It’s Rotorua Cup Day at Arawa Park on Saturday, with the track currently rated a Soft7 for this nine-race card. Showers forecast ahead of raceday could see conditions deteriorate significantly, and it would be no surprise to see the surface slip well into the Heavy range by the opening race. Selections for each of the nine below: Rotorua Race 1 1 Midnight Train Midnight Train (#1) comes into this off a strong effort for 2nd in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas behind Origin Of Love at Trentham. He hasn’t had all favours in his two runs since breaking through at Tauherenikau three starts back, but has still performed very…

Waverley hosts a competitive 10-race program on Saturday, with the track currently rated a Good4 and the rail in the true position. Strong winds and showers are forecast ahead of raceday, which could see conditions ease into the Soft range, although it’s hard to see the surface deteriorating beyond a Soft6 or Soft7 based on the current forecast. Selections for each of the 10 races below: Waverley Race 1 6 Kay’s Ruebe Kay’s Ruebe (#6) resumed from a lengthy spell at Hawera and produced a strong effort running on well into 2nd. She should strip much fitter for that outing…

Riverton hosts an eight-race program on Friday, with the track expected to remain in the Heavy9-Heavy10 range throughout the day. Further showers are forecast over the next 24 hours and conditions are likely to become increasingly testing as the meeting progresses, placing a premium on fitness and proven wet-track ability and recent race fitness. Selections for each of the eight below: Riverton Race 1 6 Celestial Flame Celestial Flame (#6) improved nicely second-up at Ascot Park last start, where she didn’t enjoy the smoothest run but still closed off well into 4th. She now steps up in trip on what will be…

Ellerslie hosts an eight-race program this Wednesday, with the track rated a Soft5 and the rail out 9m. A mostly clear forecast in Auckland should see the surface remain in the Soft5 range early, with improvement likely through the day towards a Good4. Selections for each of the eight below: Ellerslie Race 1 4 Perfect Chaos Perfect Chaos (#4) has been knocking on the door with three consecutive runner-up finishes to start her career and has shown plenty of ability in those three starts. She was only run down late at Te Rapa last start after doing work early and…

Te Rapa hosts an eight-race program this Saturday, with the track rated a Soft5 and the rail out 3m. A clear forecast for the Waikato this weekend should see the surface remain in the Soft5 range early, with the potential to improve to a Good4 as the day progresses. Selections for each of the eight below: Te Rapa Race 1 1 Bradley Bradley (#1) has found R75 company a touch too rich at his past three starts since winning well at Trentham four runs back. Back to R65 grade here, this looks a much more suitable assignment in what isn’t…

Riccarton hosts a 10-race program this Saturday, with the track rated a Soft5 and the rail out 2.5m from the 1100m to the 600m, with the remainder in the true position. A clear forecast leading into and during raceday should see the surface present in a fast state, likely improving through the day into the Good range at some point you’d expect. Selections for each of the 10 below: Riccarton Park Race 1 6 Kiwi Magic Kiwi Magic (#6) comes in on the quick back-up and, while he was slow away again last start, he caught the eye late when…

Riccarton Synthetic hosts its first meeting of the year on Thursday, with an eight-race card set to be run on the all-weather surface. Selections for each of the eight below: Riccarton Synthetic Race 1 1 Unwoke Tip of The Day Unwoke (#1) comes into this off a huge run for 2nd at Ashburton, where he was forced to work wide throughout on a genuine tempo and still stuck on strongly. He looks ideally suited returning to the synthetic, having already placed at his only attempt on the surface. Tina Comignaghi remains aboard and with a more economical run in transit,…

Woodville hosts an eight-race program on Wednesday, with the track rated a Soft7 and the rail in the true position. A clear forecast should allow for gradual improvement through the day, with conditions expected to edge towards a Soft6 by race one and potentially better as the meeting progresses. Selections for each of the eight below: Woodville Race 1 2 Bold Bro Bold Bro (#2) can be forgiven for his last start effort when finishing a distant 5th at Whanganui, where he struggled in very testing Heavy conditions. With improved footing here and Jonathan Riddell retained for the maiden highweight,…

Te Rapa hosts an eight-race program on Saturday for ANZAC Day, headlined by the Gr.2 Travis Stakes and the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes. The track is currently rated a Heavy8 with the rail in the true position, however a clear forecast leading in should see steady improvement, with conditions expected to land in the Soft5 range by race one. Selections for each of the eight races below: Te Rapa Race 1 1 Gippsy God Tip of The Day Gippsy God (#1) worked home well into 6th over 2100m at Ellerslie last start in a race that didn’t suit those back in the field.…

Riccarton hosts a short but high-quality seven-race card on Saturday for Anzac Day, headlined by the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup, Listed Warstep Stakes and Listed Great Easter Stakes. The track is currently rated a Soft7 with the rail in the true position, however a clear forecast through the remainder of the week should see steady improvement, with conditions expected to be closer to a Soft5 by race one. Selections for each of the seven races below: Riccarton Park Race 1 6 Platinum Goddess Platinum Goddess (#6) heads south following a solid effort in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’, where she finished…