Leg One Apprentice rider Ryan Hurdle blamed Lizzie's Girl's expensive last-start flop on the dead Tauherenikau track. She was threatening to break through before that without a lot of luck in stronger fields. Senior jockey Robert Hannam takes over the reins against a line-up well within her scope.
Floral Scent looks the biggest danger on debut. She was untested in beating Racey Red in one of the faster 1000m heats at the Otaki trials.
Racey Red ran second in a stronger field than this on debut at Trentham on Monday.
Leg Two Telecom New Zealand Derby hopeful Lieutenant Lincoln will need to show something today to warrant a run at group one level at Ellerslie in March. His last-start effort over 1600m suggests he's ready now at least for the step up to a middle distance. The equally lightly tried Zedappeal is also screaming out for the ground he gets today.
His previous run for fifth over 1600m was equally encouraging. In a tricky affair, go as wide as the budget will allow, however. Red Rhapsody has to be one of those on the multi-ticket. He's had a stack of tries but if he reproduces one of his best efforts he'll go close in this field.
Leg Three San Pedro made a good enough fist of his first middle distance this track and distance on New Year's Day to go one better. This field looks a notch weaker overall. Outside of him it's wide open.
Jamaa scored a massive upset in quitting maidens over 2100m this course on January 15. The penny may have finally dropped. He didn't get a whole lot of peace in front yet still found another gear in the straight. One Nought Short also has to be included after showing up in limited appearances, the most recent for third in a stronger field on December 31.
Leg FourPromising Murray Baker-trained Cambridge filly Selador holds a nomination for the New Zealand Oaks in March.
This type of race will need to be a formality if her camp is serious about pushing on with those plans from here. She's won two of her last four and had excuses last time out at Thames when she became unsettled in the barrier and began awkwardly.
Throw in Snippens as the obvious insurance. She invariably goes well this course and distance as she showed last time out when narrowly beaten by the smart Dubai Belle. A repeat effort would just about win this.
Leg FiveVayaala, another Baker-trained filly with Oaks aspirations, can cap some consistent form with a breakthrough win en route to Trentham. This field is considerably weaker than the ones she's struck in all three of her raceday appearances so far.
The promising Volksraad 3-year-old is a grand-daughter of 1992 New Zealand Oaks winner Staring. Cornelius O'Ceirin came close to scoring a massive upset when second this course over 1400m on January 15. The extra 200m will suit and he should have also improved with the run.
Another Cambridge visitor, Ar Realta, is the value runner. Forget he went around last time at Paeroa. He was checked out of contention with 1300m to run and covered too much extra ground from there.
Leg Six Matamata trainer Jason Bridgman brings only one runner south today with the promising Glad and he should be rewarded. She was unlucky on debut when slipping at the start and losing several lengths and hasn't had all favours in her two subsequent runs when second at Tauranga and third at Te Rapa.
The only danger here is her inside alley. If she's slow away again, rider Matthew Cameron could have trouble working clear of traffic yet again. Likely pacemaker Paparazzi is the best back-up.
He botched the start this course and distance January 15 before scorching through to the lead which he only relinquished in the last few strides.
