Racing: She's A Thief may steal big race at Matamata

You can't be unlucky in million dollar races. Photo / 123RF

There will be no better form race around in the next month or two than the Karaka Million and local filly She's A Thief (No1,R6) will go a long way to proving that if she wins today's $100,000 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders Stakes.

She's A Thief's fourth in the Million was even better than it looked on paper. She was a fraction slow from the inside gate and had to use a vital amount of gas to quickly get handy behind the leaders.

You can't be unlucky in million dollar races and turning into the home straight there was no gap directly ahead and Jake Bayliss swung out a few horse widths to get clear air. She's a Thief fought strongly right to the line, 1.8 lengths from winner Avantage and if the gap along the rail had been there turning in she would have been a lot closer. The wide barrier does her no favours today, but she is fit and hard from racing and will be performing on her home course.

Spanish Whisper (No3) and Platinum Mam'selle (No2) have both had enough experience to be capable of producing their best. They are very smart.

Good field in the opener. Smart Thinking (No10, R1) was so dominant winning by a big margin at Avondale it's difficult to say she can't do it again, albeit against significantly stronger opposition. She has drawn in and early in the programme that should not be a problem. Voler Pour Moi (No11) gets to the line strongly and should be well suited to running on her home track. In a powerful line-up, Gundown (No3) and Pythagoras (No1) are musts for multiple combinations.

The 4kg apprentice Taiki Yanagida takes off Livin' With A Prayer (No5) puts the local mare in Race 2 with a royal chance. A couple of her winning runs through the summer were stunning and she has been given a short break. Stylish Attack (No2) has good form in better races than this and turned in a fine second when resuming. She should be better for that run. Difficult to know how Scrutinize (No6) will handle conditions if they stay in the slow range. He has raced only once on a slow surface, in last year's Great Northern Guineas, and although he was well beaten, things went wrong for him in running. He is well up to going close.

Ugo Foscolo (No2, R3) comes back from a lengthy break following a one-race campaign in Australia during which things went wrong. He is all class, as he showed winning the 2000 Guineas last season and is the type to whip up a smart sprint fresh. Small field, but a tricky race. Cote D'Or (No3) is an interesting runner. She is a classy stayer who has been away from racing three months. She can handle rain affected footing and although the 1200m is way short of her best, the small field will help and the conditions will probably make it more of a 1300m race. Difficult to ignore her. Yearn (No4) will have a big following after being unlucky when denied an inside passage at Te Rapa last start. Problem is it is never easy dropping back to 1200m from 1400m, especially when 1400m is your pet trip. She won't be far away.

Sword Of Osman (No4, R4) is a classy 2-year-old who was stunning winning on debut at Manawatu. The Karaka Million probably came up a bit soon for him at his second start and not too much should be read into his mid-field placing. He can bounce back on his home track here. Bocce (No1) did well to hang on for third in the Karaka Million after leading. He will not be helped here by drawing an outside gate, but his fighting qualities will take him a long way. Handsome Rebel (No2) should be included in multiples.

In terms of ability there is probably little between I Got You (No1, R5) and Legramor (No12). What is between them is 5kg and that could prove the winning of the race for Legramor. She deserves a winning turn after finishing second to smart types in Eagle Bay and Nicoletta in her last two trips to the races. The 59.5kg is a lot of weight for a 3-year-old against older horses, even though now nearly into the autumn, but I Got You has class and will give it a good shot. Hello M'Lady (No5) is underrated and can get into the money while fresh. She loves cut in the ground, the negative being her wide barrier.

Age Of Fire (No1, R7) will be the shortest priced favourite all day and it seems unlikely clear topweight of 59.5kg and an unfriendly wide gate will stop him. He is right up there with the best 3-year-olds and looks to have the wood on this field. Contessa Vanessa (No2) has had a few weeks away from the track and should be better for it.

Even field in the last and Jake The Muss (No5, R9) appeals at least as a sound each-way prospect. The finish he produced to win at Counties last time showed he is a fair way from reaching his full potential. Anything could win this race and one you might consider for multiples is local mare She's Prismatic (No10) already a winner at home.