Form analyst Jason Teaz has given us (and you) his tips for Auckland on Friday night – Feb 5.
Race 1
1 Darling Me
4 Enjoy Me
3 She’s No Lady
7 Show Me Heaven
DARLING ME has changed stables to the Telfer barn, played second fiddle in most of her starts to Bettor Twist, but she’s not here and she has landed barrier one. Trialed well last Friday at Pukekohe in a hot heat.
ENJOY ME was a Group One winner of the Sires stakes final last time she was at Alexandra park. Would need a similar run to last time to win another big one. But was another to trial in the Aladdin heat last week and her run suggested she’s ready.
SHE’S NO LADY was a Group One winner at two who hasn’t really found those heights again. Drawn well enough again but hasn’t got the gate speed to get handy enough.
SHOW ME HEAVEN is a nice filly beaten by a smart one at Cambridge last time. This is a step up but she’s race hardened.
SHEZADEAL looked the goods in early December then disappointed on December 31. Better than that.
Race 2
4 Mountain Mass
9 Asteria Lavra
13 Special Way
8 Gaz Man
MOUNTAIN MASS looks a talented three year old. Freshened after an up in grade sharply fourth on New Years Eve and looked a run short at the workouts last week. Top pick if in peak form.
ASTERIA LAVRA has finally started doing things right since joining the Hollis and Robertson stable. Smashed the maidens two weeks ago and although this is tougher this isn’t a tough ask for her.
SPECIAL WAY did well for third when galloping away in a pedestrian junior drivers race two weeks back. Has more upside than most here.
GAZ MAN broke a NZ record when winning on debut last year. Early mistakes have cost him since. Looked sensible running second last Friday at Pukekohe, beating Mountain Mass home. A danger.
THE BIG BIRD didn’t have an excuse in the world January 22. A really hard mare to follow who you can only take on trust.
For place odds BRO FAWKES S is a consideration on his stand start manners and 2200m record.
Race 3
5 Cowboys N Bandits
3 Alta Wiseguy
6 Oroua
9 Bettor Listen
COWBOYS N BANDITS deserves a win. Chased home a nice type in Zarias two weeks ago. The most pleasing thing about that was the way he paced around the last turn. Hard to beat.
ALTA WISEGUY has won his last two workouts easily. Ran home in 26.7 when winning last Friday. Expect him to roll forward and be the main danger.
OROUA was scratched a fortnight ago. Had trialed well in readiness for that with three seconds and a qualifying win. Draw hurts tonight but will be running on.
BETTOR LISTEN just can’t buy a win. Will be buried on the pegs early which won’t suit his style. Sure to be not far away with eleven placings from thirteen starts.
MATAI LOUIS is a very green horse but he has a big motor. Has been educated at the trials every time he has started and his sectionals were excellent last week. Include for first fours.
COMMANDER CATHY was disappointing from this draw two weeks ago, would be hard to see her winning but can place.
Race 4
4 Fortunia
1 Waitforever
13 Raven Banner
10 Alta Sensation
FORTUNIA worked hard to get the front and was run down late into second January 22. Barrier four will make it easier for her to find the front tonight. Tough to beat.
WAITFOREVER should punch off the gate to stay prominent tonight. You couldn’t fault the first start out of maidens.
RAVEN BANNER faces no rise in class tonight but has copped barrier thirteen. He likes to stalk so it shouldn’t hurt him too much. Sure to be running on.
ALTA SENSATION won well at the workouts last week, running home in 27.9 in a 2:01 mile rate. So is ready. Looked to have strengthened up since last racing as an early three year old.
DOUBLE UP had every show January 22 when leading and trailing, does appear to be better driven with a sit which looks odds on tonight.
Race 5
5 Bolt For Brilliance
6 Temporale
2 Invictus
4 One Majic Kenny
BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE is a potential top liner. He didn’t look at his best at Xmas time. Still good enough to run second in the National trot on December 31. Had a workout last week where he ran home in 26.
