Aussie raider targets Railway
Ellerslie, G1 Sistema Railway, NZ$200,000, 1200m
While the last two winners of the Sistema Railway are among the field of 14 plus three emergencies for the traditional New Year's Day Group 1, it is a mare from Australia who is expected to be one of the hardest to beat in the feature race at Ellerslie.
Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt), raced by Segenhoe Stud, is resuming off a spring campaign which saw her down the track in two Group 1 sprints, but as a winner of nine races, including a trio of Group 3 races across the Tasman, she brings strong credentials for trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds.
Media Sensation (I Am Invincible), a winner of the New Zealand 1000 Guineas in 2018 and a last start second in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders S. looks her main rival. The Peter and Dawn Williams trained 4-year-old has won six of her 12 starts and is drawn to get an ideal run.
Media Sensation
Lightly raced 8-year-old Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) is also afforded a strong chance having been victorious in the G3 J Swap Contractors Sprint at Te Rapa last time out, his eighth win from 15 career starts. He has never been further back than fourth in his career.
Dama Zorro (Husson {Arg}), is looking for a hat-trick of wins, having won at this track and distance last time out for Te Rapa trainer David Greene.
Santa Monica (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) caused a huge upset in this race last year, beating Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins), who also contests this race, and she is looking to do it again in what will likely be her final start in a race, while the winner of the 2018 edition, Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge), who was fourth last year, returns again for trainer Graham Richardson.
Concert Hall on a roll
Ellerslie, G2 Skycity City of Auckland Cup, NZ$200,000, 2400m
Having easily mastered the G3 Manawatu Cup last time out by 3.3l, progressive staying mare Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) is favoured to handle the step up in class in the City of Auckland Cup.
Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Concert Hall has had a strong basis for her first try at the 2400 metres and gives every indication that it will suit given the way she finished off last time out.
Behind her that day was Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), who looks hard pressed to turn the tables, although he was third in a G1 NZ Derby last time he attempted this trip at Ellerslie.
Justamaiz (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}) comes through a win in the G3 Waikato Cup last time, which is form that has to be respected, while The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), resumes for Shaune Ritchie off an Australian campaign which featured a second in a 2000 metre race at Rosehill and a sixth in the G3 Newcastle Cup.
Option steps out in Cambridge colours
Ellerslie, G2 Barnswood Farm Eclipse S. NZ$100,000, 1200m
Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) fronts up for his first start for his new owners at Cambridge Stud having impressed with his two wins to date at Pukekohe and then the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Trentham.
He is clearly a colt of considerable talent and if Brendan and Jo Lindsay's opinion of him is correct, he should continue his winning ways for trainer Tony Pike here.
However, it is not a straight forward task, with four other horses carrying unbeaten records into this race. Andrew Campbell trains two of them in the impressive Otaki winner Preakness (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the narrow last start winner at this track, Trident (NZ) (Smart Missile).
James McDonald is aboard Play That Song (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), who relished the wet track to win the Listed Wellesley S. at Trentham back in October, having won on debut on a dry track at Ruakaka for trainer Nigel Tiley.
American Princess (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) won well on debut at Te Rapa for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and can be reasonably expected to improve off that win.
Baker's half dozen
Ellerslie, G2 Valachi Downs Royal S., NZ$100,000, 2000m
Baker and Forsman take a six-strong hand into the Royal S. with a band of fillies which they will undoubtedly hope can challenge for the G1 New Zealand Oaks when it is run in March.
Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) backs up from the G2 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day where she ran eighth, as does fellow Savabeel filly Coco Baci, who ran fifth and another stablemate Diamonds Galore (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who ran ninth.
Bergamot (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}) broke her maiden two back at Matamata before finishing fifth in her first try at stakes company, Darcee Que (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) won her first race over 1600 metres at this track early in December, while Snowdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) broke her maiden at Tauranga.
The James and Wellwood-trained Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) looks the benchmark having won at Listed level here two back before finishing second in the Eight Carat behind Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Forest takes on unbeaten Riodini
Ellerslie, G2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas, NZ$100,000, 1600m
The Tony Pike-trained Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) finished third in the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas last time out behind superstar Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and gets a much easier race here to add another stakes success to his G3 War Decree S. win back in October.
Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) has, however, emerged as a 3-year-old of considerable promise and is unbeaten in four starts for Nigel Tiley, the most recent in the G2 Bonecrusher S. at this track in early December.
The filly Star Of Bombay (NZ) (Atlante) has made strong progress in her three starts to date, winning her last two, including over 1400 metres at this track last time out by a clear margin and it would not surprise to see her measure up in this class.
Real aims for repeat
Ellerslie, G2 Rich Hill Mile, NZ$100,000, 1600m
The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), caused the upset in the G2 Cal Isuzu S. last time out at Te Rapa and confronts a similar race here for trainer Jim Pender. The top weight, Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel) was fourth there, but had little luck, however he is worse off at the weights on Wednesday.
Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) comes off a trio of wins in lesser company but looks progressive, while Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) best, which includes a second in a G1 Levin Classic, is good enough to win this.
Hypnos (NZ)
Standish looks tailor made for Halvorsen
Flemington, G3 Standish H. $160,000, 1200m
The traditional New Year's Day sprint has only drawn a field of eight, which is a tad disappointing, and last start Flemington winner Halvorsen (Magnus) looks the one to beat. He finished off powerfully back on December 14 and rises slightly in distance here.
Halvorsen
Adelaide sprinter Bold Star (Needs Further) impressed over the 1000 metres here recently winning with authority, and while he is some query to be as effective up to the six furlongs, the rise in class on paper is not really represented in the quality of the field.
The other serious winning chance is the Phillip Stokes-trained Snitzkraft (Snitzel), who has a strong record at the 1200 metres, including a good win last time out at Pakenham.
Secret's trail blazes onto Bagot
Flemington, Listed Bagot H., $160,000, 2800m
Secret Blaze (Sizzling) has been in terrific form over the past couple of months winning three of his past four starts, including over 2500 metres on this track on December 21.
Secret Blaze
His main threat will likely come from Azuro (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who was the superior stayer in the 3200 metre Listed Sandown Cup last time out but is coming off a freshen-up, which is a slight query.
Wall Of Fire (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) was runner-up to Azuro in that race and also comes into this one off a seven-week break, while Chris Waller's import High Bridge (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) will be improved off his last start second when favourite in the Listed Christmas Cup at Randwick.
