Knight regal prospect
Caulfield, Listed Arrowfield Redoute’s Choice S., $150,000, 1000m
River Knight (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was runner-up in the Listed Festival S. and can go one better. Destination (Exceed And Excel) was fourth in that race and he’s sure to be competitive again.
Hard Rock Girl (All Too Hard) has won her last two in good style, including the Listed Cinderella S. so her form speaks for itself. She beat Masseuse (Rubick) at The Valley and he should benefit from that outing and could easily reverse that result.
Celestial Sol (Fighting Sun) looked good in winning his only trial while there’s sure to be interest in Black Caviar‘s (Bel Esprit) daughter Ready For Caviar (More Than Ready {USA}).
Blaze a hot chance
Caulfield, Listed Neds Mornington Cup Prelude, $150,000, 2000m
Secret Blaze (Sizzling) was second in the stronger G2 Blamey S. and he has previously acted well on a quick back-up and the distance is ideal for him.
Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) is also in good touch and should continue his solid form and Vaucluse Bay (Al Maher) is another whose claims are hard to dismiss in his current vein of form.
Gallic Chieftan (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) should be all the better for his resuming run and is up to a more suitable trip. Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) wasn’t far away in the G2 Peter Young S., so this is an easier assignment for him.
Joker a serious hope
Caulfield, Listed Neds Anniversary Vase, $150,000, 1600m
Admiral’s Joker (Bel Esprit) looks in line for a major reward after performing well in stronger company for third in the G2 Blamey S.
Admiral’s Joker
Gold Fields (Churchill Downs) was fourth last time out in the G3 Shaftesbury Avenue S. and the step up to a mile will be to his liking. Hellova Street (Helike {USA}) is a genuine character and a place chance again at worst.
Sopressa (So You Think {NZ}) is a quality mare resuming and she has a recent trial success to her credit while Scarlet Dream (Sebring) is having her first start for Team Hawkes and a change of environment often prompts a turnaround in form.
Top Oaks hope
Trentham, G1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks, NZ$400,000, 2400m
Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has drawn poorly, but she’s in supreme form and hard to go past. She was so dominant in winning the G2 Lowland S. over 2100 metres that it’s hard to see the extra distance bothering her.
Jennifer Eccles (NZ)
Communique (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) impressed in claiming the G3 Sunline Vase with stablemate Karalino (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) and they too look sure to run a strong 2400 metres for trainer Stephen Autridge.
Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) continues to race well and can be in the mix again while Meghan (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) has beaten the older horses twice over ground and closed off nicely for third in the Sunline.
Loire (NZ)
Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) has measured up well against the best fillies and a chance again and with Bergamot (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}) gives Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman a decent hand.
A chance at longer odds may be Seven Seas (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}), who has been going well since getting over staying trips and Unlaced (Niagara) also has claims having already beaten older opposition in her lead-up program.
Fillies dominate Guineas
Trentham, G2 carfinance.co.nz Wellington Guineas, NZ$100,000, 1400m
Levante (NZ) (Proisir) has made the perfect start to her career with four straight wins and has yet to be tested. The filly now looks ready to add a winning black type credit to her record.
Te Akau has a strong hand with last-start Listed Mufhasa S. winner Star Of Bombay (NZ) (Atlante) and Exaltation (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt), a half-sister to Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) who has won both of her starts in fine style.
Exaltation (NZ) | Photo courtesy of Race Images
Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) completes its assault and she has trialled well since she’s been freshened after winning the G3 Eulogy S. and running second in the Royal S.
Bella Mente (NZ) (El Roca) has performed well all preparation and she won’t be far off the action again while in a race dominated by fillies the best male prospect looms as Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante). His last-start win at Hastings was achieved in effortless fashion.
Group 1 form
Trentham, G3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle S., NZ$70,000, 1600m
Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel) will appreciate the step up in trip, a distance over which she was Group 1 placed in the Thorndon Mile two runs back.
Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) won the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. last time out and a trial outing has kept her up to the mark while Dark Princess (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}) was sixth and the roomier track will suit her back-running style much better.
Beyond The Fort (NZ) (Niagara) has been freshened since last appearing and she has a good record off a break. She also has class, as evidenced by her runner-up finish in last season’s G1 New Zealand Oaks on this track.
Tinkalicious (NZ) (Nadeem) is a Group performer and past winner on the track and Vee Cece (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) is also a stakes placegetter and might be the best contender at longer odds.
Talladega on top
Ascot, Listed Schweppes JC Roberts S., $100,000, 1800m
Talladega (Sebring) hasn’t put a foot wrong so far and looks up to the challenge of gaining black type and keeping an unbeaten record intact.
Cryptic Wonder (My Admiration) is another highly promising 3-year-old with strong prospects following his second in the Listed Piper S., in which Divide The Sea (Moshe) was third so she’s a place hope again.
Kelvin (Heritage) and Bogart (Redoute’s Choice) were out of the money in the Piper, but a bit more ground here may serve them better and Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}) is up in class and was an impressive last-start winner to earn a crack at black type.
Lady's day again
Ascot, Listed Natasha S., $100,000, 2200m
Lonsdale Lady (Maschino) led all the way to claim the Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas and against similar opposition there’s no reason she can’t go back to back.
Cambist (Gingerbread Man) and Naughty By Nature (Trade Fair {GB}) chased her home so they have obvious prospects again. Pambella (Playing God) is genuine and her chances may be helped by the increase in distance.
Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock) was a rank last-start failure, but her prior form was strong and it would be dangerous not to give her a second chance.
First-up fireworks
Aquis Park Gold Coast, Listed TAB Goldmarket, $125,000, 1300m
Chapter And Verse (Rothesay) is a proven first-up performer and is the class act of the field. He indicated he was ready for a bold fresh showing with a recent trial win.
Chapter And Verse
Malahide (Shamus Award) is another effective off a break and has trialled twice ahead of this and stablemate Manaya (Hinchinbrook) was a tidy last-start winner, so was Snitch (Lope De Vega {Ire}), although he’s going to need a lot of luck from a wide gate.
Firsthand (Star Witness) is having his first start from new quarters and a change of scenery often has the desired effect on out of form horses while Prioritise (Rothesay) is a tough customer who has won here before.
