Hastings Tips & Preview | Saturday 22 August

Barnum (#1) is a 4yo son of Circus Maximus coming here second-up this campaign for Chad Ormsby. He ran a good race for 3rd first-up at the Cambridge Synthetic, where he travelled up strongly on speed but was a touch one-paced when the sprint went on turning for home. He should strip fitter heading here and while yet to be tested on a Heavy surface on raceday, he has acquitted himself well on Heavy tracks in prior trial efforts. Expect him to take up a forward position again under Jonathan Riddell and he could take some catching with natural improvement. 

Bonus Bond (#6) has been a model of consistency in her short career to date, placing in three of her four career starts. She comes here off a last-start 2nd at Rotorua, where she was the best of the beaten bunch behind a dominant winner that day. She again gets the services of Tom Wigram for this and his 3kg claim sees her well placed down in the weights carrying just 53.5kg. She maps to settle just off the speed in an evenly run race and should get her chance to go one better. 

Knock Off (#5) was two months between runs heading into his last-start 2nd behind race rival Benefactor, where he was able to find the front and dictate before being attacked from the 800m but stuck on fairly well thereafter. He should be better for that effort heading here on the shorter turnaround and the prospect of another testing Heavy track will be right up his alley. He maps to dictate this race as Leah Hemi pleases in front, as there looks to be absolutely no other speed in the race. If that map eventuates as expected, he could take plenty of catching here. 

Eagle Rock (#9) has been hard to get excited about of late, particularly his last two starts where he has been beaten an aggregate of ~114L. Kylie Little has made multiple gear changes ahead of this, with the blinkers and nose band now going on which may spark some improvement. He is a capable wet tracker on his day and should get conditions to suit here. In what looks a very open race, happy to speculate on him showing up at the price. 

Zenzero Girl (#6) is a R60 mare who raced well out of her grade in Open Handicap company at Ruakaka last start, running an almighty race for 6th beaten only 1.6L. She comes back to the scene of the crime where she broke her maiden in impressive fashion back in May on what was also a testing Heavy track that day. She looks far better suited back on a Heavy track and back in her own class, and finds herself down in the weights carrying just 54.5kg after the claim. Should take plenty of beating. 

Florin (#7) comes here on the short turnaround from last weekend at Taupo, where she was finding the line strongly from back of midfield for 2nd. She was over eight weeks between runs heading into that assignment and should strip much fitter heading here on the six-day back-up. Back to 1200m on what will likely be a more testing surface looks ideal, and she finds herself right down in the weights carrying just 53.5kg after the claim. Expecting her to land back off a solid tempo from her low draw, where she’ll likely be saved for one run at them. Could run a cheeky race despite being the outsider in a very even field. 

Malachy (#2) has seemingly found his rhythm again this campaign, winning his last two starts impressively on testing Heavy tracks. He likely finds himself on another testing Heavy track again here over 2100m come the last of the day, which looks ideal, especially given his past two wins have also come late in the day on tired Heavy tracks. He looks well placed carrying 55kg after Tom Wigram’s 3kg claim and again maps to settle back in the field from his wide draw, likely looking to work home down the outside in the best part of the track. Can make it a hat-trick here.