By MIKE DILLON
Value runners are everywhere at Avondale this afternoon.
To get a bank to attack them, it might pay to take the short odds on Silky Red Boxer in the $30,000 Dixon & Dunlop North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham.
He is a serious horse on the verge of his best run of form and at level weights his class should tell.
The $60,000 Sky City Avondale Guineas will be a straight match for class between the big four - Mount Street, Sayyida, Philamor and Maroofity.
The rest of the programme probably belongs to emerging talent.
Misraad (No 12, R1) is an interesting runner in the first.
She looked good finishing a close second on debut at Taupo, but then failed badly at her only other start that campaign. She had one more start in April before being spelled and did okay. With a good break behind her she could be capable of realising her potential.
Another who has had a good break away is In The Rough (No 4, R2), who showed good ability in only two runs in the autumn. He has drawn an important inside barrier at the 1200m start and could be a value runner. Grace De Soir (No 12) looked sharp winning at Dargaville and will be suited here by racing on the pace.
Circus Dance (No 7, R3) earned nearly $10,000 in place money when racing in Australia.
She showed she was ready for a big effort at her first New Zealand start today by winning a recent Avondale barrier trial by three lengths and from the No 2 gate she should be in it for a long way. Year Of The Cat (No 14) was badly checked at the start last time out.
The Dynamo (No 7, R5) shapes as a promising stayer, who was just nutted at Hastings last start after leading. This does not look to be a strong progressive field and the biggest problem for rider Tony Allan will be the wide No 13 barrier. Lord Pentire (No 9) is capable of better than he has been showing.
The Avondale Guineas will be a great race and not only for its ability to sort out $500,000 Mercedes Derby favouritism.
The barrier draws confuse the race a little with Mount Street (No 5, R7) drawing out in No 12. He has little choice other than to drop back in the field early and his chances depend on his luck from there.
What will help him late in the race is that Maroofity (No 4) should have set up a fast pace and the last 400m will suit horses getting strongly to the finish. The same could be said of Philamor (No 8) and Sayyida (No 13). In a real toughie, Mount Street to beat Sayyida and Philamor. If you want value, don't leave Maroofity out of trifectas.
Sursum Corda (No 3, R8) does not win out of turn, but there is no doubting her ability. If she does not win this, there must be a question mark hanging over her for the big summer races.
Miss Higgins (No 5, R10) is trying 1600m for the first time and the way she races there is no reason she cannot manage the job. Blu Rapture, who beat her last start is smart and would manage this field pretty easily. The wide barrier is not an issue at the 1600m starting point.
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