KEY POINTS:
Centapin will crown a memorable week for connections if she can add a Listed success to her record at Wanganui today.
The five-year-old is a stablemate and carries the same colours as galloper Irlanda, who last Saturday at Ellerslie won the Gr 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.
Both mares are trained by Lance Noble at Matamata but have a strong local connection with prominent Wanganui thoroughbred enthusiast Alan Burnet, CBE, sharing in their ownership.
Centapin is more than an outside chance in the $75,000 Cambridge Thoroughbred Sales Wanganui Cup.
"Her form is much better than it reads and I've been pretty happy with her runs," Noble said.
Centapin wasn't far away when she resumed in the Listed Evans Classic at Pukekohe behind Mandela and improved to run fourth on the River City track at the October meeting.
The Pins mare was then only three lengths off Kirra Sand, another member of the in-form Noble team, in the Gr 3 Cuddle Stakes.
At her latest appearance, Centapin made ground late for sixth behind dead-heaters Who Knows and High Octane in the Gr 3 Tauranga Stakes.
"The step up to 2000 metres should suit her ideally, she's well and ready to go," Noble said.
Centapin will be ridden by Thomas Russell, who has won on the mare before.
The obvious danger is the local hope and top stayer Capecover.
This race was not on his original programme but the healthy stake and the horse's progress since Riccarton have encouraged a start.
"He's done well and has been working along at the beach," trainer Alexander Fieldes said.
Capecover's run for fourth in the New Zealand Cup was a strong effort after being unsuited by a lack of pace.
He has won two of his four previous appearances on his home track and it would be a surprise if he wasn't in the mix again.
Thee Auld Hussie's form reads well but 57kg may be a problem - she has beaten Centapin home twice recently but is much worse off at the weights this time.
Sydney Cup placegetter Three Chimneys is a class act at his best and has raced well fresh before.
He won this race last year after one lead-up outing and this time around has had a run at the trials.
- NZPA
