Racing: Bulginbaah's 21st could be Stella

Bulginbaah doesn't care about reputations.

He's shown that in 69 starts and 20 victories and he's going to take his 9-year-old body on to the Tauranga racetrack today to try to make that 21 in the $70,000 Stella Artois Stakes.

He's going to really appreciate the drop from 61kg in a handicap last start and also the fact that he's at 1600m compared to the 1200m he faced two starts back when he last tried weight-for-age.

Northern stables have a great chance of taking the New Zealand Cup and 1000 Guineas at Riccarton today and lower North Island look a strong chance to rob this race with Samurai backing up Bulginbaah. They are going to take some stopping.

Unless last week's 2000 Guineas win has undermined Katie Lee (No1, R9) - and there is no suggestion it has - she will be winning today's $300,000 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton with just even luck. Her final sprint to score seven days ago was remarkable.

The trifecta won't be easy. We don't know if Keep The Peace (No5) is as good on firm footing and we don't know if talented St Germaine (No3) can recapture the form she showed before being beaten behind Katie Lee at Te Rapa. The best real-value runners for the trifecta might be Aspinal (No6), who has a tough draw to overcome and The Grey Storm (No14).

Difficult to make a case that My Scotsgrey (No13, R7) will be beaten in the $300,000 NZ Cup. It might well eventuate because a lot can happen in 3200m races, but logic tells you he'll go close. He's always looked a 3200m horse even though he hasn't tried it, and the massive plus is his 52.5kg through not being able to be re-handicapped for last week's lead-up win.

So Royal (No11) is smart and comes into this nicely on 53kg. Winning this race will be nothing new to her trainer John Sargent. Zabene (No8), Smoking Chimneys (No9) and perhaps even Jack Attack (No10) are worth considering for multiples.

Our Rosina (No9, R10) is one of the real emerging types. He's going for three straight in the last at Riccarton and it will take a smart type to beat him.

At Tauranga, Road To Rio (No12, R2) is a handy early bet. Only bad luck has stopped her winning one so far and the main disincentive this time is that she tends to get back a bit early, which can prove difficult at Tauranga. If she gets the breaks she will be right in it.

Veyron (No3, R4) only just landed the big bets on debut at Te Aroha, but to be fair he was never going to be beaten. He has drawn nicely again and although winning your first two races is never easy, he'll give it a shake. Latika (No7) is smart and is not far off another win.

Stole (No9, R5) getting up to 1600m will be interesting. She has been powering home strongly over shorter trips lately and can prove difficult here. Natsinga (No2) is worth another chance.

You only had to watch the last 200m sprint on Prince Of Wales when he finished second over 1200m at Rotorua last start to know that 1400m next start was going to be close to winning time.

What you didn't know at the time was that he would next run up against a highly talented sort in Finderskeepers (No1). He came off two wins to finish second to Katie Lee in stakes class at Te Rapa and overall will find this more comfortable. The one advantage Prince Of Wales has is a handy barrier draw compared to Finderskeepers' No 14. Very interesting contest.

Albaladego (No10, R8) had little luck until he led last time. He was pulled back into second, but is due a win and can go close here. Heza Karma Karzi (No4) and Off and On (No2) are form runners.

The sprint is a terrific betting race - get it right and the trifecta will pay for all the Christmas prezzies. Volscar (No5, R9) can get into the finish at decent odds. He comes right at this time of year and is well capable against this type of field. Cent Per Cent (No2) is a good leader and that might be an advantage.

King Kapisi (No4, R10) cost himself a win at Te Rapa last start through inexperience.

He's had only the four races and is learning all the time. What beats him today will win.