Rotorua Tips & Preview | Saturday 9 May

Midnight Train (#1) comes into this off a strong effort for 2nd in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas behind Origin Of Love at Trentham. He hasn’t had all favours in his two runs since breaking through at Tauherenikau three starts back, but has still performed very respectably. Michael McNab taking the ride is a major positive and if he handles the possibly testing conditions, he looks the one they all have to beat. 

Emac (#5) is a 3yo son of Eminent on debut for the Ben and Ryan Foote stable who showed marked improvement in his latest trial. That was his first experience on Heavy footing and he appeared to relish it, leading throughout and kicking away comfortably late. From the low draw, Matt Cartwright should be able to adopt similar tactics here and he looks capable of giving a bold sight on debut.

Tonia’s Dragon (#5) resumed with a very good effort at Avondale, where she settled handy and only went down late into 2nd on a Heavy track that day. She should strip fitter for the outing and looks ideally suited at 1215m on what may be a testing surface. Joe Nishizuka’s 3kg claim is a positive and I expect they’ll look to utilise his claim and roll forward again here. Looks a solid each way chance. 

Loch Katrine (#9) resumes here after finishing 4th over 1950m here back in December. Her recent trial was encouraging, settling back before finding the line strongly under little pressure. Michael McNab partnered her in that hit-out ant the trials and remains aboard here. She typically handles testing conditions and looks capable of running a race in a fresh state at odds. 

War Queen (#10) comes here third-up after a strong effort for 2nd behind Sweet Smile at Ellerslie, where she found the line nicely near the fence. She should take further improvement from that run and while Craig Grylls comes off, George Rooke is a more than capable replacement. She maps to get a lovely run following the speed from the low draw and looks well suited if conditions deteriorate. Hard to beat. 

Squire (#1) has continued to improve with racing this campaign and was rewarded with a gritty staying win at Te Rapa last start over 2400m. His staying ability came to the fore late there and another testing track should play right into his hands again here. Jack Taplin’s 3kg claim is a big assist and he looks capable of making it back-to-back wins if the track does become testing. 

Pacheco (#11) has returned in solid order this campaign, grinding away well to the line in both runs despite being short of his preferred trip. The step up beyond 2000m third-up looks ideal and the likely testing conditions should suit him perfectly. With recent race fitness on his side, he appeals as a strong each way chance in an open edition of the Rotorua Cup. 

Rareza (#15) resumed with an eye-catching effort in the City Of Napier Sprint, working home strongly from the back into 6th. She should improve sharply second-up and looks much better suited on a Heavy track, which she is likely to get here. The slight knock is that she is poorly placed at the weights as a R79 mare under WFA conditions, but at the price she looks an each way contender in a competitive field. 

Shuffle The Pack (#12) broke through impressively at this track and trip last start, relishing the testing conditions and surging away for a dominant maiden win. She looks likely to receive a similar setup here and appears capable of handling the rise in grade with a repeat of that performance. Michael McNab remains aboard from a favourable draw and if the track is very testing by the last, she should be right in her element again.