Awapuni Synthetic Tips & Preview | Friday 31 July

Daiwa Explorer (#2) is a locally trained galloper making his first appearance on the polytrack for Kevin & Stephen Gray. Happy to forgive and forget his last-start effort at Waverley, where the blinkers went on for the first time and he didn’t let down in the conditions underfoot. The blinkers come straight back off for this and he gets the services of Bruno Queiroz from the inside gate. He hails from a stable striking at nearly 35% on this track and he can add to their tally here. 

Where’s Ange (#7) ran very well on debut here at this course and distance, where she was slowly away and didn’t seem to have all favours in the straight but picked up nicely late for 2nd. She should have taken plenty of experience from the outing and looks suited remaining here at this track and trip. Expect her to hold a similar position just off the speed from her low draw if she can jump evenly this time around. Wouldn’t have to improve much off that debut effort to be right in the thick of the finish again here. 

Al Passo (#2) ran a brave race for 3rd here over 1700m last start, where he was allowed to stride out earlier and led by a big margin before being reeled in over the concluding stages. He maps to lead again here and the key will be whether Elen Nicholas can hold him at an even gallop until the last 800m or so before letting him slide, as he can’t afford to take off as early over the 2140m here. Should get his chance to be winning. 

Tokyodome (#4) comes here off a last-start flop on a testing Heavy10 track at Otaki, where he was beaten over 50L. He’s clearly a horse better suited to even footing, as shown by his better form on firmer tracks and here on the polytrack, and the switch back to the Awapuni Synthetic looks ideal. He maps to get a perfect trailing run from the low draw, where Toni Davies should be able to snag straight on to the back of Air Dancer from the outset. Will be relying on some luck for gaps to go his way late, but could run a cheeky race with clear air. 

Exaggeration (#2) comes here off a forgettable last-start effort at Hawera, where the blinkers were going on for the first time and he simply didn’t look to handle the Soft7 conditions underfoot. He looks much better suited back to his favoured synthetic footing and gets his regular pilot Bruno Queiroz back aboard for this. He maps to tag Kereti across the face of the field early from their wider draws, where he should be able to position outside him for the duration at nothing more than an even gallop. Should that eventuate, he can run a vastly improved race here. 

East End Lad (#6) heads here off a fair effort for 6th at Hawera, where the blinkers went on for the first time and he raced keenly for much of the race before just battling when asked for an effort late. He should be better for that experience with the blinkers, and Lisa Allpress should be able to be neutral on him early from the low draw, which may help him settle into a better rhythm here. The switch to the synthetic is a query, however he is trained here so should have been exposed to it in his work. Not a strong field, but he still needs to improve off his most recent efforts, his best would probably just see him winning this.