Race 1
2 Scrappylittlenobody
5 Superfast Ninja
6 Miss Slippers
1 Minnie Bow Tique
SCRAPPYLITTLENOBODY was eye catching first up in a year July 2. Drawn handily tonight but needs to step the mark as she didn’t last time. Hard to beat.
SUPERFAST NINJA is racing in almost career best form. Third in a r51-63 last time and drops to an up to R54 tonight. The danger.
MISS SLIPPERS is consistent. Placed in six out of seven starts here at Alexandra park. Unseen since September but won a workout impressively at Pukekohe July 3 trotting home in 28.8.
MINNIE BOW TIQUE has been making errors at Cambridge but in between times ran second here. Has terrific stand start manners and can make them pay over 2200m.
LEXI T hasn’t raced since November last year and has had no workouts in the interim either. Would need to be a monumental training performance to win. Certainly an interesting runner.
CHICAGO H has plenty of ability but manners are still a problem. The 2200m start doesn’t suit as well. Watch.
MY ROYAL ROXY has been sparingly raced of late and unfortunately draws the second row tonight. That hinders her given her good stand manners. But if at 100% can place.
Race 2
3 Manhattan
8 Little Miss Perfect
4 Settle Petal
6 Emmber
MANHATTAN was only just denied a winning debut at Alexandra park July 2.Set up a 1:55 mile rate over 1700m. Very hard to beat off the front tonight over the mile.
LITTLE MISS PERFECT gets the outside draw as the highest rated horse. Racing well. Won as a two year old over 1700m from a wide draw. Will appreciate the class drop.
SETTLE PETAL did well July 2 to only be beaten three lengths with a flat tyre. Only negative is both her wins have come at Cambridge.
EMMBER has a modern day woeful record here at Auckland with 13 unplaced runs in 14 cracks. This is a drop in class for her and she is tough enough to do the spade work parked and still place.
SWELL TIME is the best performed in the field but hasn’t fired since coming north and the draw appears too wide for her blazing gate speed to overcome.
Race 3
2 John Wayne
9 Murphys Reward
8 Claudia Schiffer
5 Hesashorething
JOHN WAYNE hasn’t quite had the runs to suit the last two starts. A better horse driven with a sit but may have to use the draw. The best horse in the field.
MURPHYS REWARD was disappointing last time. Prior form was excellent after some tough runs. They may have taken their toll but a drop to R49 makes him dangerous. May appreciate a peg run from the draw.
CLAUDIA SCHIFFER worked hard mid race at Cambridge and fought bravely for third. Cops another eight draw tonight. The same draw she got first time at Auckland. Her toughness helps.
HESASHORETHING drops in grade tonight. Hasn’t quite been the same lately. Won a trial easily June 26 so if he’s in that form can make his presence felt.
GOVERNOR’S BAY keeps winning workouts in slow times and quick last quarters but should get a cushy run behind the leader here and becomes a place chance on that.
Race 4
1 Arden Velocity
7 Private Eye
11 Joshua Richard
9 Betyahavtime
ARDEN VELOCITY was softened up mid race June 18 and was then run down by the trailer. Gets barrier one tonight and should lead easily again. Get’s his chance.
PRIVATE EYE has had three starts for three seconds all at Cambridge. Hasn’t trialed right handed so it’s a case of take on trust.
JOSHUA RICHARD was the black booker on July 2. Got hindered badly by a breaking runner at the 900m mark, lost five lengths and was only beaten two. Can run over top with a hot speed.
BETYAHAVTIME was eye-catching June 18 after doing work early. Third up at Alexandra park so should strip better again.
RASANA gets a reversal in the draws tonight to barrier eight. Hasn’t done anything wrong in all three starts. One for multiples.
GETN WIGGY WITHIT. copped a hard run and dropped out accordingly June 18. Has since had a confidence boosting trial placing. A really nice horse who can win.
Race 5
1 Marathon Man
7 Major Jellis
8 Melanion
6 Jack Tar
MARATHON MAN has taken advantage of good draws lately by leading and staying close to the pace. That should happen again tonight from barrier one. Will start short on.
MAJOR JELLIS gives the stable a strong second stringer. Never far away but continues to draw rank. With the stablemate drawn handy the option may be there for him to press forward. A must for trifecta’s.
MELANION is only a relative newcomer with three starts. Beat Marathon Man at start two before only being beaten half a length at start three. Trialed just fairly last Saturday and may well improve further with the run.
JACK TAR has a list of seconds as long as your arm at Cambridge. Not as potent at Auckland but too consistent to drop.
ART NOUVEAU is a much improved pacer. Has won his last two and draws well again. Picked up a win at the workouts last Saturday to prove he’s on top of his game.
