Keepa Tramp is a chance in the Christchurch Casino Winter Classic at Riccarton today. Picture / Race Images
Eric The Viking remains this column's tip for today's famous Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton.
He won last week's Koral Steeples too convincingly on footing that was a fraction better than he prefers and indications were late yesterday that Christchurch would strike overnight rain.
That would help Eric The Viking.
His trainer Aaron Bidlake came up with the quote of the week when asked if he ever got nervous going into a race. "When I don't get nervous lining up a horse I'll retire - I will have lost my passion."
Any rain would also assist the chances of The Bouncer (No2, R2). He got home nicely into second over 1200m last week and will be better suited by today's 1400m.
We were yesterday about to see something that dragged us out of the gloom of the heavy 10 range tracks of winter.
Sadly, the heavy footing at Matamata robbed us of watching live A$6.3 million Melbourne Cup hope Silent Achiever doing an exhibition gallop.
Trainer Roger James decided not to risk the high class mare and galloped her instead at Cambridge yesterday morning.
"Brilliant," is the stable quote on Silent Achiever, who will make her season debut in the Memsie Stakes in Melbourne on August 30.
She will gallop between races at Te Rapa next Saturday.
Difficult, but interesting, races at Pukekohe. Testing conditions are going to see horses that can find the line well in favour.
One is Fair Fleet (No3, R3) whose 3kg Ulrika Holmquist allowance is going to prove extremely valuable. She has a good wet track record and is already a winner on the Pukekohe circuit. She gets back in her races but look for her to be charging into it halfway down the long home straight. Firepower (No1) has to carry his full 59kg, but is in the best form of his career.
Early season 3-year-old races - the old season's babies - are often very difficult events. Race 1 is particularly so with little in the way of exposed form, but plenty of barrier trial form. There was a bit of money to say Ascomanni (No1) could make a big debut back in February and he didn't do a bad job after a rocky run. He should be well forward after two recent barrier trials, the second of which resulted in a nice second. Keeping Tom (No 2) looked useful in three starts last preparation and could be the value in the race. Just Call Me Rio (No3), Ambrosini (No7) and Dentelle (No8) are recent barrier trial performers.
You can probably forgive Oompa (No4, R2) his defeat at Matamata last start after covering a lot of extra ground behind Silk Chardonnay. The maiden win previously was very good and he rates with the leading chances. You can also forget Ngatira Gold (No8) went around at Ruakaka last week.
Rocknrolla (No7, R4) hasn't had the greatest luck lately. The day she did at Avondale two starts back she won by 5.4 lengths. She has yet to win at 1200m, but this will be more like a 1400m event and the way she can finish off is going to suit this perfectly. Coriander (No9) is in contention.
One of the better prospects on the card looks to be Dance (No7, R5).
She does not throw in many bad races and has looked likely in her last two. Local Les Silk (No5) is extremely promising.
Kapsboy (No9, R6) is each way value despite this being a no apprentice claim race. He likes loose wet conditions and any overnight rain will assist his chances. Pan Dulce (No7) impressed greatly winning by a margin at Tauranga two back and went better than it looks on paper when seventh at New Plymouth since. This race sets up nicely for him.
Twilight Dragon (No3) and John Gray (No1) are real prospects in a tough line-up.
Winning four straight from debut almost never happens these days, but there is no reason why Moon Tide (No7, R7) cannot achieve it. She was entitled to be beaten at New Plymouth last start, but gritted her teeth and refused to yield. This is tougher against older, harder horses, but she will give a great sight again.
There was a suggestion Kentucky Son (No5) would be withdrawn and if that is the case Rocknrolla (No11), if she starts here in preference to earlier, and Celtic Chief (No8) look the dangers.
The last, Race 8, is a bit of a nightmare. Thornbird Lass (No5) is coming straight from maidens, which is never easy, but she had been unlucky not to have cleared the dunce class much earlier. She and Jesshanimo (No1) look two of the best.
Most trainers roll their eyes at outside barrier draws - but not Sandy Cunningham as far as Keepa Tramp is concerned.
The Riccarton trainer said the gelding likes clear air in his races and his effort to attack the line strongly for fourth in last weekend's Group 3 Estraonline Winter Cup was an eye-catching effort.
"He's just one of those horses that need to be out in the open and drawing four didn't help him that much. When he draws out in the car park I'm happy."
Keepa Tramp was crowded at the start of the cup and came from the tail-end of the field to continue a good run of form this preparation that has seen him win at Ashburton and Timaru.
"The Winter Cup is a hard race to get a placing in and in his first go at a Group Three we had to be happy," Cunningham said.
Keepa Tramp will jump from gate five in today's Christchurch Casino Winter Classic, but in his favour this time is the lack of numbers - just nine rivals compared to 14 on day one.Additional reporting: NZ Racing Desk