Racing: Sticking with class looks best way at Te Rapa

Christmas will come early if you get the punt right today.

But it won't be easy. Befitting a race meeting with two group one races and a group two, the fields are massively competitive.

If you stick with class, you shouldn't go wrong.

For that reason, King's Chapel in the $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint looks the way to go for an anchor.

Stats count for a lot at the top end - King's Chapel is unbeaten in four career starts when racing fresh and this will be his first raceday appearance since finishing unplaced in the Cox Plate in October.

He is a relaxed horse these days and with Danbird (No 9) and Keeninsky (No 7) to contribute the speed, this race should suit a horse that can bounce off a handy spot with a dashing finish.

By international standards King's Chapel is as good as we've got and he will go close to proving it today.

On overall form Lashed (No 5, R7) deserves to be favourite for the $100,000 Whakanui Stud International Stakes, but there is more to that story for the mare that retires straight after the race this afternoon. Co-trainer Stephen Autridge says there is evidence of improvement in Lashed since she raced at Trentham a couple of weeks back. Between the watering the club has done this week and the possibility of showers, the nicely cushioned track that Lashed prefers looks certain to eventuate. That should be all she needs.

Difficult to know what to make of the form of The Jewel (No 6). On their respective runs in the Zabeel Classic (Lashed 3rd, The Jewel 5th) The Jewel should not be able to beat Lashed home today. That brings Dowry (No 9) into focus as the possible upsetter. She is a bit of class and is due to improve rapidly. The negatives for her are that she will quickly need more distance than today's 2000m and the lack of a real pacemaker to produce a staying contest for her could prove a problem.

Few horses are good enough to win their first three races these days - even fewer their first four. That's what Fly'N'High (No 2, R1) is trying to do in the opener and the way he has dashed past the opposition late in the race in each of his three wins, you wouldn't say he couldn't do it. Magnetism (No3) and Rosetti Bay (No 7) are equally a bit of stuff.

Resurrection (No 12, R3) ran into a really good one in Special Times at Trentham last start. He had to give him a big start, too, which was essentially what made the difference. He never stopped trying in the closing stages and the much smaller field this time (12 v 18) will be a big help if he gets back in the pack again. River Chief (No 1) just can't crack one, but you can't leave him out of multiples.

Difficult to know what went wrong with Dipped 'N' Grey (No 3, R4) when 7th at Trentham last start. The only thing you know for certain is that it was not his true form - it was far too bad to be true. Punters will drop off him in this field and he could be false value. It won't be easy though, Sarajay (No 2) is very talented and Dipped 'N' Grey will need to be right on his form to beat her. Mr Multiwin (No5) has been far too good in two starts since returning from Hong Kong.

El Bulli (No 4, R5) was wiped out of contention by a horrendous check 500m from the finish of the Oaks at Trentham last start and you put a large "forget" against that performance when summing up this. She is a Zabeel filly on the way through and you can see her fighting out a finish today. Stablemates Sahara Flight (No 6) and Tusker (No 2) look the dangers. Sahara Flight looked home when she dashed clear at the top of the Trentham home straight in the Oaks and her third was still a top effort. The good fillies improve quickly at this time of year and not much improvement is needed.

There is a stack of topline form in Race 6, but there is potential for a mild upset in the shape of Raphael (No 8). He has not had a lot of luck lately and from only eight starts he has shown real staying potential, despite the fact this is his first start beyond 1600m. He can really storm to the line and his course stats of two-from-two look impressive. It's been a long battle to get the best out of Fooram (No 6), but he finally looks to be heading places. His win when stepping up to 2100m at Trentham last start was a beaut by any standards. He should go on with it now. You simply can't leave Shinko King (No 1) out of the multiple bets and throw Dominique (No 5) in as the sneaky. A great race.

The clash between Kerry O'Reilly (No 3, R8) and Viz Vitae (No 2) will be another cracker. Both look to be heading places. There is nothing to pick between them in weights or barrier draws - both have drawn badly. Kerry O'Reilly gets the nod slightly, but there should be little between them.

You don't even necessarily have to pay for a diamond ring for your partner with your winnings - if you go to the track and put your name on the back of a losing ticket worth a minimum of $10 on Races 2 to 9, you will be in a draw in each race.

After Race 9 a winner from those eight draws wins a $5500 diamond ring.

Odd draw though, don't you think - you can't win unless you lose first.