OPTICAL ILLUSION has been harshly treated in the handicapping but never turned it up. Always running on in his races.
Race 6
7 Silver Power
8 Sertorius
1 In Sequence
2 Emma Frost
It’s been a while since SILVER POWER has had to start off a handicap but strikes 20m tonight over just 2200m. She steps fast so with a trouble free beginning she can overcome it. Beaten narrowly by Temporale and Bolt For Brilliance of late and they’re not here tonight.
SERTORIUS enjoys 2200m. Found form when third two weeks ago but 30m is a tough task to win. Will be running on.
IN SEQUENCE has grown a leg in the north. Moves to the front line tonight and was desperately unlucky last time. The best of the front line chances. Could be hard to catch.
EMMA FROST is a mare you can never discount. Another who will relish having a rare start from the front tape over the short course.
2200m specialist INVICTUS is battling lately and is finding these handicaps too tough.
KINGS LANDING is the best performed in the field with an Uncut Gems win to his credit last month. 40m is mission impossible over the 2200m but include for first four’s.
Race 7
6 Once Bitten
3 Stag Party
4 Chris Kyle
7 I Expect Bettor
ONCE BITTEN is a very good filly under offer for some huge money. Looks a huge chance in the Winter futurity in two week’s so merely ticking the box tonight. Amazing in defeat last time and arguably should still be unbeaten. Handed up the lead to a slow coach and paid the price. Expect her to dominate tonight.
STAG PARTY was narrowly defeated by Marathon Man July 2. Another good draw tonight and this field is within his grasp.
CHRIS KYLE is due a win. Yet to win here but won’t be far away.
I EXPECT BETTOR won his maiden like every bit a promising horse he is. Steps up in grade tonight and another wide draw ensures he will be driven for one crack at them again. With his speed he can still get over top.
PLATINUM bounced back to winning form July 2, narrowly defeating Chris Kyle. Had been hard to follow prior. Respect required on her best form.
Race 8
4 Mach’s Back
6 Havtime
7 Warloch
5 Double Rocket
MACH’S BACK is much improved and barring shying at the winning post in the Uncut Gems, may have claimed that big scalp. Hasn’t won a stand yet but if he steps he will be hard to run down.
HAVTIME flies the tapes so 20m will be no hindrance to her. Only just run down late in the Winter cup and if anything the 2200m will aid her even with the handicap. Each way.
WARLOCH is so honest. Just beaten in the Winter cup by Hot And Treacherous and he isn’t here tonight. Driven perfectly by Peter Ferguson week in and week out.
DOUBLE ROCKET stopped badly July 2. Maybe the second up syndrome got him. He also had to work too hard for too long over the 2700m. Still learning his trade from a stand and the key to him tonight is a clean getaway.
I’MALLABOUTTHEBASE has won a stand start race before and is one that the 2200m distance will suit. Should race handy throughout. Second in Uncut Gems mares race shows she’s capable.
Race 9
12 Aldebaran Flame
6 The Governator
11 Jasinova
1 Cyber Attack
ALDEBARAN FLAME is the best horse in this field on ability but is a worry on the manners front. Just needs to trot to win against predominantly maidens. The first turn over the 220m has long been an issue.
THE GOVERNATOR is the best of the maidens. Eye-catching on debut when very green. Still learning but can win if the cards fall his way.
JASINOVA was surprisingly beaten the last two starts at Cambridge. Good enough to run in a 3yo ruby at the jewels and seems to trot better this way around.
CYBER ATTACK was only just beaten July 2. Getting better with racing. Only issue is moving off the unruly tonight and straight into barrier one.
RANDOM JUDE drops back significantly in class tonight and with her manners 30m is not an issue. A first four chance at odds.
CYCLONE LEBRON and AARDIEBYTHEHILL both started their careers well but blotted their formlines with flops at their last starts. The latter trialed badly last week Cyclone Lebron was second to Miss Slippers July 3 at the trials. Forget the last start.
Race 10
4 The Missing Sock
2 Ronda
3 Malaka Miss
5 Whispering Artist
THE MISSING SOCK showed her real form July 2 with a fine second only beaten by the passing lane horse. Has the gate speed and if she can win the race for the lead will be awfully hard to beat in this lineup.
RONDA is racing well and has the gate speed to use the draw. Should be no worse than the trail. Each way.
MALAKA MISS is a sister to Lukcon Lad and Bettormack and WHISPERING ARTIST is a sister to Mr Yips. Both only qualified two weeks ago and three weeks ago they took part in learners heat’s. This is a big ask given they only barely went under the qualifying time but have no convictions, so watch and see.
WILLSHEROCKNROLL has a big motor but being off the unruly makes her susceptible to finding trouble in the running like July 2. If only two or three lengths off them turning for home can run over top if she hasn’t had to work prior.
