There is one very important question to ask yourself before even thinking about taking today's $500,000 terminating Turbo Pick6 - will you anchor exciting filly Purcentage in the second leg, the Ryder Stakes. That's where the smart money is going to be.
If you don't anchor the Matamata filly youare probably going to deny yourself the spread you need in a couple of the other legs, particularly the last two races at Otaki.
Most punters don't enjoy anchoring one leg of a Pick6 and that's fair enough - it probably comes down to a personal preference. On what this column has seen of Purcentage she is very special, the one reservation being the heavy 11 track.
LEG 1 Donna and Dean Logan and Ralph Manning should carve up the first Pick6 leg, the Whangarei Cup. It's near impossible to ignore King Zeus' nine starts on his home Ruakaka track for six wins and two placings. Stablemates Mawah Vellous and Uncle Shayne provide great backup.
LEG 2 Well, Purcentage, or a couple of others for much better value.
You are certainly heading into big money territory if you can get her beaten. The field is so even and classy it's difficult to sort out the one or two main dangers. Having Purcentage there should make it easy, in fact, she complicates the equation.
LEG 3 Moochi Me is very short in the R65 at Whangarei and she is probably entitled to be, such was the dominance of her Te Aroha winning debut. Roger and Darrell Lang have a big opinion of her. The 3.5kg All Decked Out has to concede her will make it hard for him, but he also represents terrific class. He beat himself through greenness in a couple of the five starts he has had to date and this is a preparation that should show just how good he is. Connor John and Murdoch for value and backup.
LEG 4 Should be renamed the nightmare leg. A big field in heavy 11 means ... spread.
One Kay is a must and Floozie Cat was backed for some money yesterday and when the Sharrock team back them pay attention.
Mischievous Miss and Elated need to be in the mix and this column loves including Chris Johnson (Ishidanzin) in such races. In really tough going no one holds them up better until the final 150m than Johnson. He's liable to do that here.
LEG 5 Moretti showed she could manage the Ruakaka track last start when finishing one length behind a pretty fair sort in Royal Sceptre, who enjoyed much the better run. She has drawn perfectly again and should be difficult to keep out.
Fairy Story is improving, Radar is a big chance for the Logans and Carbide and Good Will are definite chances.
LEG 6 Don't go into this Pick6 without a spread in this last leg. One of the country's worst-named horses, Zedeedudadeeko, is one of the best chances. He loves the mud, won nicely at Trentham and probably hit the front a touch soon when narrowly beaten the time before. The horse that beat him that day, Mr Cool Boy, meets him on better weight terms here and has to be a big hope, as do Katie Keen and Acutely Gold, who will have the Chris Johnson factor.
