Racing: Quickasucan a strong chance

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Quickasucan and Black Hennessy are as close as you will come to anchors in today's $250,000 Pick6 at Matamata.

Black Hennessy was unlucky last time to the races and Quickasucan was super impressive winning the last race at Ellerslie last Saturday week.

LEG 1: Very little form to pick from here. Fullovit resumed after nearly a year off at Pukekohe last month and finished a handy fourth to Beauty Humour and Green Easy. Either of those two would start a hot favourite in this race and it's fair to expect some natural fitness improvement in Fullovit. Space Oddity was well beaten on this track last start, but the time before on his course at Te Aroha he finished a topline fourth, one length from the winner. A repeat of that would see him in this.

Bayross is coming back from a break and finished a nice second at the Paeroa barrier trials. He is trained by Ross McCarroll, whose team has been in great form and the conditions should suit him. Chapinta didn't go a bad race on debut at Te Awamutu and could be a quick improver.

LEG 2: This could be a trap leg. There is barely a runner without a winning chance and you need to spread as far as the budget allows. Andi Black was not that far away behind Smartly in a better field than this at Rotorua last start and gets his home track this time as well as conditions that suit him better. How Far resumed at Te Aroha and was caught wide in mid-field before wilting. He should be improved for that and rates highly. Impy Luis might not be an out-and-out mudder, but he has raced well in strong fields and is a difficult one to leave out. Local Boy Star is dropping back a rating band, claims 2kg and as the winner of two races looks well placed here. Short Tale and Enjoyit are others to consider.

LEG 3: Black Hennessy was well backed last time, but got no crack at the leaders, being twice blocked in the home straight before finishing seventh. He is very close to a win and although drawn wide looks a very good prospect here. Nasrina made tidy ground on the leaders from back in the field when on debut at Te Awamutu. She is another who might need luck from out wide at the start, but she needs to be on your ticket. Doolgunna, Call The Shots and Revenge have placed form which puts them right in contention here and Lucky To Be Cool and Reachforthestars have impressed in winning at recent barrier trials.

LEG 4: Nab The Moment has had two starts back from a break and has drawn wide both times. Her fifth and sixth in those two runs were useful and this time from an inside gate she should feature. Ishi Red has all the speed she needs and the breeding and the ability to handle a wet track. She comes in nice and fresh for this and has the No 2 gate to apply her brilliance from. Strictly Time won well in the wet at the Te Awamutu barrier trials. The outside gate might be an issue, but she has speed and this is not the worst track to draw wide on. Jahanara wasn't far away after leading on debut and should be improved. This time, she is on her home track.

LEG 5: Quickasucan is a smart type whose form would read better but for a niggling shoulder injury last year. He won in great style at Ellerslie last week and if there is a question mark it is that this will be his first start beyond 1600m. The way he races suggests 2000m should be his ideal distance, but the first middle-distance start for any horse is never an easy task. It probably won't be enough to stop him, though. Veteran Leadership did not have all favours along the rails behind the leaders when third at Te Awamutu and deserves consideration, even though the 59kg will not be easy again. Carbonado won stylishly at Rotorua and is a very fit horse going on to a tough track today.

LEG 6: Ason has been mixing her performances, but the last-start third at Te Aroha was a beaut. She would only need to repeat that to go close. Apprentice claims are useful on days like this when the track is so testing and Phillip Turner's 2kg off Edward Cheval will be important late in the race. Similarly, Sheezaruler will have 2kg of her back. Itsallme was not hopeless on debut and should be improved. Catalina Gold is perhaps a roughie. Tough race to end a quarter-of-a-million dollar quest.