Justa Charlie chased Max home at Te Rapa and can do so again. Photo / Supplied
It's winter, right? So what's wrong with featuring a jumper at the top of this week's column.
Max should take a power of beating in this afternoon's $50,000 Simon's 50th Birthday Hawke's Bay Steeplechase.
Forget his last-start failure to feature — it was a hurdle race and he's very much a steeplechaser these days. View his chance here on his dominant steeples win at Te Rapa two back.
The winning margin was a bare 2-lengths but the victory was stunning. He was barely in the race 400m out and he blazed past the opposition. In that sense today's 4800m staying contest will suit admirably.
Justa Charlie chased Max home at Te Rapa and can do so again. His last run was on the flat so ignore that.
The toughest race at Raukaka today is Race 7 and we're going to feature it here. Chris Gibbs has almost a stranglehold on the event with three top chances.
Vinevale, Rockabye-baby and Rikki Tikki Tavi and the biggest improver fro the trio from the last meting two weeks ago is almost certainly Rockabyebaby, who was having her first start in seven months when third in her resuming run. From six Ruakaka starts her record is four wins and two placings.
Rikki Tikki Tavi will appreciate the step from 1200m to 1400m and perhaps even more that fact Hiflyer isn't sitting right behind for the first half of the run home this time.
Vinevale and Fire Jet look the best of the others. Verdict: Because Rockabyebaby has drawn the outside of the 10 runners we're going each-way on a 4-6 ratio.
The odds are pretty tight, but Pink Graffiti (No8, R1) is perhaps still the best way to go in the opener.
The Ocean Park filly was narrowly run down when resuming and should be a fraction tighter in terms of fitness this time.
Copper Mine (No3) impressed winning a Taupo barrier trial and from the rails draw will make his presence felt with Troy Harris in the saddle. Have a saver on him.
Local Alesund (No9, R3) drew beautifully here last time, but paid the price with difficulty working into the clear. He was close up third and from the nice gate should be difficult to head off. That said, it's a reasonably tough race with The Helix (No3) and Sure He Can (No1) both having claims.
Resurrect (No1, R5) is dropping back from group three in R85 to a plain R75 handicap, but will carry 58.5kg. He has the class to win, but could possibly be a touch soft in his first race in five months.
He's still worth an each-way look though. Merlini (No4) has a 2kg claim and the rails barrier to help him. Both will be very valuable. Not Usual Heart (No5) was hugely impressive charging home to win last time when resuming and will be in it again.
It may pay not to ignore the narrow odds on the promising filly Marzemino (No6, R6). She races on pace and comes out of an inside barrier and can make the sometimes difficult transition from maidens to R65.
Air Centre (No4) does not face the same issue and after her good second to Not Usual Heart here last time deserves strong support. Include Beale Street (No1) in multiples.
The last, Race 9 is not easy, but look at an each-way on I See Red (No11). She has gone excellent races at 1200m, then 1400m and last start here at 1600m. She makes the natural progression to 2100m here and on paper that looks ideal, but a horse's first step up to a middle distance, getting used to a slower tempo, can often be their hardest race.
Take the risk though and go each way.
● New Zealand's Megablast should be difficult to hold out in today's $190,000 Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast. There is no Egg Tart this time and the joint favourite Tradesman has to give him 1kg and might not have quite the same liking for a heavy track, which he has yet to be tested on.
Although there is likely to be some drying, the Caloundra track was yesterday a heavy 8 and that will suit Megablast perfectly. He and Damian Browne have drawn wide again at 10, but Browne now knows Megablast well and did not get the best of runs on him last time.