KEY POINTS:
John Sargent doesn't exactly see the James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa as one of his lucky races.
The Matamata trainer would like to see that change for Lovetrista in the $55,000 Listed Stakes race at Te Rapa today.
Last year, Sargent's hugely talented filly Naturo was upset by a wet track in the Sarten when she went down by a neck to Imananabaa.
At her next start Naturo finished fifth behind Dorabella and Princess Coup in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton, breaking down hopelessly on the home bend, which was career ending.
In 2005, Sargent produced Everswindell to finish third to Pulcinella and Tsarina Belle in the Sarten, the filly going on next time out to chase Seachange home in the 1000 Guineas.
Lovetrista is the $3 favourite to do what Sargent's other fillies were unable to achieve, win the 1000 Guineas and the trainer would like to also correct his luck in the Te Rapa lead-up.
Yesterday's fine weather and strong winds were just what Sargent and rider Jason Waddell were looking for.
The Te Rapa track after rain this week, has come back to a respectable 2.9 rating and should be firmer than that by the start of racing today.
"She's been producing times in her work, but she absolutely hates wet footing," said Waddell yesterday.
The trainer and jockey make no secret of the regard in which they hold the magnificently-bred filly and the last-start win in the Cambridge Stud Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie was no surprise.
Frank Ritchie has an equally high opinion of Double Or Nothin' .
She could finish only fifth, 3.75 lengths away, behind Lovetrista at Ellerslie, but little went her way.
She was checked early, raced fiercely as a result and her effort was better than it looks on paper.
She will be ridden by Melbourne jockey Danny Nikolic, who has been in good form since returning home from Hong Kong for the Melbourne spring carnival.
Yao is the interesting runner.
His two juvenile starts suggested remarkable potential. He was expected to easily win a R70 race on this track when resuming, but did not seem to appreciate the footing, which was dead and he finished third.
Yao is a massive horse with an equally big stride and clearly needs decent footing to produce his best.
It was significant that the only time he looked comfortable last start was when allowed to balance up in the home straight, where he made ground late.
Keepa Cruisin tried gamely to make a race of it with Lovetrista at Ellerslie, fighting bravely for second.
She looks certain to race on the speed again and with conditions likely to suit on-pace runners, she will be competitive.
Royal Taat, Somethymesoon and Satinka all have very good talent.
Satinka was taken on in front when she resumed behind Diamond Deck at Hastings last start and it was no surprise to see her bombed late in the home straight.
Her No 2 barrier will allow her to once again use her extreme speed.
* Cambridge trainers Paul Duncan and Gregor Robson are delighted with the improving Te Rapa track conditions,
Duncan has his stayer Sunrize engaged in the Vision Forest Lake 2100m and a wet track would almost certainly have torpedoed the big horse's chances.
Sunrize has given Duncan and his owners their share of headaches in the last two seasons.
He is a 6-year-old who has won only two races, but if things had gone his way a few times, that record would look a lot better.
The effort for a closing fourth behind Platinum Elle at Ellerslie when resuming was a real eye-catcher and the step from 1600m to today's 210m is perfect.
Wet tracks have hampered the progress of High Octane, but his second to Ascot Isle when presented with a better surface on this track last start was a good guide to his chances in the $20,000 Seafood Bazaar 1600.
High Octane is a classy metric miler and this looks like a nice race for him.
The clash between Chase The Sun and Awapuni visitor He's All Heart along with Benedict in the NZ Bloodstock Insurance 1600 will be a feature.
