Here is this column's tips in the last three races at Trentham that form the Triple Trio, widely know in its home environment of Hong Kong as the TT.
First Leg, Race 8
Possible bankers: Abidewithme (No15). Refused to give in to the eventual Rich Hill Mile winner Chintz on Boxing Day and comes in here with 53kg.
Others in order of preference: Arietta (No2), Bronte Lass (No3), L'Amour (No11), Authentic Paddy (No4), Iamishwara (No3).
Second Leg, Race 9
Possible bankers: Cauthen (No17). Faces what would normally be an impossible task at only his fifth race start, but he has freakish ability and could be the next champ. Will be storming home. Barbaric (No8) needs only a firm track to produce the sprint that raises eyebrows.
Others in order of preference: Natuzzi (No7), Ginner Hart (No4), Final Touch (No2), Nashville (No1), Trepidation (No14).
Third Leg, Race 10
Possible bankers: Costume (No6). Probably not suited by the "off" track in the last race on January 1 at Ellerslie and did well for third. The start before she finished three lengths off Diamede at weight-for-age, a repeat of which would win her this.
Sworntoperfection (No13). Recent racing has been in fields at least as strong as this and here she drops to a very dangerous 52.5kg with an apprentice allowance.
Others in order of preference: Gwynethanne (No3), The Bachelor (No5), Madonna Mia (No7), Casino (No1).
This TT pool has been guaranteed at $1 million by the TAB, but if this bet type takes off the money will climb to much higher than that.
To get the dollars to attack the TT, there are a few likely types at Pukekohe this afternoon.
Bellino (No5, R1) is not a bad way to start the day in the opener. He finished only one length from Etoile Filante on Boxing Day at Ellerslie and she would win this race. He is nicely drawn and sits on a comfortable 55kg. Stablemate Coachline (No9) is jumping up two grades, but showed plenty of heart to win at Ellerslie last start.
Juvenile races at this stage of the season are notorious because a number of runners have not been seen outside raceday. Zuccato (No7, R2) is one of those, but there is enough to suggest from his barrier trial victory that he can take plenty of beating here. Flying Siege (No3) falls into the same category.
Race 3 is tricky. A fresh runner in Horse Warrior (No7) looked good winning on this track as a 2-year-old last season and was spelled after just one more appearance. He is the type to do better at three and his performance today will be interesting. Pipedreams (No5) didn't get the best of runs on the middle day at Ellerslie and Kalevala (No3) looked good winning at Te Rapa.
Speech Craft (No2, R4) has won on his home track here, has won at this 1300m distance and is unbeaten in two fresh career runs. Those are powerful stats, but he has his stablemate Cartell (No5) to worry about. A very interesting runner here in Kidwelly (No9). She looked very good as a coming stayer last season and resumes here. The 1300m might be a shade short, but 1300m here is like 1400m on other tracks and stayers race well when fresh at 1400m.
On his last-start second at Ellerslie, topweight Killarney Kid (No1, R5) should be winning this. He was bumped off balance at the 350m, but shrugged that off to come back for a close second. The wide barrier is probably not an issue because he gets back early, the only issue being clear topweight of 59kg, but he is a big horse.
Sacred Park (No1, R8) was given a break after failing in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. These are older horses, but he looks up to them and with an apprentice claim he is going to take some holding out.
Full Count (No3, R9) did a good job when second when resuming over the Ellerslie carnival and should be improved for that. He is going to get the ideal passage from the No1 gate.
Smashing (No7, R3) and Kawi (No9, R7) look good Trentham prospects leading up to the TT. Smashing was all over them in her winning debut at Taranaki and astute trainer Allan Sharrock knows when to put the blinkers on his horses and Kawi wears the hood today.
