Nashville (left) has some appeal in today's $200,000 Haunui Farm Classic at Otaki. Photo / APN
Riding Shotgun at Matamata looks perhaps the best multi-bet runner going around today.
The consistent juvenile has only to turn up in the same condition as Karaka Million night to be extremely difficult to hold out in Race 4.
Karaka winner Vespa looked to be handling the rain-affected footing better than Riding Shotgun and that contributed heavily to the result.
The No 1 barrier draw will create plenty of favours for Riding Shotgun who at level weights looks to have the measure of most of these. A firmer track here will suit local runner Dragon Lair.
If there was an excuse for Horse Warrior (No7, R1) when he was the beaten favourite at Tauranga last start it wasn't immediately obvious.
He showed so much with a close-up third when resuming at Pukekohe the start before he's worth at least one more chance.
The No 11 barrier looks ugly, but there is a long run down the back straight at Matamata, making the wide gate less important. She's Samashing (No10) hasn't figured lately, but the runs have not been that bad and she's on her home track this time.
After a win and a second at the start of this preparation, Vibrant's (No8, R5) luck ran out - she suffered from a slipped saddle two back then last start could not manage the rain-affected track at Ellerslie on January 1. From the one gate over her pet distance of 1400m she looks a good prospect here. Fiftyshadesofgrey (No5) had no answer to a huge winning run from Sea Major at Te Rapa last start, but she held the rest just as comfortably. She is very fit and on her home track should be right in the fight.
It should be a good contest between Steel Rose (No1, R6) and Lady Royale (No3) in the $100,000 Matamata Breeders Stakes. The tough Taranaki tart against the speed machine. These types of races are often dour affairs and that might just give the edge to Steel Rose, but a great battle can be assured. Flaming (No2) is also in there and so are lower North Island visitors Platinum Balos (No4) and Silk Belt (No5). Great race, as it should be.
At the odds posted by the TAB yesterday, there is plenty of value available in Race 7 at Matamata and one of them is the local Ididit (No10). Win dividends only were available yesterday on the field market and if today Ididit is around the $14 offered last night, she is a real chance at odds.
Some of her best races have been when fresh and she is very underrated. She placed at her only race on her home track and although the No12 barrier is hardly ideal, she should be storming home under just 52kg with her apprentice allowance, loads of chances, Silverdale (No12), Flower Bomb (No7), Barbaric (No6) and Whosyourmaster (No9) being among them.
You can make a case for even more runners in Race 8 and when you get that type of scenario it often pays to go for a light-weighted horse.
Roc De Chine (No16) fills that spot. Two of her last three runs have been at weight-for-age behind the likes of Recite and Historian, but even more important, she has had to carry 56.5kg and 57kg under that weight scale. Under pure handicap conditions Roc De Chine comes in here at 53kg. Danielle Johnson is going to have to weave a touch of magic from a very wide gate and if she can do that the good odds on offer yesterday will be useful. Smartly (No5) should get the run of the race from an inside gate and Revelator (No17) is an upset chance if he regains the field.
Duquesa (No8, R9) is in the right form to complete a winning treble and Ira Bean (No10) showed more like his best form at Te Rapa last start.
A formline of 20698 does not normally inject confidence into your wallet, but those figures do not tell the entire story behind Nashville (No1, R8) in today's $200,000 Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki. He got back over the 1200m of the Telegraph at Trentham and ran on to be 4.6 lengths behind Irish Fling then got a long way back in the 1400m weight-for-age at Te Rapa and ran home quickly to be 2.8 lengths from Viadana. Over a much more favourable 1600m under virtually level weights in today's conditions Nashville appeals. At absolute worst he deserves one more chance.