Racing: Stand-out card for punters at Te Rapa

What is usually a ho-hum card before the club's bigger day next Saturday has blossomed into a stand-out for punters at Te Rapa today.

The feature, the $70,000 group three HS Dyke Waikato Guineas (2000m), should be the best line on the winner of the New Zealand Derby this year.

It's D-Day in many ways for seven-figure yearling Maciano and with the blinkers on for the first time he shouldn't disappoint.

Look for rider Leith Innes to get the perfect trail again one-out and one-back, as he did when a wayward second at Ellerslie last time out.

The difference today, however, is that the hood should keep Maciano's mind on the job.

There also looks like being enough pace on up front, particularly from stablemates No Fear and Tanha Strike, to ensure the Redoute's Choice colt races kindly in his first middle distance attempt.

Exciting filly Zarzuela must be the toughest to beat after her sensational late last-start burst to catch Prince of Wales in the Great Northern Guineas (2100m).

The intriguing choice for punters is whether she'll have too much leeway to make up on Maciano if he explodes clear, as trainer John Sargent is hoping.

Success today means Maciano leap-frogs up the entry order for the Derby on March 6 and will go straight to Ellerslie without another race.

Outside of Veloce Bella you're going to get a great price for anything you fancy in the support feature, the $17,000 SkyCity Hamilton Casino Cup (2000m).

The opposition is near impossible to split when you factor in the fitness queries and that several are close to retirement.

After her last-start winning performance at Tauranga, Veloce Bella should be simply too good. The problem is, punters were justified in thinking the same thing last year and she couldn't make up the leeway on Spectacular Icon, again a rival today.

Still, trainer Mark Brosnan has side-stepped Trentham this time and kept her a little fresher for this assignment, a tune-up for the Darci Brahma International Stakes, the weight-for-age feature in which she finished third last year.

Sam Spratt's mount Copybook could be the toughest for the fast-finishing mare to catch, at double-figure odds.

If she'd worked clear a stride or two sooner at Ellerslie in her last start she would have beaten Chettak.

Outside of the favourite this field isn't any stronger. She drops 1kg from that effort and has gone some of her best races on the course.

Boost the bank for the features with Dick and Chris Bothwell-trained raider Today Not Tomorrow in the maiden 2000m (race five).

The Stratford mare was locked up on the fence with nowhere to go last time out in special conditions' company at Awapuni, yet still found the line strongly to run fourth.

With Danielle Johnson in the saddle today she should get a sweet trip from the three gate.

The Bothwells invariably strike when they travel north to Te Rapa.

With the benefit of Maija Vance's 3kg claim, Lady Lucille also represents good value in the R80 2000m (race seven).

She's had no luck lately and goes her best races at Te Rapa. Round out the day with the Andrew Scott-trained Tanalised in the R70 1600m.

With a clear run he would have won fresh-up at Tauranga over 1400m on January 9. He meets some promising types in Sum Up, Asgoodasitgets and Frank King but he's a smart four-year-old who will relish the 1600m today.

Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett is at Wingatui today with a trio of runners - Outrageous Fortune (race four), The Beekeeper (race five) and El Torro (race 11) - worth following. El Torro especially looks a stand-out anchor in leg six of the $50,000 Pick6.

He doesn't help himself by getting back in his races, but there looks to be enough pace in the race for Collett's son Jason to set him alight in time.

Although trying listed company for the first time, The Beekeeper, another Collett junior mount, should also be tough to beat.

The Keeper filly has been at Shane Kennedy's Riccarton stable for two weeks preparing for the $45,000 feature.

"She hasn't raced in the top company up here, but she has barrier speed, can get a spot, can relax and kick on," said Collett.

The Colletts had success on the southern three-year-old circuit last year with Alegrio.