By MIKE DILLON
A $10 bet at Ruakaka today could get you more than you bargained for.
Like a Jetball filly to race cost-free for the next two years.
Every $10 ticket from today's meeting goes into a race-by-race draw. On the same lines as the Appeal Of Zabeel promotion at Te Rapa in February, a winner will be announced five minutes after each race.
The 10 ticketholders then go into a draw live on Trackside from Ellerslie next Saturday, the winner becoming the owner for two years of a Jetball filly from a Sir Tristram mare.
"It's a fabulous prize," said Donna Logan, who will train the filly free of charge for the two years.
"The filly has been leased for the two years by the Whangarei Racing Club. Whangarei Animal Health Centre will provide free veterinary care and blacksmith Alan Pyle will do all her shoeing for free."
The filly has been donated by Pencarrow Stud.
"It's a fabulous gesture by Pencarrow's Peter and Philip Vela," said Logan.
So eliminating as much risk as possible for your $10 investments becomes pretty important.
If the rain stays away it will help, although the odd shower will only settle the dust on a firm track.
Donna Logan probably holds the key to starting off the day the right way with Colour Code (No 1, R1). The filly fell two starts back and last start was caught three wide outside the leaders and was left without a finishing drive.
From the inside barrier today, Mark Du Plessis has all the options and Colour Code should either lead or sit right on the speed.
The Hawtin/Rogerson stable can do little wrong and Gu Li (No 1, R2) can put them even further ahead on the trainers' premiership. Gu Li has been freshened since being just beaten at Wanganui last month and has the speed to overcome the disadvantage of her wide barrier.
The improved track conditions should assist Lord Sedona (No 1, R4). He is a natural speed horse who has not been suited by the pattern of racing on heavy tracks, which often suit horses finishing hard. He should either lead or trail here and that suits this track.
Local Clean Bowled (No 2) is another who likes to lead and similarly was not suited by the pattern on a very heavy track at Rotorua last start back in May. They look a likely quinella. The value is Glenbuck (No 8).
The big race, the Wedgewood Stud Breeders' Stakes, became a nightmare after the barrier draw.
Playful Fingers (No 1, R6) is up against it from so wide out with 57.5kg, but if her speed allows her to cross the field to the rail, she can win.
So can any one of six others, with Clear Advantage (No 2), St Therese (No 5) and On Vacance (No 3) strong chances.
It is a long way from Trentham to Ruakaka in a week, particularly after you have slogged around under 58kg, but St Petrus (No 1) is pretty tough and even with 58kg again will take some beating. Te Atatu Chap (No 2) is likely to produce something better here than he did at Waipa last week.
Investor (No 5, R8) looks the goods in an even line-up.
Race 9 is the best betting race on the programme.
Three smart horses here, Michael Collins (No 1), Hot Streak (No 9) and Wattenbach (No 11) and that is ignoring the stablemates Delphic (No 2) and Labasa (No 4). Hot Streak and Wattenbach are back runners and this track is not easy to come from behind on, but watch for the pair of them storming home.
Kash Is King (No 2, R10) from Donna Logan's stable, looks the perfect way to end the day.
Racing: Ruakaka punters given chance to race a filly
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.