Today's dual-code meeting at Wingatui has just about everything.
There will be plenty of on-course entertainment, there are six thoroughbred races and six harness races on the track and one potential star racehorse.
Unbeaten Wingatui filly The Precious One returns to racing for her third career start in race 3 on today’s Beaumont Racing Club programme.
Trainer Claire Anderton is thrilled to have the daughter of Darci Brahma back after her stable star was put aside in the spring with a niggly joint issue.
"It’s quite exciting to have her back as we think a lot of her," she said.
"She has definitely matured during her time away and is a much stronger individual now.
"With the tracks starting to ease it is a good time to have her back as that will take some stress off her joints if there is something still there."
The Precious One tuned up for today’s race with an effortless jumpout win at Wingatui earlier this month.That performance and her recent work has her trainer confident the filly is ready to race.
"Her work has been good and I think she is ready for a forward showing," Anderton said.
"Chris Johnson has stuck with her which is very heartening as its always good to have the best aboard when they line up.
"The main thing will be for her to get around without any problems and to pull up well after the race. If she can do that then we can think ahead with her."
The main threat — if there is one — to The Precious One’s winning chances is her lack of race fitness.
All her nine rivals have had consistent recent racing and are at least four starts into their latest campaigns.
Johnson will be charged with turning around the racing fortunes of Gloss in race 6, today’s 1600m fillies and mares race. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained mare was desperately unlucky when she could not find clear racing room in her last start at Wingatui earlier this month.
Johnson rides outside hope Precious Percy in today’s richest event, race 4, the $20,000 Publicans’ Cup.
The race is headed by topweight Shantav who drops in class from his last start in the Gore Cup.
Satin Guru and She’s Payback, who will have her 54kg handicap alleviated by the 4kg claim of apprentice Rohan Mudhoo, are also leading chances.
Race 5, today’s maiden 1600m race looks to be the most competitive on the programme. It features a host of runners whose recent performances suggest a win is not far away.
— additional reporting NZ Racing Desk.
