Mr Luigi (green cap) is better than most of those facing him at Tauranga today. Photo / Trish Dunell
Fit horses will be required to win at Tauranga today and our best bet is having his first start for six months.
Yes, that's Irish, but there are exceptions to every rule.
And Mr Luigi (No4, R4) won't be as far away from his best form as you would imagine from a horse that has been half a year away from the races.
The talented mudder has had two barrier trials and won both impressively and is the type who would be brought right to the edge with that preparation. He is a course winner and is better than most of those facing him today.
Pacorus (No2, R6) looks well placed in the Kiwifruit Cup. The Tauranga track copped heavy rain Thursday night and again yesterday. He can handle the worst of winter conditions and is another who has prevailed on the track. Last start he was left in front in the Wanganui Cup and did well to fight on for third on a track that was not as heavy and loose as he prefers. Katie McKeen (No6) won this last year by a wide margin and on footing similar to that she will strike today. On the same 53kg weight she makes a fair amount of appeal, particularly as a last start winner.
Troy Harris has been riding exceptionally well in his recent comeback to raceday competition and he could start the day on the right note on the Tony Pike-trained Winkle Dancer (No2, R1). He has been patiently handled and is a better horse for three trips to the races. Dragon Rio (No4) looks a danger.
Arzak (No4, R2) has great wet track stats and that makes him the choice. This is his pet distance and he is a course winner. Small field, but it is also a bit tricky. Local Adriatic Pearl (No8) did not get the best of runs at Te Rapa last start and the track was better than she prefers. That definitely won't be an issue today and she can turn her form around. All About Fun (No5) is a real upsetter. He has had one run back and will be a lot fitter this time.
Amastar (No6, R3) got back from a wide gate on this track last start and was never a chance to get into the race. He looked very good in the wet a few starts back and should be well suited today. The widish barrier this time will be an advantage. Last start Dynamic Eagle (No4) was narrowly beaten by the likely favourite here Irish Mist (No1), but he meets that horse 2.5kg better in the weight this time and that should be the difference.
Race 5 is the toughest on the card with most of the runners having claims. Visitor Sakura (No7) has won two of his most recent three and loves the wet. The 2kg claim Alfred Chan removes from his back might be the winning of the race. Craftyeva (No9) is a must for multiple bettors.
No Need (No15, R7) is also in an earlier race, but looks better placed here. He is the first emergency, but would be unlucky not to get one scratching. He was narrowly beaten in a three-way fight at Ellerslie last start and is right on the verge of another win. Alamer (No2) has more than a touch of ability and seems to have come solid as a 4-year-old.
Race 8, the filles and mares weight-for-age, is a very even line-up, made even more so with the entire line-up on 57kg. Heni (No1) has attractive wet track form and followed a win with a good second to smart mare Gypsy Fair last time. That is good form for a race like this. New York Minute (No6) drops into a similar category, winning her last visit to the races by 10 lengths. All five of her wins have been in rain-affected footing. Platinum Command (No3) deserves respect.
Tough line-up.
If you're behind on the punt spend plenty of time sorting out the last, Race 9. Road Trip (No9) may not be the worst value bet. His first-up fourth last time was attractive and he would not need to improve a great deal to figure in this finish. Makarios (No5), Don't Breakmyheart (No3) and Sound Works (No8) are chances in a wide open event.
Age and experience are bringing out the best in the promising stayer Motuman (No3, R5).
The four-year-old has been making all the right moves this preparation with two wins and a runner-up finish from his last three starts and he will look to add to his tally in the Zest 2100 at Tauranga today.
Motuman is prepared on the track by part-owner Wayne Carter, who said the gelding had benefited from a patient approach.
Motuman broke his maiden three runs back and was then second at Tauranga before he won by 12 lengths at Rotorua last month.
- Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk