Race 1
6 What The Bell
Always a steady warning to keep an eye out for the Canterbury raiders when they come to the deep south and it's pretty hard to ignore What The Bell here. The four-year-old has taken on far better fields than this in the career and even off a 30m handicap should be simply too good for his rivals today. Looks thrown in.
Selections: 6-4-3-2-7
Race 2
2 Mystery Beach
Mark Jones can continue what should be a good start to the day here today with a handy enough two-year-old in Mystery Beach. Good enough to run second down in these parts fresh up after doing a power of work and then went to Addington to take on a red-hot field in a Sires' Stakes heat. Drawn well and awfully hard to stop today.
Selections: 2-5-8-9-6
Race 3
6 Captains Mistress
You won't find many shorter runners fresh up on a Thursday in the deep south than Captain Mistress and given the quality she has shown in her three starts to date it's not hard to see why she is so well favoured. Back from a spell here but good enough to beat Stella Rouge and Forever Dream in the last prep. Her's for the taking.
Selections: 6-5-2-1-3
Race 4
2 Shezza Vinny
A string of placings in recent efforts have Shezza Vinny primed and knocking on the door of success. Just hasn't quite been able to grab one despite some good performances. Blair Orange jumps in the bike today which grabs the attention and if he can work his magic that winless run should be over by the end of the day.
Selections: 2-3-1-9-8
Race 5
6 Delightful Peg
Tip of The Day
Right time of the year to be finding those who have been dropping back from some strong age group racing and Delightful Peg has been brilliant lately in behind some very nice types. In the last five starts has raced The Lazarus Effect, Demon Blue, Winelight, Spicey Crunch and Allets so should find this a whole lot easier. Good enough to lead and dominate too.
Selections: 6-7-1-2-5
Race 6
4 Samantha's Moon
After a long time away from the track, Samantha's Moon resumed here with a bold second and then took on a quality mares field at Oamaru where the 7th placing was by far better than it looked. Chance here today to get away well and be handy enough to use the trademark speed to get the job done.
Selections: 4-7-8-2-3
Race 7
1 Threebeersdeep
Life hasn't been great for Threebeersdeep since resuming from a spell, has looked a shadow of his former self but did appear to be on the way back up with a good trial at Ashburton recently. Won't be down here just for the scenery and from the ace draw could lead them up here and prove too sharp.
Selections: 1-6-3-9-4
Race 8
7 Empire City
Quality trotting filly who was sublime first up at Addington winning. Did some work and managed to stave them all off. Has a challenge on her hands here with a couple of very talented fillies looking to beat her and she'll need to be good. But is the dominant force and should be driven accordingly.
Selections: 7-1-5-2-3
Race 9
8 Miraculous
After spending most of last season chasing some of the better ones in his age group, Miraculous should enjoy finding a nice race to resume in here today. Quality pacer who could be in for a big season of progression and even from the wide draw here looks the one they all need to beat.
Selections: 8-4-1-2-7
Race 10
4 Ramblin Rover
Given how far back in the running Ramblin Rover was last time out the effort to get third was very good and signalled a horse who is trending back upwards toward a winning turn. Looks a good chance here today for that from a handy draw with some good speed to follow to the inside. Just needs to lurk and then unleash.
Selections: 4-3-1-2-7
