For once it is good to see an Australian raider here on New Zealand soil for this Thursdays heat of the New Zealand Sires Stakes at Addington.
Add in the fact that for one of the few times this season in a two year old race we have a full field of thirteen runners and that immediately makes the race a much more intriguing proposition.
Here is our runner by runner preview of the Sires Stakes heat.
1) Arden's Legacy – Starts: 3 Wins: 0 Secs: 0 Thirds: 2 Life: $3,286
Has shown a bit of potential in his short career to date.
Ran a really good race in the Kindergarten Stakes where he used a lot of petrol early and stuck on well for third.
A few here look to have a class edge but draw makes him a rough first four chance.
2) Three Ways – Starts: 3 Wins: 0 Secs: 1 Thirds: 0 Life: $3,973
Has a bit of a reputation but was dehydrated first up so discount that run.
Went super last start when second to Lazarus and if that Three Ways turns up he is a big place chance.
With Dexter in the bike Three Ways becomes a must have for trifecta and first four players.
3) Salty Robyn – Starts: 5 Wins: 4 Secs: 1 Thirds: 0 Life: $51,217
The Aussie raider is a big danger in this field and his win last Friday night at Newcastle was the perfect run first up from a short break.
He does have one hole in his makeup in that he can try to go too quick early and has been known to go rough and break if pushed.
Lauren let him find his feet early the other night at Newcastle and she has that option from this draw here.
Big winning chance and include in everything.
4) Formula One – Starts: 2 Wins: 0 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $331 (2nd Emerg)
Six figure purchase out of the Hamish Hunter barn by Greg Brodie who has a huge reputation but has yet to show anything on raceday.
Has won a trial in 1:58 so obviously very talented but appears at sea at the moment
Not for us.
5) Chase The Dream – Starts: 5 Wins: 4 Secs: 0 Thirds: 1 Life: $102,670
As good as any two year old in New Zealand as his record shows.
Beaten last time by the muddling pace which turned the race into a sprint home.
He is a real tradesman who has speed and can do plenty of work as well.
We think he will come out humming early alongside Salty Robyn and press the issue to see how he copes.
The one to beat due to his manners and versatility.
6) First Class Arden – Starts: 1 Wins: 0 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $1,140
Nice first up run but this field is a different matter altogether.
Several runners here look to have a class edge on him and combine that with the draw and we find it hard to see him in four.
Not for us
7) Alta Las Vegas – Starts: 3 Wins: 1 Secs: 2 Thirds: 0 Life: $15,028
Has not put a foot wrong all season and is more than capable of winning this.
Went under to Chase The Dream in the Sapling Stakes by half a length after doing plenty of work and then ran second to Chase The Dream again, this time by a neck after he parked that horse for the entire race.
You would expect him to have improved since then and he comes in to barrier six so draw not as bad as it seems.
Threat to the favourites with the right run and a must have for trifecta and first four players.
8) Vanquished – Starts: 2 Wins: 0 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $2,080 (1st Emerg)
Has yet to show anything at his trials, workouts or his two race starts to suggest he is a major player here.
Looks like he will make a nice three year old next season but hard to see him being a part of this.
Not for us.
9) Wannabet – Starts: 1 Wins: 0 Secs: 0 Thirds: 1 Life: $2,280
Trialed up really well prior to his first and only start and not disgraced finishing third after doing plenty of work.
However even if Arden's Legacy holds up early and he gets a cosy trip three deep on the inner it still only makes him a rough first four chance at best in this field in our opinion.
10) Art Form – Starts: 1 Wins: 1 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $3,927
Could not have been more impressive winning his first start against maidens after some very strong trial form at Auckland.
Big step up here from maidens to face some of these but Steven Reid rates him up there with the best young horses he has trained.
Our only concern is ringcraft in such a big field but ability not in question.
A winning chance and a must have for all combination bets.
11) Mach Time – Starts: 4 Wins: 2 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $12,050
Smart colt who has got better with every run this season.
Draw is a big concern in that he is going to have to use plenty of petrol however the races pans out.
You may want to throw him in to first fours to boost up the divy from this draw.
12) Code Black – Starts: 5 Wins: 1 Secs: 0 Thirds: 1 Life: $28,000
Kept improving throughout his five start campaign at Alexandra Park with his last start third to Chase The Dream in the Young Guns Final a top effort.
Another horse whose chances have been seriously affected by the draw and will need a bit of luck from out there but will be running on better than most.
Throw into first fours even from the draw
13) Sparkling Delight – Starts: 4 Wins: 1 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $5,654
Trialed up really well prior to racing but had been a bit disappointing until last week when he looked more like the horse we had seen at the trials.
Was driven cold last week for the first time and came from last to win in style.
Even from the draw Sparkling Delight is the smokey for us to get amongst them and bump up those trifectas and first fours.
14) Harry Hoo – Starts: 3 Wins: 0 Secs: 2 Thirds: 0 Life: $4,566
Made a promising debut against Lazarus from a good barrier draw but has been a bit disappointing in his next two starts.
This is by far the hardest field he has faced and we struggle to see him in four from his poor second line draw.
Not for us.
15) Franco Rayner – Starts: 1 Wins: 0 Secs: 0 Thirds: 1 Life: $1,900
Trialed up very nicely against some of the big hitters from the All Stars barn prior to his debut at Invercargill but disappointed us a bit when running third in that race, ten lengths from Lazarus.
This looks a bit soon for him in our opinion and coupled with the draw we can't see being a major player here.
Not for us.
SELECTIONS
The nice front row draw for Chase The Dream means he gets the nod for us but only just from the Aussie raider Salty Robyn.
Art Form, Three Ways and Alta Las Vegas should all go in all combinations around the first two.
Code Black and Sparkling Delight to spice up those first fours.
Harnesslink Media