Racing: I Robot has the ability to boost Pick6 bank

Amirar beats Strapped For Cash at Avondale. The pair clash again in the Taumaranui Cup. Photo / Dean Purcell

Underrated Matamata sprinter I Robot could be a cheap ticket to a share of the $250,000 Pick6 at Te Rapa today.

Most punters will flock again to Salvatore, a beaten favourite in his last four starts.

But on a good winter track from his inside alley I Robot has the ability to boost the Pick6 bank at far juicier odds in race two, the $35,000 Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club 1400m.

His last-start narrow victory at New Plymouth flattered the R80 opposition, as he probably got to the front too soon.

Leg One
Although a small enough field, you may need some cover to feel safe about progressing. Form runner Don Dixit, withdrawn from the open 1400m in preference for this, is a must-include, particularly with Jenny Whiteside's 4kg claim. You can see him in or near the lead with pia freshened Agamemnon and trying to pinch a winning break on the turn. The smallish field is a big plus for course specialist Krash, as is the likelihood of another superb winter track at Te Rapa. He has the ability to overhaul the pacesetters if he doesn't drift too far off them. Central district visitors Romeo, Gotta Govern and Walter's Royal are also worth including if you can afford it. Those on even bigger budgets should dig even deeper for New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Rocket. She didn't show a lot fresh-up at Ruakaka but is probably too smart to risk in modest R90 company.

Leg Two
They don't often win again fresh out of maiden company, but July 7 course winner Phar Cry scored so effortlessly that day, it's going to take an extra smart performance to beat her. When rider Mark Hills let the brakes off, the pair burst three lengths clear in what seemed like two strides. They had the chasers breathless at the line and will strike almost an identical surface again. Their winning time was also half a second quicker than promising two-year-old winner Singapore Sling, who treks south today for the listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki. Phar Cry will be an anchor for most, but also consider Bert and Belle De Jeu as insurance. Bert, who has been close lately in R80 company, was a comfortable winner of the same race last year over Beautiful Girl, and Belle De Jeu has the ability to swoop late from the back.

Leg Three
Tighten the outlay again with proven black-type performer Jungle Juice; you'll need the budget later. The Bonecrusher Stakes winner and Waikato Guineas placegetter resumed with a luckless third on her home course over 1600m on July 17. She may not have beaten stablemate Ace High, but would have been second at least with a clearer home straight passage. Just three starts back she finished a brave eighth in the New Zealand Derby so the step up to 2100m today is going to hold no fears. The rising four-year-old mare also drops to a nice position in the weights against rivals of this calibre. If she strikes traffic issues, local Monument could be the one to capitalise. Expect rider Paul Taylor to push forward early from his wide alley and be tough to peg back; the Monolith gelding is at the top of his game.

Leg Four
The improved track is the key to the Taumarunui Cup puzzle. On a bog, common sense tells you to opt for Parliamentary winner Strapped For Cash again, 59kg and all. But he always seems vulnerable with that type of handicap on slow ground, as he showed when out-sprinted by Mountain Road and then Kiri in last year's event. With conditions as they are, it's just impossible to see him concede 5kg to a horse like Amirar, who looks unstoppable, even from the wide alley. Amirar is 1kg worse off in the weights than when the pair last clashed, in the Governor General's Cup at Avondale on July 3. But the fast-improving four-year-old simply won too well to say that's going to make a scrap of difference. Gutsy front-runner Bruce Almighty is another suited by the surface, but you'd just like to see him a little closer in the handicap to Amirar than the 4.5kg he's asked to concede today.

Leg Five
This is where the earlier anchors start to pay off - it's a nightmare to sift through with R70 graduates clashing with R80 regulars struggling to regain form. Although a shade below his best lately, Southland Guineas winner Allegrio has to be in the mix. He showed he was on the brink of a turnaround with a fair fourth last-time out in R80 company over the same trip. Hastings visitor Pinot Grieve is going to love the improved track. She was hopeless on a heavy Awapuni on July 10 after a short freshener. A far better guide was her seventh at Te Rapa in May, and before that her R80 win at Hastings in March over Madam Butterfly and Dinka. Rusty Devil adds to the confusion. He hasn't had any luck in last two attempts against far stronger opposition. Three starts back he chased home the smart Atom Cat over the same trip on a slow Ellerslie.

Leg Six
A slew of recent maiden winners square off in another tricky leg for punters. Butcher's Daughter was easily the most comfortable winner of any of them, but you could also argue that she beat one of the weakest fields. Although Shiquan only scraped in by a long neck at Te Rapa over this trip on July 7, it was the way he did it that makes him a must-include again. Rider Opie Bosson got shuffled back a couple of lengths at a crucial spot near the turn, and then had to muscle his way into the clear out wide. The gelding's acceleration over the last 100m to overhaul the leaders in a matter of strides suggests this level of race is still well within his scope. In-form Marton visitor Teasjah and Cambridge maiden Yangming have the credentials to be on multiple tickets for the bigger spenders. Yangming will appreciate the step up to 1600m after being left a little flat-footed at Ruakaka when third last-start over 1400m.