Invercargill Cup day has produced a card of racing that is as good as any in the southern region this season. We preview three evenly matched feature races.
Robin Dundee Crown at 2.53pm tomorrow.
Yankee Party has the draw and the ability to win this race.
The 4yr-old produced a big effort to run third after an early gallop in her last start in a similar race at Ascot Park that several of her rivals also contested.
I am willing to forgive her for that mistake as it was just her second start and there was a major delay to the race, which would not have helped her frame of mind.
A more regulation start should have her on her game and make her hard to beat.
Bridesdale Robyn beat Yankee Party in their previous runs and will be tough to beat again, though I would be surprised if she was gifted the lead at the 900m again tomorrow.
I'mallaboutthebase has gone two really good races in good company in her last two starts.
Drawing barrier 8 makes it tough for her, but she must be included.
Dachy is next best.
Selections: Yankee Party (4), Bridesdale Robyn (7), I'mallaboutthebase (8), Dachy (6).
Feature trot at 3.31pm tomorrow.
This is undoubtedly the trickiest of the feature races on Invercargill Cup day.
Each of the leading chances comes into the race with questions hanging over them after their last runs, none more so than Get Lucky, who is fresh up after putting in two very ordinary efforts in two workouts.
Those were more than a six weeks ago, which suggests he should be more forward than he was there.
Stablemates Humble Ladd and Only One Way were both enjoying a brilliant run of form until failing in their last starts.
Though their runs ended for different reasons, I think they should both bounce back tomorrow.
The quality of the front line and 10m mark could make it hard for both back markers, Theodosia and Monty Python, so I have Riteur ahead of both of them.
Selections: Humble Ladd (8), Only One Way (6), Get Lucky (5), Riteur (4).
Invercargill Cup at 4.34pm tomorrow.
The stunning nature of Heisenberg’s national record-breaking effort in the Central Otago Cup has me struggling to find reasons why he can not do something similar again.
His excellent record from a
standing start only solidifies his winning claims.
I can see Heisenberg leading within the first lap and if he does, he will be incredibly hard to catch.
Nandolo was very good behind his main rival at Wyndham and commands respect.
If he happens to settle in front of Heisenberg, it will be hard for the favourite to run him down.
Vintage Cheddar must give both Nandolo and Heisenberg a head start, which I think makes his task to win extremely difficult.
What Vintage Cheddar has on his side is that he has clearly come back in this season at his absolute peak.
His Wairio Cup effort was very smart.
Bringitonhome was brilliant in his last start over a mile (1609m).
Reverting to a standing start in a race more than 1000m longer is a much different test.
I would expect him to be driven quietly because of that, which should enable him to figure in the finish.
Selections: Heisenberg (4), Nandolo (5), Vintage Cheddar (9), Bringitonhome (6).
