Shades of Kingston Town. Werther is no Kingston Town, but he's a very good staying 3-year-old and looks to have a fair bit in terms of ability lined up against those facing him this afternoon.
There will be a double thrill for Campbell if Werther wins - he developed and prepared the 3-year-old's sire Tavistock who became a dual group one winner.
He identified Tavistock as being special before taking him to his first barrier trial and declared the same opinion of Werther at the same stage even though Werther was extremely underdeveloped at two and still has some maturing to do.
"But he's got stronger lately and particularly since he's been up here in Queensland in the warm weather. It was cold when he was in Adelaide and he much prefers being in Queensland - and so do I."
New Zealand will have two opportunities to win the classic. When two scratchings came out of the field late Thursday, Cambridge 3-year-old Harry came off the emergency list.
Harry is a much better chance to reach the Derby stakemoney than his unplaced Grand Prix effort in his Australian debut would suggest. He was only a touch more than four lengths from the winner in the Grand Prix after having a rocky run and not managing the tight Doomben racetrack bends.
That might be a factor again, but world class jockey Zac Purton knows more about Harry this time. He is unlikely to have the New Zealander last into the home straight as he did last start, but the advantage will still lie with Werther, who is comfortable running close to the speed from the start.
Yesterday Harry was rated a $21 chance with the New Zealand and NSW TABs.
You only have to convince yourself Visible (No2) can handle a rain-affected track to be close enough to being the bet of the day at Te Rapa today. That last-start second to Stolen Dance was good enough to beat the field in Race 10, provided she can get through the footing.
Visible is from the talented mare Vision, who had some form in the wet and her granddam Eye Full included a New Zealand Cup in her 11 victories and was not hopeless on rain-affected tracks.
There are good betting races on the Te Rapa card, but few good things.
One of the better bets is probably Alley Oop (No7, R2). She is making a fairly steep class rise from winning here last start from R75 to open class, but two back she finished an excellent second in R85. Her Te Rapa record of two wins and a placing from five appearances looks like a major plus. Kelly O'Reilly (No1), Elusive Gold (No6) and Ohope Prince (No8) are chances in an interesting contest.
There is not a lot of Ethical (No1, R3) so the 2kg apprentice allowance will be crucial. The 57kg is still not ideal and neither is the fact she has yet to race at Te Rapa, but there is a sense the mare is close to another win. Reka (No3) was super impressive winning at Ellerslie on Monday and Arizona Jazz (No7) is one for value.
Douro (No1, R5) is a win waiting to happen. He was dead stiff two back at Rotorua then went well when a close third on this track. He has to win one soon. Parana (No11) is in the same category.
Secret Power (No2, R6) has turned in two good runs in as many starts this preparation. He overcame a rocky run last start to get home strongly to be narrowly beaten. The wet track will be no problem. Marciano (No5) has done nothing wrong.
Grant's Girl (No13, R8) is likely to be improved for her first-up third at Avondale in very testing conditions. She will be better suited by this track on which she has won her only start. Alica Web Alice (No3) did not get a lot of luck at Ruakaka last start.
Galaktika (No13, R9) jumps up a grade but with a formline of 23121 she won't lack friends. Late in the day the wide barrier is likely to be an advantage. Moon Tide (No10) can do better this time.
• Key team members behind Secret Spirit's Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes success will chase further juvenile success in the first race at Te Rapa today.
Matamata trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott produced the promising Swiss Ace filly to win last month's black type feature at Ellerslie under Danielle Johnson and the Wexford Stables partnership has again engaged the Pukekohe jockey for Landed Gentry in today's Cal Isuzu 1200 at Te Rapa. "Danielle is chasing her first premiership and it's nice to be able to help her out," Scott said.
• Sam Spratt will continue her unbeaten association with Shees Flawless in Queensland on Monday.
She will partner the speedy New Zealand-owned filly when she makes her Australian debut in a 1200-metre handicap at the Sunshine Coast.
"It will be a flying visit and she will probably tell them a bit more and where they go with her afterwards," Spratt said.
Shees Flawless is now prepared on the Sunshine Coast track by expatriate Kiwi trainer Paul Jenkins. She began her two-year-old career with Richard Collett and then training partner Gareth McRae before she joined Roger James' Cambridge yard.
In the spring, the chestnut was placed in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes before a successful autumn campaign that opened with an easy win at Te Rapa under Spratt.
They then bolted away with an age group event at Awapuni and completed a hat-trick with a comprehensive defeat of the black type winners Tavy and Passing Shot in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes.
The three-year-old has drawn a wide gate on Monday, but Spratt isn't overly concerned.
"She's pretty slick, although she doesn't have to lead," she said. "As long as she's happy and in her rhythm she's fine." Shees Flawless is raced by a syndicate that includes her co-breeder and part-owner Peter Walker.
• Electronic images of horses can sometimes be deceiving, but if anything can be gleaned from the sights of American Pharoah this week, the champ looks superb.
What is important about that is very few horses come through to the Belmont Stakes (just after 10am tomorrow) in great condition after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Last year California Chrome looked to be feeling the effects of a third group one race in five weeks, which is a huge load for an American horse. American Pharoah has looked better in the last few days than when he paraded for the Derby and the Preakness. He looks to have muscles in his ears. He also looks extremely relaxed, which is equally important because the 2400m of tomorrow's historic race is totally foreign to most sprint-oriented American horses and equines can't run staying trips without being relaxed.
Can he do something no horse has achieved in 37 years? Go fella.
Jockeys' best
A selection of New Zealand's leading jockeys offer their best rides for the weekend and, where applicable, last week's result.
Darryl Bradley: The Best Man - Trentham (R6). (Double Blue - 1st).
Matt Cameron: Zeldara - Te Rapa (R3). (Gesemi - 1st).
Sam Collett: Money Trail - Te Rapa (R1).
Chris Johnson: Paraketo - Oamaru (R7). (Benoit - unplaced).
Danielle Johnson: Marciano - Te Rapa (R6).
Lee Magorrian: Silver Minx - Te Rapa (R4). (Joey Jonz - 1st).
Michael McNab: Super Ready - Te Rapa (R5). (Vibrant Moss - 4th).
Rosie Myers: Heni - Trentham (R8). (Cassie Anne - 3rd).
Johnathon Parkes: Lord Ernesto - Trentham (R8). (Gwynethanne - unplaced).
Sam Spratt: Hannibal Lecter - Te Rapa (R5). (On Parole - 1st).
Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
