Racing: Expect fiery showing, even at shorter distance

At 1600m, Ring Of Fire is racing at a distance short of his best at Ruakaka tomorrow.

But so are most of his rivals in the $25,000 Oceanz Seafood Handicap.

Trebla won last year's 3200m New Zealand Cup and is heading to the same race again and Zabeat, topweight and stablemate of Ring Of Fire, had his last outing when second to veteran County Tyrone in the 3200m Sydney Cup.

Ring Of Fire had his first run back from a successful Queensland winter campaign when third to Star Of Rio in a sharp 1400m on this track on August 30.

He drops from 58kg in that to 57kg here.

Being prepared for the 2400m of the Metropolitan Handicap in Sydney in three weeks, he will quickly lose his dash, but should retain enough of it to be difficult to beat in this line-up on his home track.

"He's flying," says co-trainer Donna Logan.

Punt Higher is much better than his form reads. He did not get the best of runs when only 10th at Rotorua last start and is poised to make a presence here.

He is a winner at Ruakaka, which is an important statistic.

It's a long time since veteran Ben Sparta had a weight as comfortable as 54.5kg, particularly in a field like this.

But he failed to figure on a much more suitable heavy track behind El Perez at Ellerslie last start and might find the conditions a touch firm.

This is a tricky race, but Ring Of Fire's class should shine through.

Fine metric miler Cog Hill is under the pump to carry 61kg clear topweight in the $20,000 Logan Racing Stables Handicap, early in the Ruakaka programme.

It always looked a difficult ask, but it has been made almost impossible with the main danger, Pin Up Boy, claiming 4kg with Masa Tanaka in the saddle.

The weight differential on the original handicap was 5.5kg and is now 9kg with the apprentice claim.

Cog Hill will be ridden by one of his part owners, Jim Collett.

He is having his first start since finishing a wonderful third to La Montagna and Gee I Jane in the A$1 million ($1.15 million) Stradbroke Handicap at the Queensland winter carnival.

Despite the weight, Cog Hill will put in strongly.