Racing: Early Te Rapa races will send a message about the Breeders Stakes

Te Rapa absorbed Thursday's nights downpour brilliantly and should come up only slow today, provided there is not another dousing.

There appears an odd flashpoint with the current Te Rapa surface, somewhere in the early slow range, between leaders being suited with a difficulty for back runners to make ground and frontrunners being swamped by horses wider out. The only guide is to watch the first few races.

On the assumption, and that's all it can be, that classy leaders might be suited, Mi Jubilee could take come pulling back in the $60,000 Windsor Park Breeders Stakes.

The key is that she is coming back to 1200m from 1600m and the way this race will be run will suit her go-at-it style. Her early brilliance should overcome her wide gate and it will be up to first-time rider David Walsh to pick the best ground for her.

The talented Captain Kurt is capable anywhere, but the surface should suit Mi Jubilee better.

There is a mass of talent in this field capable of finishing hard in the closing stages, Donna Rosita being one of them. She had no luck second-up at Ellerslie last start after winning fresh on this track. She is certainly the value runner.

Towzee and Crepe De Chine are musts for the trifecta and watch out for fresh runner Echo Maid, who looked good in the wet last campaign.

Taking very short odds in 2-year-old races when there is plenty of undisclosed form can be tricky, but if Habana (No1, R1) is going to win a race it should be today. He was less than two lengths from Jokers Wild in third in the group one Manawatu Sires Produce last start, form that guarantees favouritism here. He has yet to strike a slow surface, but many of Danasinga's stock manage it well.

Vivaldi's Gone (No5, R2) finished second when resuming from a break at Te Aroha recently. That was on a dead track and he should be even better today on a slow surface, on which he was won two of his three starts. The 4kg claimed off his back by Ryan Gartner could be crucial. It might also be a day for multiple bets and Vamperalla (No8) could be useful.

Spinning Meteor (No6, R3) is in the best form of his 20-something start career. Lisa Cropp is staying with him after his stylish last-to-first victory at Ellerslie. Art Link (No11) is the horse to watch from here on. He should be improved for his first-up Ellerslie run and is back to a more favoured left-handed track today. Two of his four wins have been at Te Rapa. Star O'The Ball (No3) is another to watch.

The $30,000 NZ Bloodstock Stakes could be a trap race. Solvini (No1, R4) is the obvious choice ahead of impressive trials winner Magic Tryst (No12), but the chances of both will probably depend on the race suiting on-pace runners. If it doesn't then it is a raffle. Watch the first three races carefully before investing on this.

Race 5, the 1400m open handicap offers plenty of options and one of the sneaky ones could be All's Well (No3). Sure, he's better known as a stayer, but he races well when fresh, likes slow tracks and Cropp should get on with him. Each way on Alls Well should give you a good sight.

Haylee Baylee (No1, R9), Bazelle (No2), Salsa (No3) and Arlingtonboulevard (No10) should tidy up the trifecta. That's assuming Tusker will have trouble with the track. Haylee Baylee just does not know how to throw in a bad one and looks the anchor, but each of the other three are extremely talented.

Ististar (No17, R10) did not get much of a crack at Ellerslie last start. If you take a line through her terrific second at Te Aroha at her previous outing you have to give her a chance of lifting this.