Melody set to atone
Trentham, G1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph, $250,000, 1200m
A wide barrier foiled Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in the G1 Sistema Railway on New Year's Day and looms as the top-class mare's greatest concern as she looks to add a fourth Group 1 to her already glittering resume.
She came up with barrier 18 for this race, and Jason Waddell will have plenty of work to do to prevent her from having the same sort of difficult run as she had last time when third in the Ellerslie feature.
Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) looks her main rival and was runner-up behind her in the G1 Tarzino Trophy back at Hastings back in September. He has had a trial headed into his first-up assignment and he has a strong fresh record, with one win and four seconds. There is just a query on him at the very top level, with his best win having been in Group 3 class.
Bostonian (NZ) has a wealth of ability but was a tad disappointing when seventh in the Railway, albeit beaten less than three lengths. He beat the Railway winner Santa Monica (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) the start before that and reeled off a run of wins at the back end of the Queensland carnival which suggests he's got a big future.
Prince of Oz (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) is on quite the streak having won seven races straight but jumps significantly in class off a win at Group 3 level at Riccarton last time. He gets the inside barrier which could actually prove a bit of a headache in such a big field.
The market also concedes a chance to in-form 4-year-old Hangar (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) off a win at Awapuni recently, while the Australian mare True Excelsior (Exceed and Excel) has tumbled in markets since her arrival having ran a close third in the G3 Standish Hcp last time out.
On The Rocks looks for Mile success
Trentham, G1 Harcourts Thornden Mile, $200,000, 1600m
The Thorndon Mile is a race with plenty of chances, with favouritism expected to be contested between On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) and the 3-year-old More Wonder (NZ).
On The Rocks, trained by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard returned to form with a win in the G2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie last time and on his best 3-year-old form, which includes a win in the G2 Avondale Guineas, looks to have a class edge on most of his rivals.
More Wonder gets a 5kg advantage as he's a 3-year-old taking on the older horses, and you would trust Team Rogerson to have got their placement right here. He wasn't far away in either the G1 Levin Classic and the G2 Auckland Guineas his past two and from a good barrier can figure here.
The best of Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is good enough for this but his winning strike rate isn’t great. He was third behind Melody Belle in the G1 Windsor Park Plate in the early spring and that measures up well for this.
Darscape Princess (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), a winner of five of her 18, gets back to Group 1 company off a defeat at Awapuni last time. She drops 5.5kg off that run and was placed in the G1 New Zealand S, in March last year.
Valalie resumes in stakes grade
Trentham, G3 Williment Travel Group Desert Gold S, $70,000, 1600m
The G3 Williment Travel Group Desert Gold S. sees Valalie (Snitzel) resume for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and she is expected to be hard to beat despite drawing barrier 12.
She was last seen when second in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and given she has been lightly raced, substantial improvement is expected from her this campaign.
Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) has the fitness on her side, running second on the G2 Royal S. last time out and was beaten just 1.6l by Valalie when they met at Group 1 level in November. Both have come up with wide barriers.
Pullyoursocksup (NZ) (Thewayyouare {USA}) is the one that can cause the upset coming off a third in the Listed race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. That was off a maiden win at the same track 10 days earlier and while this is another class rise, she can step it up.
Stayers to slug it out
Trentham, G3 NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup, $250,000, 3200m
The G3 NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup features a big field of stayers with a very open market.
At the top of the weights, Bizzwinkle (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {NZ}) comes off a last start win in the Stratford Cup having won the New Zealand Cup over this distance two back. That looks pretty good form for this.
Prince Jabeel (Savabeel) proved the superior stayer in the G3 City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie and is in career-best form, while the veteran Sampson (NZ) (Dubai Destination {USA}) is also a last start winner, in the Listed Marton Cup, and has been placed in this race twice before.
Mental Telepathy (NZ) (Shocking) is also fancied despite drawing the widest barrier and being beaten by 5l by Sampson last time out, as is Excalibur (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who is coming of a 2.8l sixth behind Prince Jabeel.
Weaponry on a streak
Gore, Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas, $50,000, 1335m
Down south, the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas sees Weaponry (NZ) (Declaration Of War {USA}) looking to stretch his winning streak to three having won his first two starts at Arawa Park and Ruakaka.
Fox in Socks (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is considered his main threat off a last start third at Waikouoaiti, which followed a maiden win at Avondale, while Fire Show (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) was stakes placed behind some good horses last campaign and resumes here with a legitimate chance of breaking through for some black type.
Dash for 3YO cash
Flemington - Special Restricted Inglis Dash, $250,000. 1100m
The $250,000 Inglis Dash, a restricted Special Conditions race, highlights Flemington's nine-race card.
Thorondor (Fastnet Rock), last seen when last in the Coolmore Stud S. is expected to be the one to beat first-up. He was second in the G2 Danehill S. at this track in early spring which looks good form for this race.
Beerz With Clint (Written Tycoon), Tropezina (Epaulette) and Du Well (Duporth) all have the fitness edge, with the latter two having fought out a 1000m race at Caulfield two weeks' ago.
Sprinters step up
Flemington, Listed Kensington S, $250,000. 1000m
The Listed Kensington S. features the usual mix of open class sprinters trying their hand at black type up against some group-performed horses dropping back in class.
Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) has raced at either Group 1 or 2 level her past six starts and gets back to a very winnable race despite having never been down the Flemington straight before.
Thermal Current (Exceed and Excel) certainly knows the straight well having won at Listed level over the 1000m here back in the spring, one of two wins and two placings in his seven starts here at the 1000m.
Glenall (Redoute's Choice) looked a handy 3-year-old last time in and resumes off a Rosehill trial win over subsequent winner Egyptian Symbol (Stratum), while Missrock (Fastnet Rock) looked short of her best first up in the G3 Standish H, but has never missed a place over the 1000m here.
First Among Equals returns home
Ascot, Listed Miss Andretti S., $100,000, 1100m
In Perth, the Listed Miss Andretti S. sees First Among Equals (Exceed And Excel) return to WA after 18 months in Victoria.
His 12 starts there yielded just to one win at Listed level but he was Group placed several times and this looks a good race for him. Misty Metal (Oratorio) will give him something to catch coming off a front-running win in the Listed Summer Scorcher.
