The fields for most of the juvenile races held this season so far have in the main been very light on numbers with as little as five or six competitors in most events.
The New Zealand Sires Stakes heat for two year old fillies at Timaru Raceway on Sunday has drawn eight which is pleasing and there is a lot of depth to the field.
The All Stars barn has two of the eight runners and their trial and workout performances would suggest that they are the fillies to beat.
Renske B has looked the slightly more forward of the two fillies at the trials and is slightly better drawn at barrier three so looks the likely favourite on paper.
A daughter of Mach Three from a half sister to Changeover 1:53.4 ($2,321,677), Renske B was a $30,000 yearling at last years Australasian Classic Yearling Sale and has won her only two starts at trials and workouts.
Partyon has had two trials and workouts as well, finishing a close second to Renske B on both occasions.
She has drawn handily at four and would appear the main danger to her stablemate.
A daughter of Bettor's Delight from the Beach Towel mare Beach Parade, Partyon is raced by Woodlands Stud.
Cran Dalgety has two runners involved and they have both shaped nicely at trials and workouts leading into Sunday.
Millwood Daisy has drawn poorly at barrier seven but won nicely at the workouts on Wednesday, home her last 800 metres in a handy 57.9.
A daughter of Art Major from the former outstanding Mach Three two and three year old filly in Millwood Meg 1:53.6 ($336,796), Millwood Daisy cost $100,000 at last years New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale at Christchurch.
The other Dalgety runner is Major Rocket who has drawn beautifully at barrier two.
She has shown gate speed at the trials so looks the early leader and with Dexter in the bike becomes a first four player.
Major Rocket is also by Art Major from a three quarter sister to Christian Cullen so she lacks nothing in the breeding department but only made $18,000 at last years New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale.
Cran Dalgety gave both his fillies a pass mark heading into Sunday.
" They are both on the same programme and coming along nicely. They qualified last week at Addington and we took them to Rangiora for quiet runs on Wednesday.It is a bit hard to weigh up the form as they are all having their first start. The Mark Purdon pair will be the two to beat but mine will go nice," Cran said.
Maczaffair from the Greg Payne barn has been super impressive at the trials to date.
She won by daylight at Ashburton first up in 1:58.3 before franking that trial by beating the All Stars pair of Spanish Armada and Casino Belle at Rangiora last week in a 2:01.8mr over the 2000 metres
The All Star pair are both in the Young Guns heat at Auckland tonight so how they go there that should give us a good guide to her chances on Sunday.
She is a daughter of Mach Three and a half sister to the smart State Of Affairs 1:57.4 ($123,990) and cost Greg $11,000 at the 2104 Auckland All Age Sale.
Seaswift Joy has had the misfortune to draw barrier eight as her trial form leading into Sunday has been excellent.
An easy winner at the Addington trials by over three lengths in a 2:01 mr for the 2000 metres just ten days ago, the daughter of Bettor's Delight has her work cut out from her wide draw but can't be discounted entirely.
Selections
Renske B from the draw looks very hard to beat here with the main danger being the stablemate Partyon.
On trial form and forgetting the draws for a second, Maczaffair and Seaswift Joy have both looked well above average and appeal to us as major trifecta and first four players.
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