G2 17th Coupland's Bakeries Mile, NZ$230,000, 1600m
Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) is set to start favourite based on her easy last start win in the Prelude to this race at the same track last month. Michael and Matthew Pitman have the 4-year-old mare in excellent order and she is unbeaten this campaign.
She was second in the G1 1000 Guineas over this track and distance this week last year and based on that and a career record which reads four wins from 10 starts, she is the benchmark the others all have to beat.
Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel), trained locally by Andrew Carston, won the other lead-up to this race, the Coupland's Bakeries Mile Trial, on October 23, proving too strong for his rivals there, carrying 60kg. He drops 1kg on that win. Prior to that he was fourth behind Miss Tycoon Rose, but never runs a bad race, and is always in the mix in this class.
The Jamie Richards-trained Markus Aurelius (NZ) (Ghibellines) was second in both lead-up races and is another very consistent performer, with six wins from his 15 starts. He was a dominant winner over this track and distance during this week last year and has been targeted at this race.
The one which brings different formlines is the Mike Breslin-trained 6-year-old Colorado Star (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), who won comfortably at Awapuni two back before being without much luck in the G3 Red Badge Spring Sprint at Hawke's Bay last time out.
The one which could also emerge form lower classes is Dawn Parade (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who was a last-start winner over 1400 metres at Ashburton for Tony Pike.
G3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders' S., NZ$90,000, 1400m
Monza Circuito (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) finished ninth in this race last year and fourth the year before and returns this year in decent form for Stephen Marsh, having finished fourth behind Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel) last time out after leading until the final 50 metres.
She was third behind Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) before that, both over this course and distance. She hasn't won for over two years but drops back to tackle her own sex here.
Fellow 7-year-old Beneficial (NZ) (Highly Recommended) edged her out in third last time out and the Ross Beckett-trained mare looks well-placed to make her impression for Lisa Allpress, who sticks with her after she charged home last time.
Tony Pike's 4-year-old Providenceprovides (Real Impact {Jpn}) is mare on the up and while she will be spotting her rivals experience here at her seventh start, could be one to spring an upset if she can overcome her wide barrier. She won well over this track and distance two back and was then a closing third at Ashburton last time out. This is her toughest test yet of her career, but looks a race she can figure prominently in.
The Gift (NZ) (Power {GB}) is another one which has to overcome a wide barrier for trainer Robert Dennis, but if this 4-year-old can bring her best from her recent runs further south at Wingatui, she could be another one to watch out for.
G3 Lindauer Stewards S. H., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Te Akau-owned Summer Monsoon (Stratum) is searching for a deserved first stakes victory at his 35th start and comes off a fast-finishing win in the Ashburton Cup last time out, where he did himself few favours by laying in but still managed to get over the top of his rivals. He was narrowly beaten over this course and distance by Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel) at his previous starts.
Wekaforce (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), the horse he edged out at Ashburton is the topweight in this race with 60kg and given that was her first run from a spell, the Terri Rae-trained mare might be hard to catch this time around. She was fifth as favourite in this race last year.
The Lance Robinson-trained Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) was third in that Ashburton race and has had one run since, finishing second over the 1000 metres here at this track on Saturday.
Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel) travels south to take on this stakes race at just her eighth start for Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen, and gets in with just 53kg. She is without a win in nearly 12 months, however, she has not been further back than fifth in her four runs this time in. Her latest run was when fourth, beaten less than 2l at Hawke's Bay last month.
