Tough gig punting at Pukekohe and Riccarton today with a handful of carefully selected each way prospects looking the safest.
Start at Pukekohe with Race 3 and On Parole. She is a wet tracking mare who failed last start in the Taumarunui Gold Cup.
Dropping back to R75 will suit her ideally and while there are a couple of handy horses in this she is up to coping with them. Rain on the day, which looks likely, should make conditions ideal.
This looks an ideal type of race for Bowie (No2, R1), trying to make it three straight. He is tough and this contest, with a small field, will require that. Even with topweight he doesn't look badly placed. Stablemate Arzak (No3) is a danger.
In seven visits to the races Suliman (No2, R2) has promised to win a race and after his middle distance debut last start at Matamata, should be ready to take his first trick over 2100m today. From an inside barrier he should get a peach of a passage under Jason Waddell, resuming from a decent break following surgery. Avant (No11) is stepping up in distance for the first time. Being by Shocking from a Zabeel mare, she should cope easily. She deserves a winning turn.