Myers puts polish on judge's filly

Wairarapa trainers are planning to race close to home this week, supporting the bonus raceday to be held at Tauherenikau on Monday, so today's Waipukurau meeting has failed to attract their interest.

But, coupled with the fact that there is no lower North Island meeting tomorrow, the nearest local investors will get to the action is at Waipukurau, at least until the gates open at Tauherenikau.

The first race of the day is a 2-year-old maiden and there is one runner with a tenuous link to Wairarapa.

La Sommeliere is owned by Judge John Clapham, formerly a Masterton solicitor, who has owned many gallopers over the years.

This filly is from a Sound Reason mare, thereby completing the tenuous link, and in a small field has as many credentials as any other runner.

Prepared by Kevin Myers at Wanganui, La Sommeliere has been away from the track since November having had two early career starts up north without making much impression.

The Myers stable is on fire and with 2kg claimer Lisa Whelan on board this could be La Sommeliere's best shot at clearing maiden ranks.

Later in the day Myers has Hemingway entered in a Rating 85, along with stablemate Sonny Wellington.

Hemingway showed his versatility in January by chalking up two wins down south - one at Greymouth on a heavy track and the other at Riccarton on a good track.

Hemingway's link to Wairarapa is through his dam Yipsta by Lord Ballina, a sire who left a long list of successful gallopers while standing at the Wallace family stud in Masterton.

Woodville trainer Paddy Kauri has a likely type in the last on the card.

Zamperini has impressed in his two outings to date, finishing third in his debut at Hastings in late January and winning at his next attempt, at Awapuni on February 11.

At Hastings he was unlucky not to have won as he was hampered early and raced greenly but still fought on.

Today he steps up in distance to 1600m but judging by his ability to finish off strongly, the extra 200m shouldn't worry the gelding one bit.

An interesting runner in the same event is Hallavagal, a 5-year-old mare owned and trained by Jo Rathbone.

Rathbone has a enviable reputation as a horsewoman and has run up an impressive list of winners as a jumps jockey.

She prepares Hallavagal at Santoft, a small centre near Bulls, and has secured Whelan as the rider. The Volksraad mare has won one from 18 and it could be Rathbone's plan to prepare her for a jumping career.