KEY POINTS:
So You was the big $100,000 Waikato Gold Cup TAB shortener from an opening quote of $5 yesterday.
It looks money well invested.
So You has as much staying potential as anything around and looks nicely placed to launch herself into the big time in today's feature.
The 53kg is comfortable - certainly more manageable than the 57.5kg she lumped at Ellerslie last start - and the 2400m is perfect.
Michael Coleman should be able to get the mare a decent run in the average-sized field despite a wide barrier draw.
Three Chimneys was impressive winning the Wanganui Cup at only his second start back this preparation and should be further improved by that race. Arthur Pendragon looks better with each run.
The opening event at Te Rapa is a fascinating race. The main centre of attention is whether Solvini (No 1), one of the smallest horses racing, can successfully manage 58kg. You might say yes in an average field, but there are some classy individuals getting a lot of weight off Solvini.
Magic Tryst (No 2) is similarly very fast and talented, Strabelle (No 5) won on this track last start like a horse going places and Mr Shanghai (No 8) made a big splash in winning here then failing at Rotorua, probably because of a very wet surface.
We won't know until after lunch whether Solvini is up to the task, but one thing you can guarantee is she will give you a great sight. She's brave, she'll fight to the end and you can forget her last-start Ellerslie failure when she pulled muscles. Don't miss this, it'll be a beaut.
Stone Garden (No 4, R2) is a very talented stayer, which makes his fourth at Te Aroha last start mystifying. A possible explanation is that he needs the cut in the ground to produce his best, which would mean he will be out of play today. At his best he wins this race, but there is enough doubt about the firm track ability to put out the warning sign not to go silly on him today. If he doesn't fire Bold Contact (No 2) should go close.
There is an old saying in this game that a good 2-year-old is racing's best betting proposition. There's truth in that, but truth also that some juvenile races with unraced trials winners can be among the toughest to sort out. Race 3 is one of them.
That said, Sherbert (No 3) did not get much luck last start after a stylish winning debut at Ellerslie. He should have better luck from the No 1 gate and is worth a look if he's at each-way odds.
Tatlock (No 7, R4) is one of the better horses going around at the moment and it's a tragedy that he's drawn wide at the 1200m. There is a fair bit of speed directly inside him though, and he just might get a good drag across the face of the field in the first 200m. Despite a promising field, Tatlock will be hard to contain if he can get to a position to be able to launch the finish he produced when he won last start at Ellerslie. Pinsior (No 14) is nicely placed in the No 2 gate.
One of the best bets of the day might be the Gaze (No 5, R5) and Arlingtonboulevard (No 1) quinella in the $100,000 Gasmate Stakes. There might not be a lot between them. Gaze looked outstanding winning the Breeders Stakes at Ellerslie last start in the same race that Arlingtonboulevard found the 1400m too short. The 1600m evens them up considerably. Gaze will be very tough to beat, but Arlingtonboulevard will be running at her hard in the closing stages.
The Foreman (No 5, R6) is going right to the top. He had to overcome difficulties to complete a winning treble last start at Riccarton after winning with ridiculous ease there a week earlier. He's probably going to need luck again because from the No 1 gate at the 1600m there is a strong chance he will get buried back on the rails, but he's tough to bet against.
There are some very smart types opposing him - Far Too Much (No 3) will prove everything went wrong last time, Tachus (No 4) is in for a big campaign and Congaline (No 8) is not far away from a win.
Parua Bay (No 3, R8) and Judgement Day (No 8) are two must-includes for Pick6 punters.
Pulcinella (No 14, R9) didn't beat much at Te Aroha last start, but it was a stylish performance. She looks to be right back to her form after a couple of disappointing performances and with a good barrier and light weight to suit her smallish frame she is right in the party in the open sprint. So is Devoted (No 3), in blinkers this time, and Jurys Out (No 1) despite his big weight.
Special conditions maiden races are often difficult and there is plenty of form to mull over in Race 10. Makutuwai (No 1) was impressive the way he worked away in the final strides when he won at Avondale last start.
He looks capable of going on with it and looms here as a big winning chance. Podarok (No 2) and Antipodean (No 7) have been impressive.
