Riccarton Park Tips & Preview | Tuesday 16 June

Honor The Name (#12) is an ex-Northerner having her first start for the Samantha Wynne stable. She showed glimpses of ability in some handy maiden fields in the North Island and now finds herself in a fairly thin maiden contest in the South Island. Tina Comignaghi takes the ride, which is a positive, and her previous form suggests she possesses enough early speed to settle prominently in a race that lacks obvious tempo. If she can reproduce her better northern form, she should be right in the finish. 

Leedox (#2) resumes from a lengthy spell, having not been seen since finishing down the track at Gore in September. He returns without a public trial, which is not unusual for the stable, and 1200m on a rain-affected track looks suitable – based on some of his earlier New Zealand form before heading to HK. He maps to settle handy in a race that appears to lack any speed and should get every opportunity if forward enough first-up. 

Unshackled (#11) was never comfortable on the Heavy10 surface at Wingatui first-up, dropping out to finish a distant last. She should be much better suited getting back onto a more favourable track here and had trialled exceptionally well prior to her resumption. If you’re prepared to forgive the first-up failure, she looks to find a very winnable maiden assignment. Tina Comignaghi takes over the riding duties from a favourable draw and should afford her every chance. 

Just A Brown Horse (#3) brings the best last-start rating into this field after a narrow 2nd at Phar Lap Raceway, where he travelled just off the speed before being grabbed right on the line. Similar track conditions should suit again and he maps to roll forward from the wide draw in a race that lacks early pressure. This is not a deep maiden field and a repeat of his latest effort would see him proving very competitive. 

Proclamation (#2) was better than the result suggested when resuming at Wingatui, where he was slowly away before running up onto heels at a late in the straight. He should take natural improvement from that outing and looks better suited stepping up in distance second-up. While the draw is likely to see him settle near the rear, there appears enough tempo engaged to bring him into the race late. Looks a strong each-way chance in a moderate contest. 

Verdian (#2) drops back in grade after a series of disappointing performances since joining the Jamie Bullard stable. Despite those plain efforts, he has continued to attract strong market support and had trialled well prior to this preparation, suggesting he may be going better than his raceday performances indicate. This looks a much more suitable assignment and he may not get a better opportunity to turn his form around. Looks the one to beat in an otherwise even field.