a bit of a gamble."

Viking Chief (leg three) could be the best value of Richardson's runners.

The Viking Ruler gelding hasn't weighed in yet in two attempts - the most recent for seventh this course and distance last month - but Richardson is hoping the addition of blinkers will help.

He has also engaged Central Districts rider Hayden Tinsley, who is on a rare mid-week sortie north to inspect property in Tauranga and scout for rides there on Kiwifruit Cup Day on June 25.

"He's a nice horse and he's worked up good," said Richardson.

Another highlight, will be James McDonald's inevitable annexation of Lisa Cropp's national record of 197 winning rides for a season.

The apprentice will start today on 196 victories, after a treble at Foxton on Monday, and punters will be backing him to be the record holder at day's end.

Of his mounts, La Torneau will strike few weaker fields than the one the Lonhro filly will meet in race five and she could provide Pick6 punters with an anchor.

Although better known as a stayer, Brompton, who loves heavy footing, was third behind Sir Slick over 1200m in a trial at Te Aroha last month.

He is an outside, each-way bet in the seventh race over 1600m which should be a slog, thus suiting his stamina, in the heavy conditions.