New Plymouth Tips & Preview | Saturday 23 May

Midnight Train (#1) dropped back to 1400m in a fresh state at Rotorua last start and produced a very good effort for 2nd, diving late and narrowly missing. The rise to a mile on the shorter turnaround looks ideal and firmer footing should hold no concerns. He maps to settle up on speed in the small field from the low draw and looks very well placed to go one better here. 

Platinum Tyche (#4) comes into this off a disappointing effort at Waverley, where she appeared to get every opportunity but failed to finish off. She should receive another soft run here from the low draw, where she maps to trail Lucky Dice throughout and get every chance. Bruno Queiroz taking the reins is a positive and while the drop back in trip is a slight query, she looks slight overs at the price. 

Ayteem (#7) is worth forgiving for his last start effort at Hawera, where he was trapped wide without cover throughout and worked too hard from go-to-whoa. He maps to get a much more economical run from the inside draw this time around and the rise in trip looks suitable. He looks well placed carrying just 54kg on the minimum and should get his opportunity to produce a much improved showing. 

Bridie (#10) is a locally trained 3yo filly by Ocean Park who heads into this second-up after a solid debut effort for 3rd at Hawera. She closed off nicely from back in the field there and should take plenty of improvement from the experience. Returning to her home track looks another positive and although she maps to settle back from the wide draw, she should be getting home strongly late again. In a very even maiden field, she appeals as a solid chance. 

Komocean (#2) is a lightly raced mare resuming here after last being seen at Otaki in February. She is unbeaten fresh and this looks a very winnable assignment for her return. She maps to settle back of midfield with cover in what should be a genuinely run race and if she finds her best first-up, she will take some beating. Untapped mare with plenty of upside who can win this on the way to better things. 

On The Town (#3) comes here off a solid effort for 4th at Rotorua, where he found the line well from the back despite not appearing entirely comfortable in the conditions. He was seven weeks between runs there and should improve with that effort under the belt. The return to firmer footing looks a key positive and he again maps to settle back before looking to finish strongly late. Hard to beat with natural improvement. 

Sindee (#4) backs up quickly from last week after running a fair race for 3rd at Otaki. She maps to settle on speed despite the wide draw and while Rua Rocks and Tobias both tend to race forward, she may simply have too much early speed for them here over 1400m. This looks a very winnable race against rivals that may either prefer further or softer footing. She’s only raced once previously on the quick backup and won impressively over 1400m on that occasion. Looks set to repeat the dose. 

Bellezor (#10) resumed with a fair effort at Te Rapa, where he was well beaten into 9th but was only getting warm through the line late. He should take good improvement from that run and the rise to 1400m second-up looks ideal. He maps to get well back in what should be a genuinely run race, which will suit. He may concede a start to a few of these turning for home, but he looks a solid each way chance at the price.