Contender well placed

All eyes will be focused on racing at Ellerslie on Boxing Day with the running of two Group races and a Listed race and relatively big money on offer but many Wairarapa racegoers will follow tradition and turn their attention to the Awapuni meeting.

Wairarapa's representation is very light with only four runners entered, outside of Woodville trained horses.

On paper the best prospects appear to be rivals in the opening race appropriately named - in the wake of Christmas Day - the Hair of the Dog Maiden Cup, being The Contender and Bandon.

The latter, from Stacey Dougan's Opaki barn, was well supported on debut at Waipukurau and went a fair race weakening out only in the last 100m or so to finish midfield.

That effort was over 1200m, a little shorter than this Awapuni trip and the gelding has a horror draw so would need all the luck in the running to win this.

The Contender, though, looks to be perfectly placed to take the race and break maiden ranks.

Trained at Tauherenikau by James Phillips, The Contender went a slashing race first up at Waipukurau finishing up in fourth spot in the 15-horse field after suffering a check at the 200m.

David Walker will take the mount and The Contender has a sweet draw.

So all things being equal the gelding is poised to give punters a return on their investments.

Also entered in the opening event, but at fourth emergency is Dianna Rigg, prepared at Tauherenikau by Frank Stammers.

She would be very lucky to get a start given the track conditions are expected to be near perfect for summer racing and there should be few scratchings, but should she do so could not be completely dismissed.

Dianna Rigg is a 6-year-old mare but has had only five starts, all of them being honest efforts.

Feature race at Awapuni is the Summer Cup, being raced for a stake of $20,000.

Although there are no standout performers it's hard to go past New Plymouth galloper Jetset Lad.

The gelding has been racing in richer company than this, including the Couplands Mile at Riccarton and should settle back to Central District's racing with some confidence.