Te Aroha hosts a seven-race program on Sunday, with the track rated a Heavy9 and the rail. A clear forecast over the weekend should see the surface improve towards a Heavy8 come the first on the card. Selections for each of the seven races below: Te Aroha Race 1 6 Leitrim Lad Each Way Leitrim Lad (#6) finished 2nd here in an Open Steeplechase behind Lord Spencer last month and looks well placed back in a 0-1 win hurdle today, despite much of his better jumping form coming over the bigger fences. Expecting Emily Farr to be positive early and…

Te Rapa hosts an eight-race program on Saturday, with the track rated a Heavy8 and the rail out 12m. A clear forecast through raceday should see the surface come up closer to a Soft6 or Soft7 come race one.  Selections for each of the eight races below:  Te Rapa Race 1 2 The Darzi The Darzi (#2) is a 3yo son of Hello Youmzain heading here at just his fourth career start for the O’Sullivan/Scott stable. He didn’t have all favours late in the piece when finishing 4th at Ellerslie, where he was making up good ground from the back before encountering traffic in the straight. The way he…

Waverley hosts a nine-race program on Saturday, with the track rated a Heavy8 and the rail in the true position. A clear forecast through till raceday should see the surface hopefully improve into the Soft range come race one. Selections for each of the nine races below: Waverley Race 1 8 La Florida La Florida (#8) is a dual acceptor here and in R3, and looks hard to beat wherever Shane Crawford elects to line her up. She comes here off an eye-catching last-start 2nd at Te Rapa, where she was seen flooding home from the back, and the form out of that race…

Awapuni Synthetic hosts a six-race program on Friday. Selections for each of the six races below: Awapuni Synthetic Race 1 2 Laser Beam Laser Beam (#2) ran an improved race last start on the Cambridge Synthetic, leading at modest fractions and fighting on fairly for 4th. That was his first run since joining the Peter & Jessica Brosnan stable and he should only be better for that outing heading here. He maps to lead again as he likes, in a race that looks devoid of any pressure on paper. Expect him to prove hard to reel in if he gets…

It’s the postponed Wellington Steeplechase and Hurdle Day at Trentham on Thursday, with the track rated a Heavy10 and the rail out 6m. Clear yet cool conditions are forecast, and the surface is expected to remain a Heavy10 for the duration of the nine-race card. Selections for each of the nine races below: Trentham Race 1 1 Saint Bernard Tip of The Day Saint Bernard (#1) gave a good sight last start when running 2nd here at this course and distance in the Manawatu Steeplechase, where it took a progressive jumper in Never Look Back to run him down. He…

Rotorua hosts an eight-race program on Wednesday, with the track rated a Heavy10 and the rail in the true position. Clear yet cool conditions are forecast, and the track is likely to remain a Heavy10 for the duration of the card. Selections for each of the eight races below: Rotorua Race 1 7 Echannay Echannay (#7) is a 3yo Hello Youmzain filly making her debut for Mark Brookes. She showed good improvement at her latest trial, handling the Heavy conditions with ease and pulling away for a good win late. George Rooke taking the reins from a favourable draw on…

Tauranga hosts an eight-race program on Saturday, with the track rated a Heavy10 and the rail out 6m. Torrential rain through the week has taken its toll on the surface, and a very testing track is expected for the duration of the card. Selections for each of the eight races below: Tauranga Race 1 4 Girlzgirlzgirlz Girlzgirlzgirlz (#4) comes into this at just her second career start after a fair debut at this course/distance, where she looked a touch flat before working home nicely late into 4th. She should improve with that run under her belt, and staying at 1200m on…

Riccarton Synthetic hosts an eight-race program on Thursday. Selections for each of the eight races below: Riccarton Synthetic Race 3 Enchanted Delight Enchanted Delight (#3) resumes here, last sighted finishing down the track at Kurow where she pulled up with excuses that day. She heads here without a trial under her belt but has typically performed well fresh in the past. Her career best run came at this course/distance, where she surged home from the back of the field for 2nd. She should appreciate the small field and looks capable of running well in a fresh state.  Riccarton Park Synthetic…

Te Aroha hosts an eight-race program on Sunday, with the track rated a Heavy10 and the rail out 9m from the 850m to the 550m, out 6m for the remainder. Clear but cool conditions are forecast for Te Aroha, which likely sees the track remain a Heavy10 for the duration. Selections for each of the eight races below: Te Aroha Race 1 7 Weneedashock Weneedashock (#7) makes his long-awaited debut over the hurdles here after joining the Fannin stable ahead of this campaign. Four flat runs in preparation should have him rock hard fit for this jumping assignment, and the stable…