KEY POINTS:
Despite the inexplicable $10,000 dip in the midweek Pick6 pot, the chase does not get any easier at Avondale today.
The largely maiden fields - the R80 feature misses the cut - are riddled with dubious raceday and trials form.
To top that off, they'll be racing on one of the most testing surfaces of this rain-soaked winter.
Avondale was an off-the-scale heavy 11 yesterday, with little hope of a reprieve before leg one jumps at 1.24pm.
Still, we all need a breather from the Olympics at some stage.
Our strategy for the $40,000 prize - go wide early and narrow the spend in the latter legs.
LEG 1 The Andrew Scott-trained Winning Trumpy had the look of a next-up winner when closing strongly on Orient Express and Mr Tipsy for third on debut at Te Awamutu. Mr Tipsy and Orient Express both underlined that by scoring next-up at Te Rapa last Saturday. Al Rode battled for a distant sixth behind the latter, but is a chance if he backs up. He ran two good placings at Ruakaka beforehand. Little Turbo, the mount of Jonathan Riddell, is also worth another shot. He was well backed when failing on debut, but looked smart winning a Cambridge trial in July.
LEG 2 Ethan Dalley's 4kg claim makes He's Got Rhythm a must-include. He drops to a luxurious 54kg, 4kg less than the 58kg he lumped when chasing Waitoki Ahi at Pukekohe last time out. Viperella ran four seconds faster in winning the same day and trip as He's Got Rhythm at Paeroa. She should handle the class rise and track. Arose has been battling lately, but all three of his wins are on this course and he is a toff in the heavy stuff. Imelda, Manacourt and Acapulco Bay are all multiple hopes for the bigger Pick6 spenders.
LEG 3
El Pzaaz, the half-sister to Cornwall winner El Perez, looks nicely placed to add to the family tally here. She will have improved a ton from her middle-distance debut for third at Ruakaka earlier this month. All Pent Up only needs to race up to his last-start second to be a huge threat. The lightly-tried Pentire gelding, a son of the group-winning miler Winning Wave, won't get many easier chances to quit maidens. The consistent Chat Margaux finished behind All Pent Up last time, but pushed Viperella closer at Paeroa. She handles the deep stuff. Nice And Natural and Heez In Charge add to the confusion.
LEG 4
Here's where you should be able to start tightening the belt. Russniak challenged the promising Track Brat on this course and distance last time, and meets nothing stronger. The late-blooming Jazatac may be worth taking for insurance. The 6-year-old mare wound up nicely on debut for fifth. The extra 250m today looks ideal.
LEG 5
Ventoux is another potential anchor after his eye-catching debut third at Paeroa over 1150m on July 23. He only needs to improve a fraction to take this. Trials performer Dee's Rock has had enough support in his only two raceday runs to suggest another chance here.
LEG 6
Promising filly Joystep, to be ridden by Lisa Cropp, could start the shortest priced favourite of the day after her last-start third behind the smart pair Rough Odds and Silk Spur in strong 3-year-old company at Ruakaka. But there is a question mark over her ability to cope with a track this deep. She finished a distant seventh here last October on a heavy 10. Throw in Red Tiger and Tokyo Star for safety as they should handle the track.
