Go easy with your Melbourne Cup winnings at Paeroa today.
Although small fields, there are some tricky line-ups in the $40,000 Pick6 quest.
Big leg six hope Re Deel may be the best way to trim the spending. He should get another handy run from an inside alley and looks suited to the step up to 1670m.
The R80 1350m (leg four) match-up among promising Art Beat, Miss Sharapova and No Fear promises to be the highlight.
Leg One: Black Berry Punch ran into a smart one in Kahlua Kiss at Pukekohe. With another inside alley and Maija Vance's 2kg claim, he's going to be even tougher to beat in this line-up. Savont is the obvious danger, but she is going to have to be used up a tad more to get across from her wider alley. That should be enough to give Black Berry Punch the advantage in the straight. Round out the multiple with a freshened Roman Rebel, another on-pace speed runner, and first-starter Rimsky, for value. The latter ran second to Hammer Down in a May trial before winning his next appearance in October.
Leg Two: For a small field, there are a stack of chances. Beltaana has fared badly at the barrier but with some luck before the first bend, should be tough to roll. She beat some handy types when quitting maidens in a slick time for 1200m at Tauranga in January, backing that up with a win this course, distance and grade in March. Chaumont looked well above average in clearing maidens around the same time and wasn't disgraced in three subsequent runs. His future lies over more ground, but should sprint well fresh. Roman Toia is a lot better than his fresh-up effort suggests and invariably goes well second-up.
Leg Three: Another awkward one to line up now the tracks have finally firmed up. Although she quit maidens on a slow surface, go with Kahlua Kiss again. She had no luck in the running yet still scampered clear to win by more than three lengths untouched at Pukekohe last month. Storm Park and Head Honcho look the best insurance for those on limited budgets. Storm Park also impressed quitting maidens at Te Aroha and will appreciate the extra 150m he gets here, while Head Honcho only needs to repeat his effort two starts back for third at Te Rapa to go close.
Leg Four: Opt for the promising 4-year-old trio here: No Fear, Art Beat and Miss Sharapova. No Fear was in early NZ Derby calculations last campaign, but topped out at 2000m. The 1350m second-up is ideal. He was an eye-catching fourth fresh-up over 1200m at Ellerslie on October 23. Art Beat is obviously in sensational form and seems to handle all types of going, and Miss Sharapova also turned heads resuming over 1200m at Rotorua on October 16.
Leg Five: Ruby Rouge turned in a shocker second-up behind Simply Brilliant at Te Aroha last month. She's a lot better than that, as her fresh-up effort for second to Rave Review at Ruakaka suggests. If Only showed enough on debut at Te Aroha, without getting much luck in the straight, to be afforded some chance in this grade. If Rockonby can overcome the wide barrier he's also a hope, and Valtier could be a double-figure chance judging by her most recent effort at Te Aroha on October 20. She challenged on the turn before weakening to 10th.
Leg Six: Re Deel won't have to improve an inch on his Taupo effort for third to win this. He was only two noses away from quitting this class. This field looks a notch weaker and the son of a Zabeel mare should relish the extra 270m today. If the budget allows, throw in Stormy Seas and Loose Talent as insurance. Based on their most recent efforts for sixth, they should be among the placegetters.
Racing: Pick6 sure to test punters who face tricky fields at Paeroa today
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