Trentham Tips & Preview | Saturday 31 January

Miss Jones (#2) is a 4yo Deep Field mare who has settled in well since arriving from New South Wales earlier this season and has now strung together two impressive wins since joining the Cody Cole stable. Samantha Collett takes the ride, which looks an ideal pairing given her ability to rate leaders. She remains in MAAT grade, looks well placed again, and should take plenty of beating.

Cheerio (#6) simply overdid it in front last start in the Gr.2 Levin Classic, where she may have also found the 1400m a touch too far at this stage of her career. She looks much better suited dropping back in distance here and strikes a far more suitable assignment. Expect Samantha Collett to press forward from the wide draw and give her every chance to bounce back to winning form.

Canasta (#9) is a 4yo Ace High mare who resumes here, last seen finishing 4th at Oamaru back in July. She has trialled nicely leading into this, winning her trial in good style after rolling forward and holding off a decent field. She heads north for this first-up assignment and finds a very even race for her resumption. She maps to settle handy from the wide draw, looking to utilise the 3kg claim of Jack Taplin.

Wild At Heart (#10) impressed winning on debut before having little go right for her last start, where she raced keenly and was forced to sit wide without cover for much of the contest. She remains in MAAT company and retains Craig Grylls in the saddle, with a nose band now applied, which may help her settle better in running. With a more economical trip, a much improved showing wouldn’t surprise.

Mustang Morgan (#2) has been building nicely this preparation since returning from an Australian campaign last season, and now lines up here fourth-up. The rise to 2100m looks ideal, the visor blinkers go on, and he finds himself in what shapes as a very winnable R65 staying contest. With some luck early from the wide draw, he looks well placed to go one better.

Crimson Sky (#2) is a 3yo Ocean Park filly who has made a strong impression despite remaining a maiden after three starts. Her last-start 3rd in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes reads well for this, and stepping out to 2100m should hold no fears. From the inside gate she maps to enjoy an economical run on the fence, which should see her given every chance to run out the trip. She looks a leading contender in an even field.

Sneak Peak (#11) comes here on the quick back-up from Ellerslie last week, where she ran far better than her finishing position suggests in the Aotearoa Classic, with her closing sectionals among the sharpest in the race. The return to 2100m looks ideal on the back of that effort, and this is a clear drop in class. If she handles the week turnaround, she shapes as a major player.

Navigator (#1) produced another excellent effort when finishing 2nd here in the Gr.1 Telegraph behind First Five, now placing in that race in consecutive runnings. He carries a significant impost under handicap conditions here but has earned the weight as the class runner of the field. The key query is where he settles from the wider draw, though he may receive an ideal cart across from Consentino drawn underneath, and with the right run he’ll be hard to hold out late.

Tshiebwe (#4) is a progressive stayer who has been climbing through the grades nicely for Allan Sharrock and has been building towards this Wellington Cup assignment. The blinkers applied two starts back appear to have sparked further improvement, and with Samantha Collett aboard he looks set to roll forward and make use of his light weight. Several key rivals may be giving him a start, and he shapes as a key chance.

Afternoon Siesta (#7) is a progressive mare who has returned in fantastic order for John Bary this campaign, winning her two runs back by a combined margin of 7L. The step to 1600m third-up looks a natural progression and she looks suited remaining in R75 company. Expect her to settle on speed again from the middle draw and look to replicate her last two wins. She looks well placed to complete the hat-trick.