Woodville hosts an eight-race program on Wednesday, with the track rated a Soft7 and the rail in the true position. A clear forecast should allow for gradual improvement through the day, with conditions expected to edge towards a Soft6 by race one and potentially better as the meeting progresses.
Selections for each of the eight below:
Bold Bro (#2) can be forgiven for his last start effort when finishing a distant 5th at Whanganui, where he struggled in very testing Heavy conditions. With improved footing here and Jonathan Riddell retained for the maiden highweight, he looks much better suited. His prior form reads well for this and he shapes as the one to beat if he returns to that level.
| 2. Bold Bro (3) J: Jonathan Riddell 68kg 67245T: Jo Rathbone |
Fourty Eight (#1) was heavily backed first-up at Waverley and delivered in style, accounting for many of the same rivals he meets again here. While he rises slightly in weight, he looks set to get a similar run up on speed and is hard to oppose if he holds his form.
| 1. Fourty Eight (4) J: Shaun Fannin 72kg 305X1T: Shaun and Hazel Fannin |
Shamelia Kirk (#9) is a 2yo Shamexpress filly who has impressed at the trials, winning both of with considerable ease. Craig Grylls takes the ride, and from a low draw she should settle up on speed, as she did in her trials. If she brings that trial form to raceday, she will take plenty of beating.
| 9. Shamelia Kirk (3) J: Craig Grylls 55.5kg T: Robbie Patterson |
Secrets (#13) showed promise on debut at Otaki when finishing a close-up 6th, getting home strongly from the back after settling well off them early. She should take good improvement from that outing and is likely to adopt similar tactics from the wide draw. With a back to follow into the race, she can be finishing off strongly again late.
| 13. Secrets (12) J: Kelly Myers 56kg 6T: Allan Sharrock |
Bold Belle (#1) had no favours at Otaki last start, working wide on a strong tempo throughout. She drops back in grade here and finds a race with plenty of early pressure, which may see her ridden a touch more conservatively this time. Expect her to be saved for one run at them, and with better luck in transit, she can improve sharply.
| 1. Bold Belle (9) J: Bruno Queiroz 60kg 29X67T: Bryce Newman |
Procul Boy (#4) comes into this third-up following a solid effort in the Hawke’s Bay Cup, where he made up good ground in the inferior going. He was aggressively placed last start, and now comes back to R75 company here, where he looks very well placed. He maps to get a soft run from a low draw, and if he holds his current form, he looks extremely hard to beat.
| 4. Procul Boy (2) J: Mereana Hudson 60kg 10306T: Gail Temperton |
Lucky Dice (#3) has been fair in two runs back this preparation but is yet to run up to his promising trials prior. He now has blinkers applied, which could spark improvement, and he maps to settle on speed from the low draw under Elen Nicholas. If he can run up to what he showed at the trials, he should be going very close in this sort or maiden.
| 3. Lucky Dice (3) J: Elen Nicholas 57.5kg PX75T: Kelly Van Dyk |
Dubai’s Potiki (#1) resumes here after a disappointing tail to his last campaign but returns with a solid trial under his belt ahead of this. He looks well placed dropping back to R60 company and a mile in a fresh state suits. The stable can typically have them ready to go first-up, and if he finds something close to his best, he can run a big race at each way odds.
| 1. Dubai’s Potiki (4) J: Liam Kauri 60kg 2000XT: Chrissy Bambry |