Te Rapa Tips & Preview | Saturday 4 July

The Darzi (#2) is a 3yo son of Hello Youmzain heading here at just his fourth career start for the O’Sullivan/Scott stable. He didn’t have all favours late in the piece when finishing 4th at Ellerslie, where he was making up good ground from the back before encountering traffic in the straight. The way he has been getting home over 1600m at his past couple of starts suggests he is now ready for the rise to 2100m here. He maps to enjoy a soft run not far from the speed from the much better draw. Should take some beating. 

Gold Currency (#2) comes here fourth-up, last seen finishing 9th at this track last month. That run was much better than it looked on paper, where he was caught wide and working without cover for the duration before fighting on well in the straight. He now draws to take up a handy position without being required to work anywhere near as hard, where he should be able to get a nice smother just off the speed. Should get his chance to bounce back to winning form here. 

Aurora Belle (#5) is a 3yo Belardo filly coming into this off an impressive debut win here over 1300m, where she was given a peach of a ride by Michael McNab and won eased down late. She should only be better for that experience heading here and whilst this 3yo field looks a sizeable step up from that maiden, she looks to get the right setup to take some beating again. McNab remains aboard from the inside draw, where she should find a similar trailing position in what looks like a strongly run 1200m. Can improve off the debut win and go close again here. 

Tale Of The Gypsy (#7) had no favours at Ellerslie a month ago, where she was planted wide and working without cover throughout before still fighting on gamely into 3rd. She draws kinder here and should appreciate settling off the speed in what looks like a strongly run 1200m – especially given her tendency to occasionally race keenly. George Rooke jumping aboard looks a positive and she should be afforded every chance from the low draw. Should go close in this with anything near her best. 

Jethro Tull (#9) produced a massive effort first-up when finishing a close-up 3rd here at this course and distance last month. He was tasked to do a mountain of work through the early and mid-stages of the race and showed plenty of fight thereafter considering he was 210 days between runs. He should only be better for that run and maps to find a forward position without having to work anywhere near as hard this time around. Should go close with natural improvement. 

Dramatic Miss (#8) comes here off a last-start 6th over 1600m here, where she settled just off the speed throughout and just battled in the straight. A strongly run mile that day likely didn’t suit, and she should be much better suited by what looks an evenly run 1400m this time around. She slides back in grade for this and retains George Rooke in the saddle, both big positives for her chances. May just need a touch of luck early to be running a big race here. 

Rudyard (#8) finished last of 11 at Otaki last start in Listed company, where he was ridden negatively from a wide draw and made no impression. His best run of late came here at this course and distance three starts back, where he was ridden positively and fought on bravely for 3rd. He draws wide again here, however the booking of Jasmine Fawcett coupled with a small field lacking obvious tempo may well see him ridden more positively this time around. If he were to find the front and dictate as I expect he can, he could give a very big sight at long odds. 

Afterglo (#10) was seen putting in some good late strides here last start from the back of the field over 1300m, finishing off nicely into 5th. Going off how she has been getting home at her first two runs this prep, she looks well suited stepping out over 1600m third-up. Although she has done much of her better racing on Heavy tracks, a tired track late in the day may play right into her hands. Expect her to settle well back from the wide draw and look to finish over the top late.