By MIKE DILLON
Sunline is a racing special in today's $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa - even the stars say so.
New Zealand's racing idol will take barrier No 13 into the race as a winning omen.
It is her group one guardian angel.
"She drew barrier 13 in the Cox Plate, in the Doncaster Handicap she won and in the Coolmore Classic," said co-trainer Stephen McKee.
"Let's see if she can make it four out of four from No13."
The Appeal Of Zabeel and the appeal of Sunline will see a modern day near record crowd at Te Rapa today.
The trifecta is the only hope of a financial return on the punt. You could really go for the kill and stand another runner out in front in the trifecta on the odd chance Sunline is beaten, but there is no good thing to finish second and that avenue is probably a waste of resources.
Far better to assume Sunline can't be beaten and throw a couple of extra roughies in for the second and third spots.
Fritz (No1) is a must for the trifecta, so are the stablemate mares One Under (No13) and Spring Rain (No16). O'Malleys Boy (No4) is game in these sorts of races and the real trifecta value could be Durzetta (No14). She was caught wide in the Telegraph at Trentham, but was still making ground on the placegetters in the closing stages and should appreciate the 1400m at this point of her campaign.
The pesky weather forecasters say rain late in the day. If that does not happen before the 4.02 pm $100,000 Whakanui Stud International Stakes, Giovana (No12, R7) should be a terrific prospect.
It is hard to imagine a better guide to this race than her finishing effort into second behind Tall Poppy in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham last start. She likes Te Rapa, is fitter for her Wellington trip, will love the 2000m here and looks a great each-way chance. Cheiron (No1) is a threat after his luckless Thorndon Mile effort and Country Rose (No6) has been looking for this 2000m after finding the 1600m Thorndon too short. In a tough trifecta race, She's A Meanie (No8) and Tall Poppy (No5) rate highly.
Underrated filly Deebee Belle (No6, R5) might be the best each-way value on the programme. Take no notice it was an ordinary C1 field she beat last start at Rotorua and remember she finished sixth in the Derby and nearly took the Avondale Guineas, splitting Danamite and Sir Clive.
Oaks second placegetter Singalong (No3) will be finishing over the top of most of these, but Deebee Belle might be hard to get past. St Therese (No4) had no luck at Trentham last start and La Bella Dama (No1) can prove her Oaks form all wrong, particularly if she gets some easing of the conditions.
Not many win their first four races these days, but the way Mabuz (No6, R4) dealt to the opposition with a whirlwind dash from the 220m at Trentham last start, he's going to give it a good shake today. He's a horse really going places and appeals here even though this is a fair step up in class. In terms of ability, Butterscotch (No4) is not far removed from the best fillies and will run a blinder fresh from a break following her Bayer Classic run. Clear Advantage (No7) and Krystal Klear (No3) can get into the trifecta.
Borelli (No9, R8) went too badly to be true at Te Rapa last week, particularly after his fabulous dash from last to win at Ellerslie at his previous start. Last week he was flat from the 700m to the 200m, but then grabbed the bit and forged ahead. The Jillings/Yuill stable have pressed ahead with this race, indicating there can be little wrong, so Borelli is worth at least one more chance. Greenstone Charm (No6) and Lyn's Legacy (No1) appeal as dangers.
Bel Air (No2, R6) can make it back to back wins for the meeting and Blanchard (No8, R10) looks a good each-way bet in the last. She did not get the best of runs when fourth at Ellerslie last start, and. drops from 57kg to 54.5kg.
Racing: Barrier 13 unlucky for some but not superstar Sunline
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