Racing: Natuzzi has weighty task at Otaki today

Co-trainer Paul Richards is confident Natuzzi can go close to keeping his fresh-up record looking smart in today's $50,000 Chainey Panasonic Levin Stakes at Otaki.

The high class sprinter is aiming for the Railway Stakes at Ellerslie, but today's race is a handy lead-up.

"He comes in well under the set weights and penalties of the Railway, carrying only half a kilo above his set weight because Ellerslie's Newmarket was the only race he won last season," says Richards.

Natuzzi is not as well off today, carrying clear 59kg topweight, but he has Opie Bosson to help him.

"He's not screwed right up, but he's forward and the Ellerslie trial he had recently has brought him on well."

Co-trainer Stephen Ramsay is hoping Silver Eclipse's second-up record is a good indicator for the race. "She's unbeaten in two starts second back from a spell."

Silver Eclipse had no chance to show her best when she resumed at Rotorua, being caught three wide from an outside barrier. She drops from 56.5kg in that race to 53kg and this time has a much more favourable No 4 barrier. "She was ready to go last week [at Avondale], but we scratched her when the rain arrived. She's in very good shape and will run a race." Cambridge's Barbaric won his only Otaki start and has been in good form when the tracks have been dry this preparation. His last-start Te Rapa win was particularly smart and in the right conditions he will feature again.

There is a lot of form among the 3-year-olds in the Fasttrackinsurance Wellington Stakes so luck might play a part in the result. In-form Rangipo might be able to take luck out of the race with his barrier of just beyond mid-field. He has been impressive winning his last two races and trainer Tony Pike has a fair opinion of the gelding.

He has raced on the speed in both those victories and from his barrier that would appear to be the ideal tactics again.

Goodsav has won both her raceday appearances with dashing finishes. She will have to step up to do the same against this field, but she has plenty of ability.

Zacada hasn't had much luck on either side of the Tasman lately and has to come out of the outside gate of the 15 runners, so his luck needs to change to give him a chance.

?Ron Cunningham will get two cracks at the Group 3 Fasttrackinsurance Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki today.

The Upper Hutt owner will be represented by the form runners Goodsav and Shadows Cast.

Goodsav, a Savabeel filly, is unbeaten from two starts and Shadows Cast, a Per Incanto gelding, has had a win and two seconds from three attempts.

Cunningham races Shadows Cast on his own and is a member of the syndicate that races Goodsav.

Goodsav is raced by the Goodfellas Syndicate, on lease from Waikato Stud.

Shadows Cast is trained by Mark Oulaghan.

Johnathon Parkes rides Shadows Cast, with Lisa Allpress, who had ridden the horse in all his previous runs, preferring Goodsav.

- Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk