Pukekohe Tips & Preview | Wednesday 24 June

Girlzgirlzgirlz (#6) is a dual acceptor here and in Race 4. She comes into this at just her second career start after a fair debut at Tauranga, where she looked a touch flat before working home nicely late into 4th. She should improve with that run under her belt, and staying at 1200m on a Heavy track looks ideal. She also trialled impressively on testing Heavy tracks prior to her debut. Being the first on the card, the inside draw may not be the disadvantage it might later become. An improved showing would not surprise. 

Almanhattan (#2) is a 3yo son of Almanzor returning to the races, last sighted finishing last when eased out of the race at Te Rapa back in January. He won a recent trial by a big margin, where he appeared to eat up a Heavy10 surface that day. He clearly has his quirks, but the stable have made a multitude of gear changes ahead of his resumption and the booking of strong rider in Matt Cameron suits. Could prove very hard to beat if he puts it all together on raceday. 

Pact (#16) comes here third-up, last seen finishing 6th at Ellerslie where she fought on fairly well in the straight from a midfield position. She should be better again for that outing heading here and now looks ready to step up to 1400m. She should appreciate the Heavy conditions as well as any in the field, and Sam McNab’s 2kg claim will only aid her cause. Looks a solid chance in a very even race. 

Girlzgirlzgirlz (#16) is a dual acceptor here and in Race 1. She comes into this at just her second career start after a fair debut at Tauranga, where she looked a touch flat before working home nicely late into 4th. She should improve with that run under her belt and looks very well placed carrying just 52.5kg after Tom Wigram’s claim. She also trialled impressively on testing Heavy tracks prior to her debut. An improved showing would not surprise. 

Jamestown (#5) heads here second-up off a long lay-off, having finished off very well from the back first-up for 4th in testing conditions at Te Aroha. He should strip much fitter for that outing and remaining at 1600m on another testing Heavy surface looks ideal. He draws a nice middle barrier and should be allowed to find his feet back of midfield again under Hayley Hassman. Looks a leading chance in a very open race. 

Santita (#11) put in some good late strides first-up at Te Rapa, doing her best work at the end of 1200m that day. The rise to 1400m second-up looks a natural progression, and getting on to a Heavy track should play right into her hands. She’s drawn to be in the best part of the track come this stage of the day, where Ace Lawson-Carroll can plot his path to the outside as he sees fit. Her career peak figure came here on a testing Heavy10 track when winning her maiden, and if she can reproduce that effort, she looks a strong chance. 

Sacred Combatant (#7) arrives here with three duck eggs in his numerical formline leading into this assignment, but he looks set to get the right setup to run an improved race. Although his past couple of runs have been well spaced, he comes here off a brutally run contest over 2100m at Ellerslie that should have him rock hard fit for this. He drops back to 1600m on what will likely be a testing Heavy track, conditions he has performed well on in the past, and the booking of Michael McNab is another positive. The inside barrier could be a slight concern come this stage of the day, but he has the right man in the saddle to navigate it. Improver at odds.