Sherrif contests the $100,000 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes at Pukekohe today. Photo / Race Images
Haussmann finally gets a chance to step back into the limelight when he lines up in Race 2 at Pukekohe today.
Late last season and early this term Haussmann showed he was in the top echelon of his age group. He came off a beaten performance to win a barrier trial at Taupo in late March then looked good getting home strongly over 1200m at Awapuni last start. He ideally steps to 1400m today, handles rain-affected footing very well and the long Pukekohe home straight will provide him with ample time to wind up.
Only a small field here, but that doesn't mean it's an easy contest. Hanger was super impressive winning in maiden class last start and although stepping up significantly in class here, he should be considered. Global Thinking won nicely two back.
Open handicaps in the north have been very difficult to predict this season and Race 1 this afternoon is no exception. The form on paper of Comin'through (No6) is nothing to get excited about, but he has run some nice races in strong company this preparation. He would probably appreciate the track drying a touch more, but has the ability to win this with 53kg. Smedley (No5) will go around with just 51kg on his back and will greatly appreciate striking a rain-affected track. Difficult to rule most of these out of contention.
Incantesimo (No10, R4) can win. She was stylish winning at Ellerslie two back and was close up in fifth last time. She doesn't mind it slow and gets home strongly so will be suited by this track. Big Mike (No3) resumed at Matamata and found the firmish 1200m, run in 1.11, of little use to him. Getting up to 1600m in the wet here he makes a lot more appeal. Poker Face (No12) and Buy Me A Rock (No5) should be put in all multiple bets.
Fire Jet (No3, R5) is one to back here and follow. He is a smart sprinter on yielding tracks and has form in fields every bit at good as this. The draw is a touch awkward and Tayla Wenn will have to overcome that disadvantage, but he will be going around with just 55kg. Mr Knowitall (No1) got home last start at big odds, but it was no fluke. His form is a little patchy, but is well up to winning with a peak performance. Don't leave Rosa Carolina (No6) out of multiples.
Few winning runs have caught the attention more than Sherrif's (No1, R6) at Manawatu last start. He came from off them to storm to the line in the manner of a horse really going places. This is a decent step up in grade, but don't believe he can't bridge that gap. Local Time Lord (No2) will be a tough opponent and it would be a fitting victory for Andrew Calder for his father-in-law Richard Collett.
As befitting metric mile at the highest level, the Manco Easter is very difficult to sort out. Perhaps the safest bet is local Megablast (No3, R7) each way. Trainer Nigel Tiley says Megablast is a much stronger horse this preparation. He goes some of his best races when on the fresh side and comes in here first up from a break. Mime (No4) rates highly. She had a first-up run at Manawatu last time, but the 59.5kg and being parked wide brought her undone. She is much fitter for this and drops 2.5kg.
Last year's winner Seventh Up (No1) has 4kg more than a year ago, but is in career best form. Romancer (No13) could be an upsetting factor.
The last is very tough, but if looking for get-out value Corporate Raider (No1, R8) and Belle Vista (No6) could be your go.
●At Randwick, Burning Passion (No3, R3) looks a decent each-way bet. Take little notice of the seventh last start - it was a better run than it looks on paper.
In Race 5, Manicure (No5) comes off a close second to Houtzen last time. She will be greatly appreciative of the step up to 1400m and looks a good punt. Try her with Frolic (No1) in the quinella.
Outrageous (No3, R6) has a nice barrier for Brenton Avdulla to play with. He charged home into third in the 1400m Sires Produce and will like this 1600m.