Jeu de Cartes has a good record at Te Rapa and will be well fancied in the first leg of the Pick6. Photo / Joel Ford
Confederate and Jeu De Cartes closest things to anchor for Te Rapa Pick6.
It's $700,000 to $800,000 on the line in Te Rapa's Pick6 today and not a dedicated anchor in sight.
One or two that might come close, but no "put your binoculars down, this one is home" type of good thing you look for when massive money is on the line in multiple-race jackpots.
So, careful attention is needed.
The couple of runners that are close to banker status - must haves and possible anchors - are Jeu De Cartes (Leg 1) and Confederate in Leg 5.
Leg 1
Jeu De Cartes is interesting. You might not normally even consider a horse as a possible anchor with a 69390 formline, but there is some reading behind that.
She started favourite in the Hawkes Bay Cup last start and finished an inglorious last. In a field that was sub-standard, that looks ordinary, but just everything that could go wrong in a 2400m race like that happened.
Young Jason Collett rides some fabulous races - this was not one of them.
Two starts back Jeu De Cartes finished 3.9 lengths from Say No More in the group one Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha, a terrific effort given she was four wide around the home turn after starting from the outside of 16 barriers. She can handle any type of rain-affected ground and a vital statistic is that she is already a winner at Te Rapa.
Others to consider in what, overall, is a very even race, are Bellino (No2), Desert Lad (No5) and Star Of Show (No4). If you need another to get over the hump of the first leg it's probably Cat Woman (No10).
Leg 2
Well, Volkswagin (No3) is the $1.70 - $1.80 favourite, tempting many to make him the No 1 anchor, but do you really want to look at the results and know that you had five winners and the sixth got taken out of the steeplechase by something falling in front of it? It has happened. It's not the worst plan to anchor Volkswagin, but if the budget allows take at least one insurance runner. Possibly Ho Down (No4).
Leg 3
You have to go wide in this race. Simply nothing stands out. Pellegrini (No13) will probably start favourite.
It can often be a mistake punting a horse first-up in open class that has just come up from the lower grades, but Pellegrini has a few things in his favour. Under 58kg he ran away to win by nearly five lengths last start and, impressively, he has won twice from three starts at Te Rapa and had four times won at 1400m.
Worthing (No8) is another course specialist and stablemates Riotous (No4) and Alegrio (No1) have to be covered somewhere on your Pick6 ticket. Demaphon (No2) for those looking for a further spread.
Leg 4
This is very hard, as many of these special condition "maiden" races are. Often there is a stand-out that has won a maiden easily and is heading to big things quickly - this is not the case here.
The Final Round (No4) is very talented though and some might like to anchor many of their tickets around him with a few others as savers.
He is bred to go on from here and looks a deserved favourite. Revelator (No3) is beautifully bred by Zabeel from a Last Tycoon mare and won his last race narrowly, but that was his first for four months and he is a certain improver.
Outside of that there are many chances. Seuss (No6) has yet to win one, but he has gone close in strong races and is by no means out of this. Impey Luis (no11) is a chance despite the wide gate and something like Bally Duff (No5), back from Hong Kong, is an upsetter.
Leg 5
Confederate (No2) is heading places. The Kelso stable has treated him with patience and it was borne out with the five-length victory at the back end of last season. He came back with a big first-up second last start and should now be ready to aim himself to the winner's stall.
The 1600m looks perfect. Lost World (No3) lost to a pretty smart horse in Taikomochi last start and is right in this on a course that suits better.
If the budget stretches far enough, take as many as you fancy here, because this is tough. Pellegrini will win or the spread could be anywhere. Beejay Belle (No9) and Needlly (No11) are to be respected.
Leg 6
Do not go into the last with one runner either. Tradtri (No6) is smart, but you need to watch the first few races to make sure on-pace horses are suited. He has speed and a lot of fight.
Gunsmoke (No10) might be the slight upsetter. He has won on the track, has won in slow conditions and his overall form matches up to most of these.
His win here two starts back was super impressive. Rockburn (No11) is an interesting runner.
He has had an interrupted career, but is very smart and his wins have been very stylish. He has won a recent barrier trial and can definitely take this. Kula Sands (No16) is a good 20 to 1 chance if it is wet and Holy Moly (No7) should probably be on most tickets.
Good luck.
To boost the bank:
Whosyourmaster (No1) should win the first.