Horse Racing

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…

With another Stradbroke Season now completed, the focus shifts back to the midweek program at Eagle Farm, where an eight-race card is set down for Wednesday. The track was rated a Soft 6 on Tuesday, and it would not surprise to see conditions remain somewhere in that soft range by race day. The rail is positioned 9 metres out, which may make race shape and early positioning important. During the latter stages of the Carnival, riders were often looking to get away from the inside section of the track, so it will be worth monitoring the early races to see…

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…

Tattersall’s Tiara Day is set down for Eagle Farm this Saturday as the curtain comes down on another successful Ladbrokes Stradbroke Season. The $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara is the feature event on the nine-race program, with the fillies and mares contest again holding its place as the final Australian Group 1 of the racing season. The card has strong depth beyond the headline race, with six black-type events across the meeting, while the Ladbrokes Battle of the Bush Final gives Queensland’s country gallopers their opportunity to compete for a significant prize in town. Below is my race-by-race assessment of the Eagle…