Matt Markham gives his best in all races on Kaikōura Cup Day at South Bay Racecourse.
A much more encouraging run last time out from On Ya Bike (6) after looking all at sea first up from a spell. Smart horse when on his game and as long as the Kaikoura occasion doesn’t get to him he should roll forward and dominate this and probably not look back.
Selections: 6-8-5-4-3
| 6. On Ya Bike (6) 56×02 |
Three-year-old filly Pickettywitch (10) drops back from two very strong age group races in her last two starts. Two starts back she was quite good behind Secret Wish at Oamaru and anything close to that kind of performance here today would almost be good enough to win it. Nice price on offer.
Selections: 10-4-5-8-9
| 10. Pickettywitch (10) 34150 |
Sat outside the speed at Oamaru in a junior drivers’ race and was a little too good for them and staying in the same grade today should see Royal Rock (6) pretty hard to run down. Showed a real toughness last time out but can also be potent off a sit, so has options and experience over some of his key rivals.
Selections: 6-4-2-11-5
| 6. Royal Rock (6)SCRATCHED: | |||
Prepared to give talented Southland three-year-old Cruise Maguire (7) a pass for his below par effort at Addington in very rich company last time. He’s a serious horse, but still a little raw and immature. Nice chance to build some confidence up here and if he finds the front then he’ll take some catching.
Selections: 7-1-9-2-8
| 7. Cruise Maguire (7) 28×10 | |||
| Didn’t help himself at Addington, but much, much better than that. Can atone. | |||
Manners, manners and more manners – that’s what is needed from Rogue Hero (3) today. No doubt though that with them he becomes the horse to beat in this. Good to get the fresh run out of the way and he might turn up here a little more focussed on the job. Good horse, but can do things wrong.
Selections: 3-6-4-2-7
| 3. Rogue Hero (3) 600×8 | |||
| Lived up to the first part of his name at Ashburton. Capable but win or bust. | |||
After taking on some really good fields lately, Tee Ball (7) finds a little relief here. Good staying type of horse who has good stand start manners so might just look to roll forward and dominate this from the outset. Definitely going well enough to lead them all the way and win.
Selections: 7-4-5-6-10
| 7. Tee Ball (7) 32365 | |||
| Good job through the spring. Drops back in grade from 16 Oct 5th. Contender. | |||
What a treat to see the best mare in the Southern Hemisphere, and potentially the world, in Captains Mistress (8) stepping out at Kaikoura. She’s done quite remarkable things since heading to Australia and has claimed some of the biggest scalps in the sport. First stand start for her, but she’s clean-gaited and well mannered so shouldn’t have too many problems.
Selections: 8-6-4-5-7
| 8. Captains Mistress (8) 11111 | |||
| Brilliant mare who has been targeted for this. Will dominate with even luck. | |||
Exceptional stand start manners are helping Nellie Doyle (8) really step up in the open class grades and she’s run some crackers in the last few starts behind some very good ones. None of those types here and if she can ping across and take control of this then she’ll take some serious catching.
Selections: 8-3-4-12-9
| 8. Nellie Doyle (8) x0243 | |||
| Continues to race better than her price. First look here. Add to exotic tickets. | |||
Really furnishing into quite a serious racehorse this time in, Tact Teva (10) is putting it all together impressively. Big test here off the backmark but he’s shown he’s capable of making his own luck and working in races and still winning so no reason why he won’t do the same here.
Selections: 10-5-3-9-2
| 10. Tact Teva (10) 11511 | |||
| Took care of nice field at Methven & moves to 20m mark. Deserved top pick. | |||
Smart three-year-old Mystery Creek (5) returns here and it will be interesting to see how he shapes up as earlier in the year he didn’t look that far behind the best of his age group. Nice race to kick off in and stable will have him ready to rock and roll. Good bet to end the day.
Selections: 5-4-8-11-3
| 5. Mystery Creek (5) 4178x | |||
| Talented type resuming. Nice late in both trials ahead of this. Ready to strike. | |||