KEY POINTS:
Plenty of value to be had if you can find the right horses to carry your dollars at Trentham today.
There are no standouts on the programme, simply good, even betting races.
Kerry O'Reilly (No1, R6) should give a good account in the $80,000 Trentham Stakes. It wouldn't
pay to take too much notice of his one beaten run since coming back from the Melbourne Cup - he is a lot better placed in this race today. The 2400m and the weight-for-age conditions will suit. Don't forget Kerry O'Reilly's placed effort in the Kelt Capital when summing up this race. Envoy (No2) and Willy Smith (No3) should be right in the fight.
The Gee I Jane (No1, R9), Darci Brahma (No2) and Seachange (No3) clash will be worth every cent of the entrance money.
Luck, as it does in every Telegraph Handicap, will play a big part. Against horses of this calibre, if you put one foot wrong you're history. Topweight and all, Gee I Jane is going to take some stopping if she gets the luck that has been absent from much of her racing this preparation.
Watch for Darci Brahma to make a dash at them somewhere between the 300m and 250m and look for Gee I Jane to be stalking him. And Seachange will be right there chipping at their heels. With even luck this could be the race of the season. Gee I Jane each-way forever - it's impossible to imagine her having enough bad luck to keep her out of the money.
There are plenty of upset chances for a trifecta spot and Manten (No8) is one of them.
After his astonishing debut performance at Ellerslie, Roussay (No6, R4) is going to be a warm favourite to win the $100,000 Wakefield, but has he learned enough? It was a severe case of greenness that beat him at Ellerslie and he has had to learn a lot in 18 days. He is trained left-handed at Matamata and racing that way here as opposed to Ellerslie will no doubt help. If he does everything right he'll probably win, because he has remarkable talent, but there is no substitute for professionalism in two-year-old races.
The Pooka (No5) might be value against him. After a stunning debut win he got lost going around Ellerslie in November and he wasn't helped by a wide barrier that day. Back left-handed and freshened, he should be ready to show his talent again. Mark Du Plessis has the job of finding him a decent passage from the outside barrier.
Amber Jack (No5, R2) could be at good each-way odds early in the day. He has been freshened since failing from a wide gate at Ellerslie in November and before that had placed form in fairly decent fields.Yee Ha (No12) is another fresh runner who could surprise.
With Pinot Grigio, Magic Cape (No1, R7) will get his chance to put another win alongside his 2000 Guineas victory in November. Because he's been given a Derby preparation and has not been to a barrier trial or exhibition gallop, he lacks a touch of hardness, but raced well when fresh in his previous campaign. Patrick (No7) looks an up and comer.
The Silence Sir (No9, R8) copped a battering in the Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie and still finished only 2 1/4 lengths from the winner, Dezigna. The half brother to Gee I Jane is on the way through to the top and could easily take out the Anniversary Handicap today. It won't be easy though, The Foreman (No13) has terrific ability, La Force (No14) is shaping as a big winner and Sir Slick (No1) and Fiscal Madness (No2) are right in the race.
You just have to like the way Makutuwai (No12, R10) finishes off his races. He is a big, long-striding type who should be well suited to Trentham. Ellerslie didn't exactly suit him, but he still finished only a neck behind Zerello and he meets her 1.5kg better this time. Don't drop Spud (No13) for his beaten run at Ellerslie last start. It was his first try right-handed, and back runners like him simply were not suited that day. He looks right in this race.
It's a while since Kristov (No1, R9) has gone around with 54.5kg on his back. At Avondale today he will give a great sight tearing along with the speed and proving extremely difficult to run past late in the race. Look to Gaze (No2) to get her racing luck back this time.
Brianna (No6, R10) proved she was useless on wet footing when beaten last start, but the talented filly gets conditions to suit today. There are some useful types in the race, but she is a filly of real potential.
Young Zeus (No10, R8) and Samantha Spratt make a powerful combination in the Rating 76 1600m. That was a dominant win at Tauranga last start and the first of what should be a handful of wins this season.
Keepem (No8, R4) looked so smart winning on debut then everything went wrong when he backed up at Ellerslie. He comes into this nice and fresh and will be tough to handle.