Liv'n Paradise looks lightweight chance

Liv'n Paradise will be the flag-bearer for Wairarapa stables over the weekend, lining up in the Jim Skou Memorial at Awapuni tomorrow and, despite having drawn wide in the 1600m event has a lightweight's chance of running into the money.

Roger Allen trains the mare at Opaki and she is putting together a fairly impressive curriculum vitae having won three from 13 with a further two placings.

Her win at good odds on this course just before Christmas was an impressive performance.

Handy for the early part of the journey, Liv'n Paradise worked to the front at the 800m and kicked away to win comfortably in the hands of Darryl Bradley.

Robert Hannam has the ride tomorrow. The duo will certainly not have it all their own way as the Rating 85 has drawn a fairly strong line-up but Liv'n Paradise has the credentials,and the ability, to compete on an even footing.

The only other locally-trained runners due to start over the weekend is a lone entry at Hawkes Bay on Sunday, Ura Nancy from the Gerald Innes barn, and seven Tauherenikau-trained horses entered at Greymouth.

Ura Nancy failed to flatter in her debut at Tauherenikau, beating only two home in the maiden 3-year-old.

Cody Singer will again be on board but the filly will need to show more this time to win the confidence of punters.

The South Island has again proved an attractive racing venue for both Frank Stammers and Don Fuge.

The two Tauherenikau trainers usually make the pilgrimage to the West Coast at this time of year and stay for the duration of the carnival there.

They missed opportunities on Wednesday with the abandonment of the Westland meeting, although both had runners due to line up yesterday at the rescheduled meeting.

Stammers has Lady Nimbus and Dianna Rigg both balloted out as sixth emergencies in the opening two maiden races at the Greymouth meeting.

He has veteran campaigner Kalgoorlie Bomber in race three, a Rating 65 over 1600m but the 10-year-old gelding would have to show massive improvement on his efforts, up to yesterday anyway, to attract much support.

And the Stammers charge Jakade, a seasoned veteran who is also a dual entrant in back-to-back Rating 75 races, would have to show the same level of rapid improvement to figure.

Stammers' only other runner, Desert Saboteur, looks to be one of the stable's more promising gallopers but is sixth emergency in race 5 and unlikely to get a start.

Fuge has Hula Dash lining up in race 2 and Hula Wish in the last on the card.

Hula Dash but has shown glimpses of form while Hula Wish reserves her best performances for rain-affected tracks.