Racing: Opportunity to take notes for feature race winners

Shuka looked stunning when resuming at Ellerslie last month. Photo / Dean Purcell.

At this time of year, punters are looking out for horses prepping for the major spring titles.

There are a handful going around at Ellerslie tomorrow. Precious Time, Hidden Asset and Shuka are among them.

Shuka looked stunning when resuming at Ellerslie last month, producing an amazing sprint from an impossible rearward position to miss in a tight photo finish.

He would have won had he not ducked in sharply on to other horses and Danielle Johnson had not, as a result, had to check his momentum.

The Dawn and Peter Williams stable has given him plenty of time to recover and from a better barrier draw this time he is going to take plenty of beating.

Hidden Asset required 18 months' spell after damaging a suspensory as a 3-year-old and that time away may be the making of him. Hehas returned a magnificent, fully matured horse and there was plenty to like about his last-to-first win at Hastings last start.

He goes up 2.5kg to 59kg this time, which is not easy over 2400m, but he has a good barrier draw to play with. Trainer Shaune Ritchie will aiming him at races like the Waikato Gold Cup and Counties Cup if he wins tomorrow. Jason Jago replaces Opie Bosson, who is riding at Trentham.

Precious Time is capable of winning a nice 2000m race over one of the carnivals and she can take a step up at Ellerslie tomorrow. She will quickly need more than 1600m, but should retain some freshness.

Cambridge 3-year-old Wowowow is one of the better chances in the NZ Bloodstock Wellington Guineas. He has had only two raceday starts compared with a mainly more experience field, but is a precocious type, who won three barrier trials before he made his debut.

Platinum King has the experience of seven raceday appearances and looks one of the toughest to beat along with Move Faster, who will appreciate the rain-affected track this time, Misstrum and Silverdale.