A pick6 good thing at Hastings today?
You wish.
Probably the closest is Wall Street in the big race, but he's not over the line. Keep The Peace and Time Keeper can spoil the party.
What you desperately need is a syndicate.
Wet tracks skew the form and there will be a blow-out in at least one race, but predicting it is impossible.
There's a lot of money to play with - the $750,000 with plenty of dead money already there, is a big chance to perhaps go close to a million.
There is always a temptation to go skinny for a bigger return - don't fall into it, go for a lesser percentage and a wider spread.
Good luck.
FIRST LEG RACE 5
This is not an easy race - the form is all over the place. The Howarth/Dixon stable holds a big key with Halls and Dancing Diamond.
Must Haves
* Halls: Tough veteran whose form is probably as good as at any previous stage of his career. Freshened since a couple of gritty runs at the Grand National meeting at Riccarton. Looks well suited here on 55kg.
* Elblitzem: The 58kg is the worry, even though he is well used to lumping big weights. Won nicely over 1600m this class last start. Best chance if the track stays in the slow zone and in the better half of it.
* Dancing Diamond: First start in a month last week after coming back from Riccarton. Only battled behind Spare A Fortune over 1600m, but much better suited here to the 2000m. The 53kg is attractive and no problems if it's heavy.
Values
* Bakup: Better than most of these, but best form on decent surfaces. The better the track the better his chance.
* Waitui Music: Veteran who likes it heavy. Include if that's the condition.
* Bruce Almighty: Probably not suited in all his last three runs.
Weight Watcher
* Soph: Drops from 59kg to 55kg. Latest runs below her best, though.
SECOND LEG RACE 6
If you don't go wide here you could be sunk. No guarantee Banchee will run and if she does, whether she will handle the conditions.
Must Haves
* Magic Briar: Has looked ultra impressive winning her last two. Already a winner in the heavy - albeit on the easier Te Rapa heavy - and rates very highly from a perfect barrier.
* Banchee: If she starts and handles the track she will probably win, despite a horror draw. Has extraordinary class, but the unknown about her ability in the wet is the concern. No good thing and far from the anchor. But she has to be included if she starts. She hasn't run on a rain-affected track and might like it.
* Dating: Tough filly who gritted out her Ryder Stakes win last start. Likes winter tracks, can find the line strongly and can win.
* Zennista: Perhaps unlucky not to have beaten Dating in the Ryder. Has had only the three starts and looks the improver at this level. One of the top chances.
Remember
* Howe: Stylish in the way she put paid to the fillies at Wanganui. This is tougher, but she looks a tough filly.
* Smoulder: Caught three wide without cover at Wanganui. Go here on her three previous wins which included strong finishes and the ability to handle the mud.
Values
* Lol: Unlucky 3rd to Dating in the Ryder. Handles the wet.
* Irish Jewel: Beaten favourite, but not far away behind Sister Havana in the $1m Karaka Million. Has not raced on a wet track and the wide gate could be an issue.
THIRD LEG RACE 7
Seems a strange race to include in the Pick6 when you could have had any of the first four races.
Must Haves
* Klose: Two wins and a close defeat in three starts says most of it. The worry is he's 1kg up on Split Endz, who he beat only narrowly last start. Subject to further improvement, though.
* Split Endz: Touch unlucky last start and meets that horse 1kg better.
* Zorro's Star: Has shown promise in a limited career. Not far away behind the two favourites last time and had a glitch or two that probably counted.
Value
* I'm Not Ticklish: Hard to gauge how good he is on a Woodville wet track win at only start. Probably best to include.
FOURTH LEG RACE 8
No reason to believe the Mudgway result will not play a part here. Keep The Peace 1, Wall Street 2 that day. Whether they swap that around you have to have both on your Pick6 ticket.
Must Haves
* Wall Street: Close enough to the best horse currently racing. Gritted home over 1400m in the Mudgway to just miss Keep The Peace and will be suited by the 1600m.
* Keep The Peace: Even though Wall Street came at her strongly at the end of the Mudgway, she too will appreciate the extra distance. Don't discount a repeat.
* Time Keeper: Grossly underrated pacemaker, who will be improved for first-up Ellerslie effort. If conditions are favouring on-pace runners he might get away on them and prove difficult to pick up.
Values
Realistically, the winner should come from the above three, but in case the Mudgway undermined the principals:
* Stablemates Pennacchio and My Keepsake. Both drawn badly, but often this barrier can turn bad draws into good and vice versa.
* Eileen Dubh: Made up a huge amount of late ground after playing up in the barriers and getting way back in the Mudgway. Hard to catch which is the right day, but also hard to catch when in form.
* Veloce Bella: Huge talent when she gets it right. Prefers reasonable footing even though she's won in the heavy. Can bomb them late.
* St Germaine: The forgotten horse.
FIFTH LEG RACE 9
Opportunity for an upset.
Must Haves
* Veloz: Top chance if the track does not get too bad. Has good record in this type of race, has drawn well, goes well when fresh and has won twice on this track. The better the track the better the chance.
* Tip The Wink: Reasonably recent graduate to this class, but won Listed Stakes at her last two starts before spelling. The type to run well when fresh and has one start for a win in slow footing.
* My Astron: Has a perception of mixing his form but is 19 from 30 in the 1-2-3 zone. Two starts since spell have been okay under big weights. Has previously managed fields of this strength.
Values
* Stupendous: Would beat this field on a decent track, but very little form in the slow-heavy zone. Difficult to leave out, though.
* Occidentalis: Class act despite somewhat erratic record. Well up to winning this.
* Altered Image: Outside Sir Slick, historically the best horse in the field. Hasn't been seen for a year, though, apart from a (unplaced) barrier trial. Difficult to see why the connections would have him here if he wasn't going to be competitive.
SIXTH LEG RACE 10
If you haven't got a headache sorting out the previous five legs, this will correct that for you. If there's one tip for all the Pick6 it's don't leave yourself short of options here. You'll need a spread here.
Must Haves
* No Cash: Remarkably tried as a middle distance horse recently, but better now at shorter trips. Has had little luck in recent runs and sets up here nicely on his home track. Watch for him hitting the line hard.
* Dutch Striker: Much underrated mare. Will be fitter for the one run back from a spell. Will be better when she gets to longer trips, but while reasonably fresh she can run a top 1400m, particularly when by this time of day this race will be more like 1600m.
* Abbey Tralae: Has thrown in a couple of "whoa" efforts, showing she is underrated. She is better than last-start 4th here.
* All In Tempo: Best chance is on reasonable footing. Placed on slow and heavy, but wins have been on better tracks. Grossly underrated and worth taking the risk by including.
* Indian Sky: Greatly improved mare. Won easily in next grade down at Ellerslie last start and has to step up here. Apprentice allowance will help her do that.
Values
* Veronica Franco: Hugely talented, but would have preferred reasonable footing. Class might get her over the top of that, though.
* I Robot: Perhaps not suited by the New Plymouth track last start and before that might have been brought undone by quick back-up. Much better than last two runs and the type that can blow them out here.
Racing: $750,000 plus no easy pickings
Time Keeper might get away on them and prove difficult to pick up in the $200,000 feature. Photo / Supplied
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