Riccarton Park Tips & Preview | Wednesday 4 February

Perlino (#14) is a 3yo Super Seth filly lining up for her third career start and first run out of Te Akau’s South Island barn. She showed sharp improvement from her debut to second start and now finds herself in what shapes as the right sort of race to take another step forward third-up. Drawn ideally under Triston Moodley, she maps to settle up near the speed and looks well placed to take plenty of beating in a moderate maiden. 

Game Duke (#7) comes here off a solid 3rd at Ashburton, where he worked home strongly late over 1400m. The step up to 1600m looks a positive off that effort and while he loses Tina Comignaghi, he’s well treated at the weights with Kendra Bakker’s 2kg claim. He maps to settle ahead of midfield on the fence and enjoy an economical run in what looks a thin and even R65, giving him every chance to be in the finish. 

Lady Maxima (#14) is dual accepted here and in Race 5, and she appeals as a strong chance wherever the Lance Robinson stable elects to line her up. Her first-up effort over 1200m looked disappointing on paper, though she raced a little ungenerously throughout and was entitled to improve with the run. She now steps up to 1400m with visor blinkers applied, and Kendra Bakker’s claim sees her carry just 54kg from a favourable low draw. With natural improvement, a much better showing looks likely. 

Pogacar (#5) was fair when finishing 7th here first-up over this course and distance, which was his first run since October. The muddling tempo that day didn’t suit, though he will have taken benefit from the outing. With a stronger tempo expected here, the race shape looks far more favourable and an improved performance can be expected second-up. 

Lady Maxima (#20) is also engaged here should she not take her place in Race 3, and I’m Lee to follow her regardless of where she lines up. Her resuming effort was better than it looked to the eye and she should strip fitter stepping up to 1400m with visor blinkers now on. Drawn well in this assignment too, she looks set to receive every chance in running and is capable of showing sharp improvement. 

Hello Bess (#12) failed to flatter last start at this course and distance after enjoying a soft run throughout, finishing 6th. Willing to forgive that effort, particularly with blinkers now applied and Triston Moodley’s claim bringing her in with just 54.5kg. This doesn’t look a strong R65 on paper and if she can return to something closer to her best, she finds a very winnable assignment. 

Insatiable (#3) has been a model of consistency this campaign, and while yet to win he has repeatedly finished right in the thick of it. He’s been freshened since his last-start 2nd at Trentham, therefore the slight drop back to 1100m doesn’t concern me. He looks well placed in this and carries just 54.5kg after Triston Moodley’s claim, which should see him very competitive again here. 

Akenehi (#8) was beaten as a well-backed favourite here last start, but her run had more merit than it appeared, having been unsuited by the slow tempo before being shuffled back into an awkward spot turning for home. Despite that, she produced the fastest closing 600m, 400m and 200m of the race. She now steps up to 2000m, which looks ideal, and with a more genuine tempo she looks capable of bouncing straight back to winning form. 

Don Pauly (#1) has produced his two best runs in the South Island at his last two starts. The rise to 2000m looks a suitable progression off those efforts and he drops back into a very winnable R60 contest. While he has to carry 60kg, he still profiles as clearly the horse to beat on paper. Expect he may get back from the wide draw, but should be charging home late. 

Cognito (#1) resumes here after last being seen finishing 2nd in the Listed Spring Classic back in October. He returns off a quiet trial where he was barely extended, and his first-up win here last campaign over 1580m reads as a strong guide for this. If he can reproduce that effort, he looks very hard to beat fresh. 

Professional Lad (#1) resumed in outstanding fashion here last start over 1400m, putting his rivals away and powering clear late. He looks ideally suited getting back up to a mile and Leah Hemi retains the ride from a favourable draw. This isn’t a weak R65, but if he runs up to that resuming effort, they’ll be doing very well to go with him late.