Race 1
6 High In The Sky
2 Safrakova
3 Saint Michel
7 Highview Rockn Roll
HIGH IN THE SKY didn’t get into the race May 13. The week prior was beaten a nose over this trip by Safrakova. Had three runs in three weeks so a week away may have worked the oracle.
SAFRAKOVA resumes her battle with High In The Sky. She is drawn to lead and will take some catching even though she was mowed over last week.
SAINT MICHEL is an eight race winner against horses who in some cases haven’t had eight starts. Always consistent and he should be in or near the lead.
HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL has run two good races at Auckland. She hasn’t had much luck since winning five starts ago, being left parked but doesn’t give it away.
ALDEBARAN FLAME steps up from maidens tonight and this grade won’t scare her. Her manners are still a concern when these horses up front could end up a long way in front of her.
MAJESTIC PRINCESS has only had two starts but won easily on debut. Beaten six lengths last week but can improve.
Race 2
1 Chablis
3 Platinum
9 Ruby Mach
2 Pocket Book
CHABLIS comes up with barrier one in a very winnable race. Home in 56.8 and 28.5 May 13. Anything similar to that here and she wins.
PLATINUM resumes race night from the Sires’ Stakes championship in October in a 1:52 mile.Seldom far away in against some of the best on offer in Christchurch prior. Third in two workouts this month, the latest in 2:00. Definite each way.
RUBY MACH is back from the Nevele R fillies final May 14. Beaten 27 lengths but this is her class.
POCKET BOOK was unlucky against moderate opposition at Cambridge last week. Can place on a typical Auckland effort.
Race 3
7 The Big Bird
5 Kelvinz Luck
8 Liason
6 Kiwitrix
THE BIG BIRD is knocking on the door. The last two seconds have been behind two talented three-year-olds. Top pick.
KELVINZ LUCK missed Jewels qualification by a few hundred dollars. Only glitch in the form was a seventh against the open grade trotters. This monumentally easier and is the horse for The Big Bird to beat even off 15m.
LIASON won as he liked last week and knocked Kelvinz Luck out of the Jewels to boot. This is harder, but not by much.
KIWITRIX is here for the Jewels in nine days time. A huge risk on his unruly manners. Must go well right handed and is a genuine talent but too much of a problem to tip strongly.
SALVO went around in the Harness Million just last Friday. It’s a massive ask. Good enough but risking here.
Race 4
2 Marathon Man
3 Bettor Listen
5 Chris Kyle
6 Happy Place
MARATHON MAN put in a massive performance first up last Friday. Deserved to win but just came up short. If he’s taken no harm from that he wins tonight.
Stablemate BETTOR LISTEN was disappointing last week when fifth. Prior efforts were big including a second beaten only late by Blitzembye on a 54 half. Each way.
CHRIS KYLE has stepped up markedly since his Manawatu Futurity win. Kaleb Bublitz knows him well and even though he won’t have a marker line run tonight he’s a top four must.
HAPPY PLACE just got too far off them last Friday in amateur company. Running on at the end and clearly was a certainty beat. The best of the rest certainly.
Race 5
6 Ezana
5 Lord Verde
1 Hesashorething
2 Keisha
EZANA ran the fastest last quarter May 13 in 27.9. Beaten only a length coming wide. Will rely on a good place from a similar draw tonight.
LORD VERDE has made a good fist of his career to date. The addition of Tony Herlihy adds to his stocks.
HESASHORETHING was massive last Friday after uncharacteristically blowing the score up. Barrier one makes you nervous but if he paces he’s hard to stop. Has a big motor.
KEISHA hasn’t raced since August last year. Two workouts in the north have been impressive. Won in 2:00 last Saturday. Ready for this and looks the likely leader.
MURPHYS REWARD is fresh but has been around the workouts against Platinum and Keisha etc. The draw hurts but is a first four chance.
BROOKIES JAFFA will be dictated by Hesashorething. Forget his last start he attacked in in 2:40 throughout. Not far away in stronger fields here prior.
Race 6
9 Hector
10 Chevron Art
2 Once Bitten
6 Getn Wiggy Withit
HECTOR didn’t have much tote support on debut but ran third. Should have learned a lot from that. Just requires luck from nine.
CHEVRON ART is first up here tonight. Chasing a winter futurity berth. Better at Ashburton May 16 albeit in an average field. An intriguing prospect.
ONCE BITTEN has had six workouts and trials and won half of them. Has impressed since qualifying. Supersonic when held up last Saturday in taking many lengths off the first two. Best horse in here but is she seasoned enough and could be twice shy.
GETN WIGGY WITHIT couldn’t have done anymore than what he’s done at the two trials he’s had this year. Has impressive gate speed and is sure to be sent forward even from barrier six. The x factor.
