Racing: Stickability key at wet Awapuni

Lord Monty could be the go-to horse today.

Stickability will be what's needed to win races at Awapuni's rain-drenched track this afternoon and Lord Monty fills that void in the $40,000 Nufarm Winter Championship final.

In fact, stickability is the perfect word to describe Lord Monty. He oozes ability and can stick on in the most testing conditions.

Sure, he finished sixth when expected to threaten talented Ex Ex Al at Rotorua last start and was nearly seven lengths from that horse at the finish. But remember how many horses are simply unable to handle Rotorua, particularly when it's wet and at their first visit there.

This is a horse well worth forgiveness.

The Peter McKenzie horses are always super fit when they go to the races and you won't have seen a day for a while where that is more important - these horses will sleep well tonight.

The danger looks to be the southerner Sir Ambrose, who doesn't seem to mind how heavy the footing gets. Remember his winning run here two starts back when it was raining that hard you could barely see the horses on the home turn.

Another who has great ringcraft in the mud is Wanganui visitor Baltaine (No1), who will take plenty of beating in Race 9 at Te Awamutu.

He is speedy and can fight like hell when it matters. The real key is the 2kg apprentice Lee Callaway gets off his 58.5kg topweight.

If Baltaine has a flaw it's his tendency to race too fiercely. Callaway has ridden him a few times now, understands the talented sprinter and seems able to get him to race generously.

There are countless dangers. The best value among them may be fresh runner Lord Spectrum (No12), who is going to carry just 51kg with Daniel Hain aboard.

The locally trained runner is a talent against any opposition and can take this at useful odds. Floydeboy (No4) rates highly.

Richard Yuill could have a big day. He has Grand Chevaux (No11, R10) to wind up the day with and the rugged 3-year-old could score at useful odds. He failed at Rotorua, but could have suffered from the same fate as Lord Monty.

His earlier form had been good, punctuated with solid finishing efforts, which are going to be mandatory today. Watch Vindaloo (No15), who is better than the latest form reads.

Yuill kicks off with Baileys Comet (No1, R2), who should provide Lisa Cropp with a good opportunity. Baileys Comet stuck on pretty well when third at Te Rapa last start and does not need to improve much.

Yuill's other strong chance looks to be Echo Maid (No10, R5), yet another who ruined a promising formline with a Rotorua failure. Give her one more chance here because she has plenty of bottom in tough conditions and that suits today.

Craig Grylls pulls yet another 3kg off Wotafox's (No1) back in Race 6 and the win that has been threatening may be today. He will certainly give you a good sight.

Bit of a toss-up here between Zvezda (No2, R8) and Leica Guv (No1) in the big race. You can make a case for and against both and the race may turn out to be a punters' trap.

Go carefully. The pair have a lot of weight to lump and if they have a set-to they might beat each other and one of the lightweights could get over the top of them.