Racing: Bee Tee Junior's run of form tipped to continue

Bee Tee Junior. Photo / Trish Dunell

Shaune Ritchie expects more of the same from Bee Tee Junior at Te Rapa today.

"We've been trying to avoid the heavier tracks with him and he's in the right sort of race," the Cambridge trainer said.

"He's doing well and I would expect him to be very competitive again."

Bee Tee Junior has won two of his last four starts and he will go into today's Lowe Schollum & Jones 2100 off the back of a runner-up finish on the course last month.

Ritchie has been delighted with the six-year-old's continued progress and has thoughts of a repeat trip to Riccarton with the gelding later in the year.

"He's racing consistently and we might look at another crack at the New Zealand Cup with him," Ritchie said. "It was probably a year too soon for him last season, but he's older and it's a race well within his grasp."

Bee Tee Junior finished eighth behind Pump Up The Volume in the 2016 edition of the Cup.

He's not the only stayer that Ritchie could aim at the Christchurch feature either with the capable Snow Secret a possible contender.

"She's going to Ruakaka on September 2 for her first-up run," he said. "She finished second to Lizzie L'Amour in the Waikato Cup last season so she could be looking at races like that up here again or even the New Zealand Cup. She runs two miles."

• Mark Forbes has two runners at Te Rapa today and both will need a bit of luck to go their way, according to the Cambridge trainer.

His last-start winner Alvins Dream will line up over 1200m in the Become a Member of the Waikato Racing Club Handicap, but the Iffraaj gelding is expected to be better suited over more ground.

"It was a tidy debut, he did a lot wrong and was still able to beat a handy field," Forbes said.

"He's come through the race really well. He's probably looking for 1400m, but unfortunately anywhere with a 1400 Rating 65 or mile has been wet tracks, so we're sticking to the track where he won."

Troy Harris will take the ride again on the four-year-old and Forbes is hoping the duo can repeat their success.

"He's drawn five so hopefully he can get a similar run to what he had last start, one to two back and one off the fence," he said.

"It looks like there will be good pace in the race, which will help with Memories Only in there, so that will definitely suit us better with a strong tempo." With the step up in grade, Forbes said Alvins Dream will have to do everything right to be competitive in the race.

Meanwhile, English import Cosmic Storm will line-up for Forbes in the last race on the card, the Cup Day Packages 16th Dec on Sale 2100.

The Sea The Stars mare was purchased for 47,000 guineas out of the Tattersalls mare sale in December for stable client Dr Gene Tsoi. She has had two starts in New Zealand with a last start placing over 1600m.

Drawn barrier 14, Forbes said the mare would likely go back at the start and he hopes to see her run home strongly.

- NZ Racing Desk