Racing: Switch in venue turns feature event into a six-horse race

The easy track will do two things on $120,000 Glenmorgan Stakes day at Otaki today: It makes winners a fraction easier to find, but makes the big race even more complicated.

The heavy track at Hastings before the venue switch made the Glenmorgan an Irish Rover one-horse race.

Now it's a six-horse race, with the prospect of a topline trifecta.

General public money will ensure Tit For Taat starts favourite and he's the one horse you daren't leave out of the trifecta.

What will help him is that the false rail at Otaki, which usually leaves a cut-off portion early in the run home, is 3m out and around the entire track today.

Cut-off rails make it difficult for on-speed runners.

But Tit For Taat might still be vulnerable at 1600m at his second start this preparation, particularly if he gets pressured on the speed by the likes of his Mudgway Partsworld conqueror, Miss Potential.

If that's the case it might set it up for something finishing strongly from the pack - like Rodin.

Forget that Rodin did not fire in the Mudgway.

Tight, turning Wanganui does not suit all horses and it certainly did not suit Rodin at his first try there. He also copped a check before the home turn and was given no chance to properly wind up the terrific finish we know he has.

Otaki will be different. With all his wins in handicaps, Rodin has yet to show he is a weight-for-age horse like Tit For Taat and Miss Potential, but his stunning first-up sprint win showed he could be in for his best season.

Miss Potential has thrived according to owner-trainer Bill Borrie and will be dangerous despite the wide barrier draw.

There is going to be a roughie in this trifecta and Hello Dolly is probably the best chance.

The Otaki track yesterday was 2.6 and easy and, with a perfect weather forecast, was expected to get back to near firm by this morning.

There are two really smart types resuming in Race 10, Silky Red Boxer (No8) and Black Muscat (No 9).

Both will make a huge impression this summer and a big fight between them today would not surprise. It might pay to lean slightly the way of Silky Red Boxer, but keep them both safe in multiple bet types.

Even over a distance too short (1600m), Distinctly Secret (No1, R1) might have too much class for the opposition in the opening event. He was getting home strongly at the end of 1200m when he resumed at Taupo and the compact field here will help his big finish.

With the 3-year-old form a long way from sorting itself out, Race 2 at Otaki could be a bit of a trap. He probably won't start favourite, but Penitentiary (No4) could go close. He might not have beaten much in his recent winning debut, but he did it in style and the half-brother to class mare Maze could be destined for a ranking.

You can make a case against a few of them in Race 3 and that gives The Dynamo (No5) a good each-way hope. He should get the right run from the No2 gate.

You had to admire the way St Reims (No9, R5) stuck to the task to be a close fourth to King Keitel at weight-for-age at Te Rapa last start. He looked likely to be completely swamped in the home straight and fought back to be only half a length away. It emphasised his staying ability and back up to 2000m this time in a handicap with 53kg he looks extremely well placed. Raspberry Ripple (No15) will also appreciate the step up in distance.

On a testing track at Hastings, Wanganui winner Kalamata (No2, R6) looked the goods in the $50,000 Highview Stakes. But in a speed contest on a good surface she will need to be with them all the way to put her good staying abilities to the test. The conditions probably favour Taatletail (No9), but if the pace has been genuine watch for Kalamata and Rapid Key (No10) to be getting home over the top of them strongly in the closing stages. There is a lot of emerging talent in this field and at least one long price in the trifecta would not surprise. Pay My Bail (No1) is going to get the run from the barrier draw.

Balmuse (No1, R7) could be anything. His two wins so far are probably as good as anything we've seen at this level in more than a year. Only bad luck can beat him. For trifectas, Sing In The Sun (No7) was impressive on debut.

Local form counts for a lot at Pukekohe on winter conditions. It helps even more when they are trained there and Power Fillee and Something Majic loom as great chances today.

Power Fillee (No3, R5) has scored three of her five wins at Pukekohe and is in the best form of her career. Her win under 57.5kg here last start was terrific, and although stepping up a fair bit in class, she should be difficult to beat with 53kg. Oui Brigitte (No2) and Zabeels Angel (No1), although not in her best form, look the two to beat.

On his best form, Okiwi Bay (No3, R6) would win this easily. But he had a setback earlier in the winter and it appears to have affected his form. Something Majic (No7) is in wonderful form though and on her home track she looks the goods.