KEY POINTS:
At Trentham last week David Walsh rode one horse for Murray Baker and won the $100,000 Wellington Guineas on Rios.
Tomorrow at Te Awamutu the Cambridge jockey will attempt the same strike rate on the Baker-trained Giovanni.
In terms of the number of chances in the race, the
$30,000 Magnum Industries 1150 won't be any easier.
Many of our top horses are looking to get rolling as the summer sprinting season approaches and the Te Awamutu sprint looks the country's most even betting race on the day.
What Giovanni has on his side ahead of many of the talented horses here is fitness.
He has had two runs back from a break, whereas My Hangover, Hagar, Volscar and stablemates Penny Florence and Smitten Kitten are all resuming from winter spells.
At Wanganui last start David Walsh lost his whip on Giovanni.
The end of the whip became entangled in some wire in the starting stalls and was ripped from Walsh's hand as the start was made.
Giovanni finished second, beaten one length by the underrated Our Umaga, but it probably wasn't the whip that made the difference.
Of greater significance was the racing pattern that developed because of the slow racing surface.
It meant that the best part of the track was three and four horse widths out from the inside rail.
Giovanni is a talented front runner and is at his best when he can hug the rail and sprint off the home bend.
In the Wanganui scenario he was out near the middle of the track with Our Umaga camped on his outside.
Horses came both sides of him on the home turn and with no whip to motivate him forward, Giovanni did well to finish second.
Provided the forecast rain does not do too much damage to the Te Awamutu track, the rail should be suitable and Giovanni will give a great sight.
My Hangover won a Cambridge barrier trial nicely, but her No14 barrier draw won't help.
She wasn't far away in a couple of strong fields during the Queensland winter carnival and is up to this class.
Pin Up Boy was disappointing at Rotorua last start, even allowing that his connections claimed he would improve with the run.
He's too good to dismiss entirely because of that effort and he could be worth one more chance.
John Sargent has Smitten Kitten and Penny Florence engaged and expects both to take a lot of improvement out of the race.
"I don't know too much about Smitten Kitten as this is her first start for me, but she won a trial at Taupo nicely and Penny Florence won the same day.
"Both are well enough to run cheeky races, but they are being aimed at the Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe."
Hagar races well when fresh, but his chances will depend on the state of the track. All seven of his wins have been on a good surface and if the rain has an impact his chances will diminish.
This is a wonderful betting contest. Balthazar, Happy Sculpture, Volscar and Tadan are all capable of winning with too much surprise.
On his form so far this preparation, Triplebank will give trainers Vanessa and Wayne Hillis a big chance in the $26,000 Ron W Dickie Handicap.
Triplebank won as he liked in a very fast 1.9.56 for the 1200m when resuming at New Plymouth then did well to be narrowly beaten on a less suitable track at Rotorua.
$30,000 sprint
* Giovanni comes up with a good opportunity for the Murray Baker-David Walsh combination.
* Walsh lost his whip when it was torn out of his hand at the start when Giovanni finished second at Wanganui last start.
* Te Awamutu can suit front runners when conditions are reasonable and Giovanni has drawn well.
* He faces a top class field with a number of runners resuming from spells.
