Hastings hosts a nine-race card on Saturday, headlined by the running of the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile. The track is rated a Soft5 and the rail in the true position. Conditions are fine and the track should remain in good order for the duration of the card.
Mitch Davis has been through the form guide and speed maps and has provided his race analysis and betting strategy for each of the nine races at the Hastings meeting on Saturday 26 September below:
Los Salsero (#6) made significant ground from the back of the field last start at Ellerslie, getting home strongly for 5th. Michael McNab takes over from a wider barrier, and he maps to settle back in the field again here. He looks suited by the firmer conditions underfoot better than most in this. Looks hard to beat.
| 6. Los Salsero (10) J: Michael McNab 59kg 97325 T: Stephen Marsh | |||
| Finished second over 1800m at Taupo two back then missed the frame last time out over 2200m at Ellerslie. Hard to beat on his best form. | |||
War Princess (#7) resumed with a very good win here, where she led and staved off her rivals down the straight. She comes here second-up and finds herself nicely situated down in the weights, with Craig Grylls taking over the riding duties also. She maps to settle just off the speed in a race that looks to have a genuine tempo engaged. Won well here first-up, and can go on with her winning ways again here.
| 7. War Princess (6) J: Craig Grylls 55kg 040X1 T: Peter and Trent Didham | |||
| Tends to mix her results a bit although first visit to this track last start yielded a win. This event no harder so expect further improvement on latest run. | |||
Crimson Sky (#8) had very little luck last start at Ellerslie, running into backsides for much of the straight after making her run up the fence from the back, and could only manage 8th as a result. She comes here second-up from a much better draw, and with a clean getaway she maps to settle back of midfield. Just needs some favours in the straight this time to be playing a part here.
| 8. Crimson Sky (4) J: Joe Doyle 55kg 350X8 T: Simon & Katrina Alexander | |||
| Resumed at Ellerslie over 1200m last time out and finished eighth, beaten 3 lengths. Plenty of improvement to come. | |||
Cheerio (#4) resumes here for Cody Cole, last seen finishing 5th in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ at Te Rapa back in April, where she sat off the speed and fought well in the straight. George Rooke takes the reins here, and she maps to settle back of midfield in a race that looks to have a genuine tempo engaged. Expect her to be finishing off hard late if they overdo it in front as expected.
| 4. Cheerio (13) J: George Rooke 56kg 8125X T: Cody Cole | |||
| Returns to racing after a spell of five months. Opened last prep with a win at Ruakaka over 1200m. Has a good first-up record. Hasn’t trialled in the lead up to this. Worth including. | |||
Pounce (#1) comes here off a smart win last start in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie, where she sat behind the leaders and extended impressively late. Craig Grylls retains the ride from the inside gate, where she maps to settle just off the speed again. Even conditions underfoot should play into her hands again too. Gets the right setup to repeat the dose here.
| 1. Pounce (1) J: Craig Grylls 56.5kg 8X161 T: Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | |||
| Looking for further success after taking out the Sunline Vase at her latest appearance over 1200m at Ellerslie, scoring by 1.4 lengths. In form and expected to measure up again. | |||
Raymond (#7) got back and made up good ground late in a slowly run race last start at Ellerslie, finishing 5th. He comes here second-up for Stephen Marsh, and from the wide gate he maps to settle at the tail of the field again here. Race shape may be against him again in this, but thought he could still run a race at each-way odds.
| 7. Raymond (9) J: Matt Cartwright 57kg 2X5 T: Stephen Marsh | |||
| Fair effort last start when resuming, beaten 2 lengths into fifth over 1400m at Ellerslie. Won’t be far away with a repeat of that latest performance. | |||
Monologue (#6) sat back in the field last start at Ellerslie before unleashing a good sprint up the fence late to win. She comes here second-up and gets a much better barrier this time around, with Joe Doyle retaining the ride. She maps to settle back of midfield again, and looks well placed down on the minimum carrying 54kg. Very hard to beat with any improvement from that first-up run.
| 6. Monologue (5) J: Joe Doyle 54kg 233X1 T: Alexander Fieldes | |||
| Second up from a spell. Returned with a good win last start over 1600m at Ellerslie, scoring by 0.6 lengths. Has won second up in the past and is capable of building on that record. | |||
First Five (#2) got back and never got into the race last start in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate at Ellerslie, finishing back in the pack. He comes here third-up from a much better draw, and should settle around midfield with cover off a good speed this time, importantly much closer than last start. He’s also suited getting back left-handed, and Michael McNab taking over looks a big plus. Should be peaking for this, and should be running a vastly improved race.
| 2. First Five (6) J: Michael McNab 59kg 11X60 T: David Greene | |||
| Finished 12th last start in the Proisir Plate over 1400m at Ellerslie, beaten 5 lengths by Well Written. Is ready to show his best. | |||
Los Santos (#3) comes here off a good effort for 2nd behind a handy sort in Day One at Ellerslie last start, where sat off the speed wide with cover and stuck on gamely for 2nd thereafter. He comes here on the short turnaround from last week, and Craig Grylls takes over from the wider barrier here. Just needs some luck early from the draw to play a big part in this.
| 3. Los Santos (11) J: Craig Grylls 60kg X7222 T: Peter & Shaun McKay | |||
| Strong effort last start when he finished a close second at Ellerslie over 1300m. Tough to beat. | |||
