Ruakākā Tips & Preview | Saturday 18 July

Summit Rendezvous (#8) heads here on the quick back-up from last week, where he was seen smashing the line from the back without having all favours in the straight, having to settle for 4th. He maps to settle back off a strong tempo again, which should give him every chance to be finishing off over the top late. Despite being a 2yo taking on the older horses, he looks very well placed carrying just 50.5kg after stable apprentice Tom Wigram’s claim. Hard to beat. 

Bosch (#2) comes here on the quick back-up from last week, where he was ridden more positively as anticipated but only battled on late into 6th. The blinkers going on and the short turnaround are enough to stick with him in what doesn’t look a tough assignment on paper. He again maps to go forward, where he may well end up following the likely leader Pure Bars throughout. Needs to improve off his recent form this time in, but he can. 

Pact (#10) is a 3yo Swiss Ace filly coming here at start number four for Donna Logan. She has shown good ability in her short career to date, finding the line well on each occasion without quite threatening to win. She draws a nice middle gate here, which should see her obtain a midfield position with cover off what looks an even speed on paper. She has the form on the board to suggest she could take some beating in this sort of field. 

Cheerful Smile (#8) resumed with a good effort for 7th here last week, where she was slowly away and landed well back before getting home well without all favours in the straight. She should strip fitter for that effort coming here on the short back-up. Expecting her to get back again from the wider draw in this small field, as she is typically very slow from the barriers. Not an overly strong maiden and she can be finishing off over the top late. 

Arjay’s Flight (#1) comes into this third-up off a long lay-off, with his first two runs back being better than they appear on paper. He should be improved again heading here and looks ideally placed stepping out over 2100m. He maps to settle much closer from the inside draw in this small field, in what looks like only a moderately run race on paper. He looks well placed down in the weights after Tom Wigram’s 4kg claim, capable of winning this. 

Moneypenny (#2) ran a game race for 4th at Te Rapa last start, where he was planted wide without cover for the duration but still fought on well and wasn’t beaten far. He gets a much more favourable draw to work with this time, where he should be able to position ahead of midfield with cover. Well placed down in the weights after Tom Wigram’s 4kg claim, he should get every chance to bounce back to winning form here. 

Noble Cabello (#12) is a 4yo mare who built nicely to a last-start win for in-form trainer Benji King. She broke her maiden in fine fashion at Rotorua, where she was caught wide without cover for much of the race but still let down with a good turn of foot late in the piece. She maps to settle off the speed again from her low draw in a race that looks to have a solid early tempo engaged, which should set up nicely for her. She retains Michael McNab in the saddle, which is a big positive. Should be thereabouts with a repeat effort.