Racing: Talented 3-year-olds battle at Ruakaka

Kenny Rae with Upsala, who won on this track in July. Photo / APN

Last year we had hugely competitive 3-year-old racing providing a marvellous backdrop to the coal face.

Today at Ruakaka we have at least four early-term 3-year-olds who could be there in the headlines through the season.

The Diamond Duke, Icepin, Upsala and Hoofit are all extremely talented and race 3 sets up as one of the programme's best.

Although Upsala won a race on this track in July, none of the quartet have raced this season.

The Diamond Duke looks like he could be extremely good.

He impressed everyone with his Ellerslie winning debut in April and even more stylish was his close second to Ginga Dude at the Te Teko barrier trials.

He got back that day and where Ginga Dude saved ground along the inside, The Diamond Duke came wide for James McDonald and nearly picked up the winner. The impressive part was how easily he was travelling. Provided the predicted rain does not see the inside strip cut up too much, he looks well placed with his No 1 barrier.

Matamata trainer Peter McKay produced Alvesta to win stylishly at the Te Awamutu barrier trials then won the season's first juvenile race with him at Wanganui last week by six lengths. At Te Awamutu trials that day McKay said he thought he had one - Estrato, by Stratum - as good at home, even though the youngster had finished unplaced at the Te Teko trials. We'll see how close he is to being right when Estrato (No2, R1) makes his debut today. It will be significant that Sam Spratt is riding Estrato rather than stablemate Antonio Lombardo, who chased Alvesta home last week. French Connection (No3) looked good winning at Te Teko and looks a runner.

Gaston (No2, R2) has had only four career runs, but looked good with placed form last preparation behind the likes of Show Up and Riomoral. His outside gate is not ideal for his resuming run, but he tends to get back anyway. Over 1000m he won't want to be dropping too far off them early, but at least he can rattle home late. If She's Prestigious (No6) clears the gates as quickly as she did when she led and won a juvenile race at Ellerslie in April she will be difficult to handle over 1000m. Scattercat (No8) caught the eye winning on debut at Pukekohe in May.

Difficult to see how you can get value when Katie Lee (No4, R4) takes on the open sprinters for her resuming run. Only seven runners, but it looks an extremely competitive race. The surprise could be Katie Lee's stablemate Rendzina (No2), who is an Australian group winner. Watch for her to finish strongly. Vincent Mangano (No6) is an obvious pick for the trifecta and is a big winning chance. Interesting race and not just because of Katie Lee.

Alvin Ng's 2kg allowance could play a big part in Race 6. Ng partners topweight Waitui Zone (No1) and drops his weight to 56kg. Waitui Zone has had six weeks away from racing and often goes well in that state.

This is not a hugely strong field with Waitui Zone's stablemate Winning Genes (No7) appealing for the trifecta as does Nike Princess (No8) and Caratacus (No5).

You won't see many of them from Race 7 running in an Auckland Cup any time soon, but there will be a winner and locally trained At The Top (No5) is getting a 3kg Harry Kasim allowance and that puts him in with a big chance. He didn't finish off quite as well as expected when fifth on this track last start, but the allowance will help here.

Race 8, the R90 1600m, looks a nightmare on paper and could be a real punting trap. Tread warily here. If you get the trifecta right congratulate yourself.

Time Pays (No1, R9) has been narrowly beaten in tidy fields in his only two runs to date. That elusive thing they call racing justice could get him over the line today. Napali (No9) and Highlight (No11) are trifecta hopes.

The last is a terrific line-up and a great betting race. There are a lot of plus points around Queen Sabeel (No2, R10). She is twice a winner from three Ruakaka starts and Jenny Whiteside drops her tough 58kg weight down to a much more comfortable 55kg. Single Currency (No3) is a big chance, Bonus Bond (No11) looked good beating an easier field here last time and Pinstar (No1) is a chance despite his 58kg.

At Awapuni, where the conditions will be tough, Tudor Bubble (No9, R8) has to step up to 55.5kg if she wants to make it four straight, but she will keep going in the ground where some might struggle.

Yourhavinmeon (No13) will also cop the footing and his 52.5kg looks very appealing.

Saint Peter (No3, R10) has to back up in a week after a pretty hard Ellerslie run, but he looks tough. He's hardly been out of the money and he should give a good sight.