Old Drumble (No 6) will be a leading chance at Ruakaka today. Photo / APN
Cambridge visitor Rasteau can help trim the Pick6 budget at Ruakaka today.
With a couple of trickier legs, a shortcut somewhere in the $50,000-pot chase is essential.
Slumdog Millionaire, the mount of Jason Collett, could be a bank-builder in race two.
He ran a close second to the promising Mustang second-up as a juvenile and is in a similar state for the step-up to 1600m.
The Dean and Donna Logan stable has a great record on their home track at Ruakaka so any of their runners must be considered.
Leg One
With little raceday or winning trials form, go wide. The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained Sigarsa looks worthy of inclusion on two recent trials placings. Cambridge visitor Set Me Free appeals as a value runner. She had no luck from a wide alley on debut at Ellerslie on April 9. Power Trip will need the breaks jumping from near the outside, but if he receives a good trip expect him to also contend with Matthew Cropp's 3kg claim.
Leg Two
The former Allan Sharrock-trained Andreas has the ability to win fresh-up for new trainers Donna and Dean Logan. He found the heavy Hawera beyond him on debut a year ago but still battled bravely for third. On a firmer home track you can expect him to be much tougher to beat. He looked good winning a Woodville trial on May 10. Kitty Russell is better than her recent form suggests. One of her best efforts in her first campaign was a fourth this course and distance last May in a redhot maiden line-up.
Leg Three
Newyork Bakerboy showed a ton of fight to win here on debut last August. He didn't get much luck fresh-up at Te Awamutu over 1150m on April 16. This is within his scope. Kijani had to be smart to withstand Muccia Belle when quitting maidens at Dargaville on April 20. If he's going to make the step up, this is the race to do it in. The Dean and Donna Logan-trained Centara has been sidelined since his maiden win at New Plymouth in December but warmed up for his return for his fourth trainer in just two starts with an open trial at Ellerslie on April 10.
Leg Four
Another Logan-trained runner Free Serve is well placed to score a fresh-up win. He was second here to a couple of handy types in Porshabeel and Manhattan Miss in his last two runs on the course last prep. With a change of luck in the running, In Tune is the toughest to beat. He's run some promising races in far stronger fields. Muccia Belle also has to be included on her last-start second to Kijani, a likely favourite in leg three. If the budget will stretch, throw in Free Serve's stablemate Writteninthestars. She will need some luck from his gate, but is smart enough to threaten.
Leg Five
With Chris Dell's 3kg claim, don't be surprised to see Bartote quickly regain winning form. The four-race winner is an above-average type when right. He was one of the favourites for the Dunstan Feed Championship Final in 2011. He demonstrated that ability with an easy win three starts back at Rotorua. His last-start Ellerslie miss over 1600m was a warm-up for a return to middle-distance goals. Old Drumble has to be on the multiple ticket. He was a little unlucky not to get clear air earlier when second to race rival Loviste at Dargaville on April 20.
Leg Six
Rasteau takes a drop in class from his seventh over 1400m from a wide gate at Ellerslie. With Rory Hutchings' 1kg claim he should be much more competitive in this field. He was narrowly pipped in a stronger R75 line-up at Ellerslie in the start prior. Promising filly Brela Belle is also a must-include from the inside alley. She would only have to repeat her last-start effort for second to Oak Park to go close.