TEMPORALE who is an old marvel and he’s in something near his best form. Still good enough to trot a 26 quarter so even from 40 behind can run the quinella with his former stablemate.
INVICTUS has the advantage of the 10m tape and a big head start on the main chances. Will be tough to rundown.
ONE MAJIC KENNY had a gallop in the workout behind Temporale and Bolt For Brilliance. A his best he can run third.
Race 6
3 Montana DJ
10 Casino Action
1 Sugar Apple
7 Power Up
MONTANA DJ is out of the champion mare One Dream. Has won his last two trials like a really good horse. Has a nice draw for his debut run.
CASINO ACTION stepped up hugely and won the first young guns heat. Must be hard to beat again.
SUGAR APPLE has received a massive turnaround in barrier draws from eight to the one tonight. Has shown good gate speed at the trials. Expect a better run tonight.
POWER UP is another newcomer to the series tonight. Had a good duel with Montana DJ last Friday and looks a horse still on the improve, an each way chance.
ARGYLE had the advantage of barrier one in heat one but was no match for Casino Action. Difficult to see him winning but can place.
OHOKA CREED was the buzz horse before heat one but folded off a rough draw. Another shocker tonight will be tough for him to overcome, but still has a huge wrap on him.
Race 7
7 Krug
6 Matt Damon
4 Christianshavtime
5 Dance Time
KRUG is only three and it’s never easy to beat these older horses but these aren’t top liners he’s against. Had a sprint up at the trials last Friday. Wasn’t knocked around but ran home in sub 27. Should be too good.
MATT DAMON was awful as favorite two weeks ago. Since turned up at Pukekohe last Friday and went miles better. A big hope of the quinella spot, if in his Auckland Cup form.
CHRISTIANSHAVTIME won that trial featuring the previous two mentioned. If he has to make the mid race move it hurts him but he is such a potent sprinter that outside of Krug he may be the fastest in the field.
DANCE TIME caused a major boilover when returning to form January 22. Hard to see him winning again but now he’s found form once more he can place.
Race 8
3 Chevrons Bypass
6 Chantilly
4 Artisan
9 Mitsi Gaynor
CHEVRONS BYPASS underperformed in heat one of the series. Brought strong trial form in both islands prior. So give one more chance from the better draw and should find the markers tonight.
CHANTILLY has been a slow improver through the trials the last month or so. Hard not to be impressed with her win last Friday after showing off her gate speed. From the draw she won’t lead tonight but she looks the three year old potential out of this crop to suggest she has some bottom to her.
ARTISAN won heat one after leading and being too good for her rivals. A harder ask tonight but respect on her first run.
MITSI GAYNOR was a big improver between her trials and her first up run. Does follow out a filly with gate speed so back on the fence can work out OK.
AMERICAN BEAUTY has a better draw tonight and is on the improve.
Race 9
6 Bohemian Rhapsody
12 Jay Rowe
10 Ruby Ridge
5 Molly Belle
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY was ultra impressive when winning a maiden heat at Pukekohe January 29. Qualified ten seconds under time in November. Looks a class above these.
JAY ROWE is a half sister to Miss Blissful who was the only challenger to Bohemian Rhapsody last Friday and probably tonight. Comes out of a hot qualifier last October too.
RUBY RIDGE again galloped away in her last assignment January 22. Staged her normal recovery to run third but patience is wearing thin. Can win of course.
MOLLY BELLE completes a hat trick of potential race winning first starters. Has shown sketchy manners to this point. But the family talent will come out at some point. A place show.
TRIFOLIUM maybe should have done better on debut and first look at Alexandra Park will stage a stern test for him. Don’t dismiss but place chances look best.
QUEEN OF STRATHFIELD started her career in the north before six second placings in the south. Respect on her normal manners for a place.
Best Bet: Race 9 (6) Bohemian Rhapsody
Each Way Value: Race 6 (3) Montana DJ
