Boobaa (No10, R4) proved costly for punters when he finished only fifth as favourite on debut, but the track that day at Rotorua was very testing. She may do a lot better on the good surface she will strike today. Aussie Eagle (No5) has a nice barrier and on debut he can produce something after his barrier trials form.
Bechtolsheimer (No1, R5) finished only fourth over 1400m here last start, but it looked more like a preparatory run for this race, the ITM Whangarei Cup over 2100m. She is a talented stayer, the problem being the 59kg topweight.
She is reasonably gritty and may be capable of handling that - don't leave her out of any multiples. Local Loves The Show (No8) rates highly on 54kg after his recent form. Smedley (No9) and Uncle Shayne (No6) are dangers.
The main sprint is without doubt the toughest race on the programme.
Britt Ekland (No8, R6) deserves the winning purse here. How she didn't win the corresponding race at the last meeting no one knows. Most of us still believe she did. She comes in on a nice weight again and Sam Spratt will be keen to make amends for the race she also thought she'd won.
Antonio Lombardo (No1) has won four of his eight Ruakaka starts and Shaun McKay, who is riding in great form, takes 3kg off his 59kg. Miss Pelear (No7) and To Be Sure (No6) look good.
Piazzetta (No6, R8) is a value bet of the day at Ruakaka. No good thing, but a better chance than form on paper would have you believe.
Although the state of the footing at Otaki will have the final say in the Ryder Stakes at Otaki - and it will be tough going - Stradivarius (No1, R7) is our top pick. Secret Spirit (No8) is the toughest to beat.
• James McDonald is one and a half wins behind Hugh Bowman in the Sydney jockeys' premiership with today and Wednesday to complete the season, but don't write him off.
His best today is his last-race winner from last weekend, Marenostro, once again in the last.
• Matamata trainers Peter and Jacob McKay are poised to play leading roles at today's Ruakaka meeting.
The father and son trainers have key entries in both open handicaps - Antonio Lombardo and Canterino - as well as a leading light in the two-year-old event, De Niro.
Both Canterino and Antonio Lombardo feature prominently in TAB fixed-odds betting markets with Canterino at a $6.50 quote for the ITM Whangarei Cup (2100m) and track specialist Antonio Lombardo a $5 shot for the ITM/Gib Open 1400.
Both horses were unplaced at Ruakaka at their most recent starts, but Peter McKay was forgiving of both runs.
"Antonio Lombardo got bashed as he got out of the gates," he said.
"I told Shaun [McKay] to ride him forward, but after that he had to ride him a bit deep.
"Shaun couldn't claim on him last time, whereas this time he takes three kilos off and he's better drawn."
McKay thought he had Canterino ready to win last start, but after the Oratorio five-year-old peaked on his run the trainer believes he might have been one run further away than he had originally anticipated.
Promising O'Reilly colt De Niro ran a strong race for second at Ruakaka resuming last start, beaten a nose, and McKay expected another big run from the dual trial winner. "He went huge fresh-up. We'd been planning to ride him back in behind and settling but he flew the gates and put himself right there," he said.
"He's tidied up a bit since then too and we'll use Shaun's three kilo claim as well," McKay said.
The McKays' other Ruakaka runner is the maiden Oblivion.
- Additional reporting: NZ Racing Desk
