Timaru Tips & Preview | Sunday 6 September

Cognescenti (#2) is a 5yo son of Castelvecchio resuming for Te Akau, last seen winning well at Riccarton over 2000m back in April. He has had two trials ahead of his return, both quiet yet impressive pieces of work. From the low draw he maps to settle just off the speed in an evenly run affair. Hoping the rain stays away early and he may get away with conditions being in the Soft range being first of the day. 

Tulsa Turnaround (#8) comes here third-up off two fair efforts to kick off his campaign since joining the Andrew Carston stable ahead of this prep. He resumed with a good effort for 5th behind Honor The Name and subsequently had no luck when planted wide and working throughout last start. He maps to get a much more favourable run from the low draw here and looks well placed carrying just 54kg after the claim. Looms as the one to beat in a moderate maiden. 

Suavetta (#6) is first-up in the South Island for Andrew Carston, last sighted finishing down the track at Ruakaka last month. A mile on a rain-affected track should suit her well despite dropping back in trip from 2100m. She maps to get back from the wide draw but should be mounting her run in the better lanes should the rain begin to set in. Looks the one to beat in a modest field. 

Never Too Much (#1) is a 3yo Rubick gelding resuming for Te Akau, last seen finishing 7th in the Champagne Stakes as a 2yo. He has had the one trial to prepare for this, where he led and bowled along to win well, which should bring him on nicely for this first-up run. He maps to settle up on speed again from his low draw and should take plenty of beating if he copes with the track. 

Theonewekept (#3) is a 4yo son of Wootton Bassett who produced a sound effort for 5th at his South Island debut at Riccarton. He carried plenty of market support that day, possibly off the back of his handy trial win prior where he had the measure of race rival and early favourite Baltic Boom. Expect him to be better for the run and will likely push forward again from the wide draw here. Solid each way chance in an even field. 

Luna Capella (#5) is a 4yo Tivaci mare resuming for Anna Furlong, last seen finishing 3rd behind race rival Cashla Bay back in March. She has had the one trial to prepare, where she was working home nicely behind runners under a hold throughout. She shouldn’t be deterred by the possibility of a rain-affected surface for this first-up assignment and is expected to land the early trail behind the likely leader Charm Manhattan. Hard to beat. 

Interlaken (#3) is an ex-northerner making his South Island debut for Andrew Carston. He is a lightly tried 5yo who has had only three career starts to date, last seen finishing 5th at Pukekohe on a Heavy track back in April. He should be better suited than most if the track were to deteriorate into the Heavy range. While he showed good early speed in his latest trial, he may well settle midfield with cover from his middle draw. Could run a big race if he gets conditions to suit. 

Another Won’t Hurt (#1) hasn’t fired in his two runs this campaign in the South Island, which followed two very handy wins back closer to home in the CD. By the last of the day, he could well get a testing Heavy track to suit should the rain set in for much of the day. He needs to improve off his last couple, but if he can recapture his prior form he would take plenty of beating here.