Te Aroha Tips & Preview | Sunday 26 July

Mobilized (#8) makes his hurdling debut here for Shaun & Emma Clotworthy, coming into this rock hard fit with five runs under his belt this campaign since May, as well as a recent hurdling trial ahead of this. Hamish McNeil taking the reins looks a positive, as he knows the horse well and is one of the better jumps riders going around at the moment. Expect him to take some beating with a clean jumping display. 

Weneedashock (#9) comes here off a last-start 3rd in a flat race on the polytrack, where he led up and fought on fairly well thereafter. He looks well suited getting back over the hurdles, and that last-start run should have kept him ticking over nicely for this assignment. He won his maiden hurdle here two starts back in emphatic fashion, clearing out for a 12L victory, and Shaun Fannin coming out of his short lived retirement from jumps riding to take the reins (with Kylan Wiles suspended) is a great lead also. Hard to beat. 

Black Diamond (#9) is a 3yo El Roca filly coming here at start number three for Andrew Forsman. She has kicked her career off with two placings from two starts, the latest a brave effort for 3rd at Avondale where she was parked wide without cover throughout but picked up nicely late to not be beaten far. She again draws wide here, which may not be a negative on a testing track, and she has the right man in Craig Grylls aboard to navigate the draw regardless. Looks clearly the one to beat with any further improvement. 

Taika (#6) is a well-accomplished hurdler making his debut over the bigger fences here in a maiden steeplechase contest. Although he finished a distant last in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle last start, he ran a mighty race for 2nd prior in the Waikato Hurdle. Expect him to get through a testing Heavy10 as well as any and he should take some beating in maiden company if he jumps the bigger fences cleanly. 

Duke Of Plumpton (#4) put his rivals to the sword on his steeplechase debut at Woodville last start, clearing out for a huge 31L win on the line. From the wider draw, Hamish McNeil will likely look to mosey forward and replicate the tactics implemented last start. He should only be better for that first steeplechase outing heading here and should take plenty of beating again with any improvement. 

Timetoplaythegame (#3) comes here off a last-start flop at Rotorua, where he wasn’t suited by the holding nature of the Heavy track that day. His prior effort for 2nd here on a Heavy track at Te Aroha shapes as a much better guide, where he raced up on speed throughout and fought on bravely only to be nabbed in the shadows of the post. He draws wide here, which may prove a positive come this stage of the day as riders will likely be steering a path away from the fence. Expecting Joe Doyle to have him back with cover and blending into the race late out wide. Can bounce back sharply. 

Valsoeur (#4) is a very well-related filly, the full sister to mighty mare La Crique, who is heading here at start number two for the Alexanders. Her debut effort hardly set the world on fire when finishing last of nine, however she was planted wide and working throughout and may not have been suited by the firmer footing. She gets on to a testing Heavy track here, which may suit better going off how she handled Heavy tracks in her trials. Masa Hashizume taking the reins is a positive and he should look to stay wide in the better lanes off the fence from the wide draw. An improved showing wouldn’t surprise. 

Playinasandpit (#11) is a 4yo Niagara mare coming here third-up for Shaun Phelan off the back of a fair effort here in a highweight contest last start, where she was simply given no chance planted wide and working throughout under the big weight. She looks well suited coming back to a standard maiden contest and her regular pilot Elen Nicholas takes back over the riding duties, which helps. While the wide draw isn’t ideal on paper, Elen should have options to either follow All That I Am forward early, or alternatively take her medicine and find a position back of midfield with cover. Should be suited by the Heavy conditions as much as any with those two runs under her belt. Hard to beat. 

Muscovado (#3) comes into this off a last-start 2nd at Hawera, where he kept whacking away to the line from back in the field. The blinkers went on prior to his effort for 4th at Tauranga two starts back and have seemingly sparked some improvement, with his last two starts considerably more enthusing. He gets an improved barrier to work with here but typically takes a few strides to get going, so may end up back of midfield with cover regardless. Craig Grylls remaining in the saddle is a positive lead and he looks as capable as any in an even field of stayers to close the card.