Te Rapa Tips & Preview | Saturday 7 February

Cheeky Devil (#8) is a 3yo Contributor filly who ran a very good race for 3rd at Pukekohe last start after bombing the start and then finding little luck in the straight. She draws the inside here and gains the services of Matt Cartwright. If she jumps cleanly, she maps to land just off the speed, potentially trailing or three-back the fence at worst, and with even luck in running she looks capable of going very close at each-way odds in an even contest. 

Sarti (#2) is a royally bred 4yo son of Snitzel who was ultra-impressive winning on debut at Tauranga, with both his overall time and closing sectionals stacking up strongly against the R75 on the same card. He draws kindly again and Vinnie Colgan retains the ride. With natural improvement second-up, he looks very hard to beat. 

Steely Man (#5) comes here off a below-par effort at Ellerslie, where he had some excuses but was still underwhelming by the same token. He looks better suited stepping up in trip and is favoured by a significant swing in barriers, which should see him do very little work in the run and possibly settling much closer. Matt Cartwright taking over is another positive, and in what shapes as a competitive field, he looks a strong chance to bounce back. 

Lunaman (#6) is a progressive 3yo son of Reliable Man having just his third career start after winning on debut and then running a very good 2nd behind Tajana at Pukekohe. He’s shown enough early speed to suggest he can hold a handy spot despite the wider draw here, and the step out to 2100m looks right up his alley. A staying type clearly on the up and likely on a path toward the NZ Derby, he shapes as a strong each-way chance. 

Khaleesi (#9) is a lightly raced Savabeel mare who lines up for just her third start and remains unbeaten to date. The way she powered home over 1500m last time suggests the extra 100m will suit, and she’s trialled nicely since. Opie Bosson takes the ride from a low draw and with a genuine tempo expected, she looks set to get every chance to be charging over the top late again. 

Legarto (#8) hasn’t quite been at her brilliant best this preparation, though her 3rd in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic two runs back still reads well for this. She didn’t look suited by the conditions at Trentham last start and should appreciate getting back onto firmer footing here. Returning to WFA conditions is a plus and Opie Bosson partnering her is a big plus too. If she finds something closer to her brilliant best, she’s worth sticking with at the price. 

Ohope Wins (#2) was exceptional winning the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes at Ellerslie last start. Interestingly, despite winning so impressively last start, the blinkers have now been applied, which hints there may somehow be further upside still to come. The manner of that last start victory over 2000m suggests 2100m here will pose no issues, and she profiles as the one to beat in a high-quality field of staying fillies. 

Here To Shock (#1) returns to defend his Gr.1 BCD Sprint crown after last year’s dominant victory. While he finished 10th in the Supernova last start, he wasn’t beaten far after doing plenty of early work to sit outside the leader following a slow getaway. He’s since jumped out sharply, indicating he’s right on song, and from the inside draw he should be prominent throughout under in-form apprentice Logan Bates. Looks a very strong chance of going back-to-back. 

Hankee Alpha (#11) comes here off a solid 2nd at Ellerslie last start, where she finished strongly but couldn’t reel in the winner in what was only a moderately run race. The wide draw is the obvious hurdle, though she maps to get back with cover in a field where there appears plenty of tempo engaged. If she finds a back to follow into the race at the right time, she looks like she’ll take plenty of holding late.