Racing: Galaxy Miss a chance at Tauranga

Passing Shot looks the goods in the $50,000 sprint at Hastings today.

Spoke To Carlo is better than those he meets here and will be improved by his recent first-up effort.

A win by Galaxy Miss in Race 3 at Tauranga today would be appropriate with trainer Danica Guy going through serious Sydney dramas with Capella.

Galaxy Miss is a very lively chance. She has form in all types of footing and her wet weather efforts put her ahead of a number of her main rivals this afternoon. Quite a few chances with Cinematic (No9) appealing among them.

Simplicity (No5, R1) did the job stylishly on debut, finishing strongly to win clearly at Matamata. There are few credentials here, but there is no reason she cannot repeat that run. Barnaby (No2) is another who looked an excellent go-forward prospect winning on debut at Rotorua. Both horses are promising types.

Race 2 is almost the pick of the day in terms of interest. Small field, but it's classy and a great contest should develop. Untamed Diamond (No2) has the right form, having won in strong company at Trentham last start. She finds the line well and has a shade of experience on her side against a few of her rivals. Sydney's Shot (No3) was massive on debut and, although this is much tougher, is in with a winning hope.

Windborne (No1) has form against some of the best and so has Battle Time (No7). He is resuming, but comes from a stable that can have them ready early.

Race 4 is another small field, but is similarly difficult.

Maid Of Steel (No2) is very brave at best, but has mixed her form occasionally. She gets a 1kg claim here and one of her peak runs would just about get her home.

Don't be surprised if Bachelor Zeel (No1) gives a bit of cheek, even with his 60kg topweight. He copped a shocking run at Te Aroha last week and the effort was better than it looked.

In Race 5 take your lucky number of an each-way investment on Rebel Rose (No8). Her form in the wet is good (track rating yesterday was a slow 9) and her second last start promised a win soon.

Spoke To Carlo (No5, R6) is better than those he meets here and is bound to be improved by his recent first-up effort.

He is another who has versatility on his side regarding track conditions and there is certainly no problem with him handling the wet. For odds, what about the local veteran John Gray (No2). He's knocked off fields of this class plenty of times and is all heart. You can make a case for a few in Race 7 and one of the stronger cases is for Taranaki visitor Zorrali (No6). This preparation he has been thereabouts in some useful fields and is always hitting the line strongly. The 1600m on this track gives him winning hopes. Gesami (No4) was a touch disappointing at times in her last preparation compared to the golden form she displayed during the previous campaign. She comes in relatively fresh here and could surprise with a run closer to her previous best. Our King Sway (No10) is a good each-way prospect.

The last is a great get-out event with absolutely nothing standing out. Sombreuil (No10, R8) is in there and Naughty Knuckles (No2) will be value and a real upset chance.

At Hastings, Passing Shot (No4, R7) has come up a touch short at $2.90, but looks the goods in the sprint, which should be run to suit his style of racing.

A value runner could be Miss Denni (No12). She would probably appreciate a bit more rain, but her Australian form was pretty good and she should run a great race fresh.

It is notoriously difficult for our 2-year-olds to beat the Australians, but bookmakers are taking no chances with Cambridge's El Sicario in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

The Busuttin/Young youngster is at only $6.50 in the A$500,000 race and comes in as a maiden, with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.

Surely not another feature for Hugh Bowman - he has come up as the $3 favourite for the A$500,000 Schweppes Stakes on the Chris Waller-trained Press Statement.

Bowman will also ride No More Tears in the Carr Stakes, but is not strongly fancied at $14.