Racing: Getty looks like a banker at Te Rapa

Waldorf could be the danger in the opener today. Picture / Getty Images

Shame there are no dead-set specials to counteract Trentham's cancellation and with a slow 9 track rating yesterday an element of care will be needed.

Picking out one or two very good bets and getting a good cover in multiple endeavours will be important.

Without checking actual statistics, it's remarkable how many leaders win the first race at Te Rapa meetings. It will be surprising if the favourite Getty is not in front for the first half of the 1100m opener and if he kicks as well as he did in his winning Trentham debut he will be extremely difficult to get over the top of. No reason why stablemate Waldorf cannot be the danger. He has had a break after his debut and should be the better for it.

Hui Hi Stars and Malambo for multiples.

Green Star (No3, R2) has been one of the better barrier trial winners in the last month or two. He put them away with a powering finish in his latest trials win at Te Teko. He has a nice barrier, gets a 1kg apprentice allowance and should be very competitive. New Crown (No9) looked good on debut being narrowly beaten at Rotorua. She should be improved for that and should take up a position from her rails draw. Field Of Fire (No4) has no official trials to his name, but trainer Allan Sharrock does not travel them from Taranaki for fun. Watch the tote, that will tell the story, but the signs are there.

Sharrock has Valentia (No6, R3) in the following event. He is resuming and Sharrock is good at getting them fit for their first assignments.

He was placed in each of his first three starts on rain-affected tracks last preparation and should improve through this prep. This is an even lot. Dudewithattitude (No4) looked good with a resuming third at Matamata and should be fitter for this. Vinsanity (No7) and Blue Twilight (No1) are chances for the multiples.

Race 4 is an enigma. Pacorus (No1) is the best in the field, but is dropping back from 2100m to 1600m. He has more speed than most middle distance stayers, but even more important he has a dazzling 400m sprint and that will help him keep these six rivals in sight. He's not the good thing he was at Tauranga last start, but don't be surprised if he gets the job done again. The underrated Adriatic Pearl (No7) can win. She tried very hard to nail Amarula this track last start, but he is not an easy horse to get past. Arzak (No5) meets Adriatic Pearl 2.5kg better than when she just beat him at Tauranga, which puts him in the frame and El Pescado (No2) is a whole lot better than he has shown lately. Small field, but a tricky race.

Lewis Caroll (No9) looks likely in Race 5. He should have won when beaten very narrowly into third at Ruakaka last start.

This track is going to be wetter than he prefers, but he has won in the slow and is not out of this. Darci Mac (No7) was very good winning at Te Rapa last start and even a slight rise in class is not enough to put you off him. Salamanca (No2) is better than his last start sixth suggests and can get some of this stake.

You can make a case for and against most runners in the open handicap, Race 6. Francis Drake (No1) won with a leg tied up here by four lengths last meeting. That was with 61kg and this is even tougher with an additional 1.5kg. Graeme Rogerson says he wants to give him his first hurdle race and the way the weight is creeping up it might be better sooner rather than later. Nina Arora (No10) is twice a winner at Te Rapa. He gets a massive 8.5kg off Francis Drake. Bee Tee Junior (No6) can get some of it.

Trueman (No4, R7) is talented and with just five starts behind him is still improving. He has an awkwardly wide gate, but there is a reasonable run to the first bend from Te Rapa's 1400m barrier. Fully Charged (No9) does not mind it wet. Quantum (No4) deserves to break through after two excellent seconds.

So many chances in the last, which makes it a difficult get-out race.

Poker Face (No10, R8), Myrcella (No14), High Class (No13), Wooden Edge (No1) and Playboy Prince (No2) all have strong claims. Difficult to leave any of those out in all forms of multiple bets. Taking into account barrier draws perhaps Poker Face each way may be the safest.