An apprentice allowance is going to be extremely handy for First Class (No1, R3). His second to In Flight here last week suggested there was a win close at hand. He has drawn the rails and should get the ideal run. Valante (No6) is coming out of a similar good barrier and Flyinby (No2) is in great form.
Sacred Master (No2, R4) looked unlucky last start here when resuming from a break. He missed out on luck early in the race and powered home. The jump from 1200m to 1600m should see him going close. Deebee Black (No1) has claims.
Donna Logan and new training partner Chris Gibbs have great claims in Race 5 with four of the nine runners. Difficult to assess them accurately, but Kendoka (No5) is probably going to appreciate the step up to a middle distance after one run from a break. Logan's record on her home track in the last three months needs no re-addressing. She also has Radar (No7) and Zafrenzy (No8) engaged.
And the Logan stable has a great chance in Race 6 with Royal Sceptre (No2) appearing close to a win. Labels (No11) went well last start and Bill Breaker (No5) is a long way from being out of it.
If you're looking for value in the last Charlie Farley (No2, R7) is not the worst. He is better than his record on paper looks and he has a liking for this track and a nice barrier. A local in Overnightsensation (No5) deserves a winning turn and Goodn'targ (No4) is right in contention.
• Richard French has compared his stable star Marotiri Miss favourably to the condition she was in when she ran second in last year's Winter Cup at Riccarton.
The Palmerston North trainer produced the Al Akbar mare to finish second to Karla Bruni in last year's 1600m feature and was pleased with the rising 8-year-old as she prepares for today.
"She's probably right there, where she was last year," French said.
"I'm pretty confident of a good run. As long as the race goes to plan, I'm pretty confident of finishing in the top three."
Marotiri Miss rates as a leading form runner, having finished in the top four in her past five starts, including her North Island Challenge Stakes win at Trentham and last-start second to Taurus at Awapuni.
"She's in brilliant order," said French, who has again booked Chris Johnson for the ride.
• The two Derby principals Mongolian Khan and Volkstok'n'barrell will face each other for the first time since the NZ Derby at Ellerslie in late February in the first of the two high profile barrier trials at Ruakaka this morning.
Also in the first heat is Wellington Cup winner Maygrove.
The second heat includes Puccini, Railway winner In Style and a classy juvenile of the old season in Dal Cielo.
The two heats will be telecast live on The First Call.
11.45am (1000m)
Maygrove (5g Authorized (IRE) - Lady Zhivago) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.
Ryan Mark (5g Thorn Park (AUS) - Annalee) John Morell.
Satay (5m Keeper (AUS) - Bluiski (AUS)) Mark Fraser-Campin & Chris Campin.
Volkstok'n'barrell (4g Tavistock - Volkster) Donna Logan.
Mongolian Khan (4h Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) - Centafit) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.
Riding Shotgun (4g Iffraaj (GB) - Exquisitely (AUS)) Stephen McKee.
Deane Martin (6g Keeper (AUS) - Ela Nimue) Bruce Wallace. 11.51am (1000m)
Dal Cielo (3c Per Incanto (USA) - Cent From Heaven) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.
In Style (6m Fast 'N' Famous (AUS) - Ribadesella) Danica Guy.
Turn Me Loose (4h Iffraaj (GB) - Indomitable) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.
Kisses (6m Iffraaj (GB) - La Marmalade (AUS)) Mark Fraser-Campin & Chris Campin.
Puccini (5h Encosta De Lago (AUS) - Miss Opera) Peter & Jacob McKay.
It Has To Be You (7g Volksraad (GB) - Centalear) Bruce Wallace.Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
