Racing: Fire Jet set to spark at Te Rapa

Fire Jet will be hard to beat in race 2 at Te Rapa today.Picture / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images

Fire Jet hasn't managed to get over the line in front in three starts this campaign, but that might change at Te Rapa this afternoon.

The talented intermediate to top grade sprinter has finished an excellent second and third in his most recent outings and looks poised to go one better this time.

Close Up and Battle Time are the winners of the two races he placed in and either of that pair would start favourite here.

Fire Jet has a nice barrier to work with and will take beating. Last week's impressive winner Adriatic Pearl looks the main danger and although she is a chance if the track remains at yesterday's official rating of a slow 7, if the forecast rain arrives before this race her chances will increase.

The opener, the 2-year-old race, is a combination of a little experience and inexperience. Showtenaire (No5, R1) was a nice Ellerslie winner last start, but has the awkward outside barrier. There is only a maximum of eight runners and provided she is not forced into covering significant extra ground she should be right in the finish. Jewel Of Patch (No2) was a trial winner on heavy ground at Avondale and should be capable of a big debut and Anahera Lass (No8) was beaten a fair way when fourth on debut, but should be improved.

If the main band of predicted rain stays away for the first half of the programme, Francis Drake (No1, R3) might get away with his aim for back-to-back wins. He relished the firmish Ruakaka track to win last time and although this won't be quite as suitable, he should go some sort of a race unless the footing turns to heavy.

In the heavy stuff Jochen Rindt (No2) could get his win.

There is no great depth to this field and he would get his chance in the right conditions.

Storming The Tower (No4) has been racing below his best, which if he found it would be good enough to beat this lot. He has been schooling and went around in a jumping trial, which he won, and that may have brought him solid.

Craftyeva (No7, R4) goes up a grade from her win here last start, but this time she races against her own sex. This is a relatively even line-up and she gets a decent chance. As a winner already on this course, Sarabande (No9) deserves respect. She handles bad ground well and don't worry about the wide gate - Te Rapa's 1600m is forgiving in its long run down the back straight. High Class (No10) has been putting in consistently this preparation and deserves a turn.

Crafty Jess (No8, R5) and Recollect (No9) look the best of this 1600m maiden. Both have been fighting to the line in recent starts and that's going to be important late in this race. Neither will be in maidens for much longer.

Suliman (No2, R6) has done enough to earn favouritism. He, too, has been hitting the line with determination. Leica Lady (No5) went a shocker on this track a few weeks ago. She is a lot better than that and is well up to winning this with a run close to her best.

Allan Sharrock has a strong hand in Race 7 with Darci Mac (No1) and Catwomandu (No5).

There is a certain even appearance of this field, but there is a lot to like about the way Darci Mac put them away at Otaki. He gets a 2kg allowance off his 59kg and that will be a huge help.

Catwomandu has had trouble putting her nose in front on the line, but there has been nothing wrong with her efforts.

Solmization (No7) has won his last two in heavy footing and has a 3kg allowance. Annabelinda (No9) is the value for multiple bettors.

Sacred Guru (No4, R8) showed he was a 3-year-old to be watched when he ran away to win at only his second visit to the races. He was fresh from a break and he should be at least a little improved. Blackmagicwoman (No11) could go a big race fresh from a break.

Plenty of chances in the final race, but Nina Arora (No9, R9) won nicely at Ellerslie two back and put in perhaps an even better effort when she flew home to be narrowly beaten on this track last time out. She has won at Te Rapa, so should be well suited. Street Smart (No1), Hoof Hustler (No4), Valante (No2) and Youvebeenlitup (No3) are the safe ways for a spread in multiple bets.

At the big Sunshine Coast meeting today, Benzini (No1, R6) looks to have a tough task under 59.5kg topweight in the A$190,000 Caloundra Cup, but he is well used to lumping big weights so don't rule him out.