RONDA whacks away as a rule. Barrier one is an assist and is very experienced. A first four chance.
WHOOSHKA went a good trial last Saturday when they ran along in 2:00. Barrier eight takes away the win chances but follow.
LAURIE’S DELIGHT cops a rough draw tonight but has been racing well in the last two appearances. Can still win.
Race 7
4 Little Miss Perfect
8 Folklore
5 Shes No Lady
9 Commander Cathy
LITTLE MISS PERFECT returns to mares company tonight. Second to Hot And Treacherous in a strong intermediate grade race last Friday is huge form for this. Should lead and be tough to roll.
FOLKLORE was unlucky at Addington last Friday. Should’ve been two spots closer in the three wide train and in the end cost her that race. Has had to endure the travel north so that’s a concern. Was a next upper and this is the next up run tonight. The visitors draw to boot.
SHES NO LADY returned to form with a win May 7. Has been finding the line like a previous group one winner should. Won’t be far away.
COMMANDER CATHY is a mare in hot touch. Twelve starts for no wins and she’s now won three of her last four since. A cushy run on the pegs makes her a place hope in this.
LADY MATARA has clearly had issues on her northern sojourn with only having had one workout in April and has been withdrawn race day since. One that’s worth watching through tonight.
Race 8
5 Bad To The Bone
6 Krug
3 Dance Time
4 Dracarys
BAD TO THE BONE has returned to NZ as a giant. Second in the Taylor Mile and the Messenger to Copy That. Parked out both times. Would love to see him in front tonight and if he gets a trip can beat Krug.
KRUG is the champion three year old who just keeps going no matter now big his travel schedule is. Since the Derby he has had two searching trials in Canterbury, the latest in 1:55. A sure thing to run one or two.
DANCE TIME belied some average form to win last Friday. Did pinch a cheap sectional and he may not get that here. Include.
DRACARYS is now a seventeen race winning mare. A group three Leonard Memorial winner as a two year old was the highlight in three NZ starts all coming in 2018 as a two year old. Just one right handed workout which wasn’t much of a guide but watch tonight.
Race 9
9 Bolt For Brilliance
8 Kay Cee
1 Silver Power
4 Forget The Price Tag
One of the best in the trotting game BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE has his final shake down for the Jewels tonight. It’s a hard ask. 35m over 2200m. Has to be top pick but won’t be knocked around to win.
KAY CEE clocked a phenomenal 2:45 win off 35m two starts ago. The top was maybe off next time out just six days later. A winning chance if luck leaves the fave.
SILVER POWER gets a massive start on her rivals here. Only beaten a length by Kay Cee May 7 and has a 25m head start on him tonight. A big hope of upsetting.
FORGET THE PRICE TAG is chasing a free win tonight. He’s ultra consistent and never makes a mistake. Don’t leave out of any combos bet.
Being a 2200m stand you can’t leave out INVICTUS but he didn’t look the same last Friday when fourth after finding his happy place in front. Wait until he’s back off the front perhaps.
WOODSTONE is not a short course trotter but this is his true grade.
Race 10
5 BD Joe
4 Raven Banner
7 Mach’s Back
6 J Bee
BD JOE was a hard watch last time. Puzzling tactics but expect him to lead them tonight and make them pay. Second in a NZ Derby so how can he lose.
RAVEN BANNER tries hard. A first four must and outside of BD Joe a race he can win.
MACH’S BACK has impressed many with his two northern runs. Barrier eight made it mission impossible last week. Barrier seven means he can’t win but is a trifecta must. Remember he has huge gate speed.
J BEE had no chance on the farcical sectionals at Cambridge last week. Still running on and it was nothing more than a training run for him. A 2:37 winner who can pounce if a war ensues.
LOUIE THE PUNTER and MAJOR JELLIS are outgraded here but chuck in if you are wanting to spend plenty on first fours.
Race 11
6 Phoebe Majestic
1 Cyclone Lebron
4 Trixton Time
3 Mocca Francy
PHOEBE MAJESTIC is a filly big on ability. Still learning and can’t afford another slow getaway but on the strength of both of her efforts to start her career is a big chance of winning.
CYCLONE LEBRON was surprisingly run down last Friday after leading. Key to him is his manners. Barrier one won’t concern him. Should run first or second.
TRIXTON TIME comes north for the first time. Eight placings from seventeen starts and the last start second was against race winners. Was a career best performance. Right handed the only question mark.
MOCCA FRANCY is an improving type. On breeding one to follow with time but did it the hard way last Friday. Multiples.
WILLIS GRAHAM’s last two runs have been his best. A slow learner but getting there week to week.
Best Bet: Race 10 (5) BD Joe
Each Way Value: Race 1 (7) Highview Rockn Roll
