Te Rapa Tips & Preview | Saturday 7 November

Pick Up Artist (#3) is a 2yo Trapeze Artist gelding on debut for Te Akau. He showed good tactical speed in his sole trial, where he led and kept up a nice gallop to the line when asked for an effort. Hopefully he can bring those barrier manners to raceday and take up a forward position in this small field of juveniles. It’s hard to be overly confident in a race of 2yos on debut, but I’m happy to trust a stable who know how to get them up and running as 2yos. 

Victor Tango (#2) is a locally trained gelding who closed off well out very wide from a long way back at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, sustaining a long sprint before peaking late into 4th. He maps to settle midfield off an even tempo from a favourable low draw, where I expect Warren Kennedy will just look to get him into a rhythm and ensure he is given every chance to run out the trip. I expect he may just be a touch sharp for these late and he can bounce back to winning form on his home track. 

Hello Angel (#9) got back and worked home well to the line without threatening when 7th at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, beaten just over 2L that day. She maps to settle closer to the speed this time around from the middle draw with Kelly Myers now jumping aboard. This maiden looks a more winnable assignment and she looks as likely as any in this.  

Echannay (#6) comes here second-up after sitting just off the speed and fighting on gamely for 3rd at Ellerslie a fortnight ago. She is bound to strip fitter for that resuming run, and the possibility of rain and an easing of track conditions likely won’t concern her either. She looks a leading contender with natural improvement from the first-up run in what shapes as a very even field on paper.  

Starclan (#6) got back and ran on fairly well late without getting into the race when 7th at Hastings four weeks ago. He maps to settle back in the field from a wide gate again here, and will appreciate any easing of track conditions more than most if the expected rain arrives. He could run a cheeky race at odds if there’s enough tempo to bring him into it late. Looks a solid chance if the track is near the Heavy range. 

Twain (#4) comes here off a 2nd at Tauranga last week, where he sat handy and fought on well in the straight in Open Handicap company over 1300m. He maps to settle handy again here from the low draw under Elen Nicholas, in a race that looks to have a genuine speed on paper. He will appreciate any easing of track conditions more than most, and if the worst of the rain arrives it would bring him right into contention. It’s more of a weather watch for him, but he could run a vastly improved race at odds. 

Rocking (#10) got back and stretched out nicely late for 4th at Tauranga three weeks ago, beaten a length in what was her first run in nearly six weeks. She maps to settle midfield in this big field, where she may require a smart steer early from Samantha Collett from the very wide draw. She’s another who will be praying for rain, and if it arrives she will be right in contention at odds. 

Ploy (#6) heads here third-up off a last start 8th in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ at Hawera five weeks ago, where she got back and made no impression out wide. Getting out over a mile for the first time is a slight query, but she should be nearing peak fitness with those two runs under her belt this time in. She maps to settle handy to the speed this time around under Kate Hercock, where she may be able to tag the likely leader Prometheus throughout. Any rain likely wouldn’t bother her either, and she looks a solid each way chance at odds in an even field.