Te Rapa   20 Dec 2025
 
GOING: S(6)

MVP CARS 2100m

Track: SOFT 5     Out 3m  

Prometheus, Overrated and Rua Rocks to vie for early honours at a solid tempo. SPANISH LAD (5) has yet to perform on a turf surface, but has found the right race here, and was a fair fourth at New Plymouth nearly a month ago. With the right run, he will be hard to hold out. GIACOMO (1) will find this easier than his last start when he finished a game seventh when trying to lead all the way. He will set up another strong pace in this, and he should be hard to peg back. Each way. CHARLBURY (12) has not made it easy on himself with some tardy starts recently. He is much better than his form suggests, and a form reversal will be no shock. ONE BOLD GIGOLO (7) was making up some solid late ground when finishing midfield at Trentham a fortnight ago. He has 3.5kg less to carry this time, and can figure in the top 4 here. BALANCE OF POWER (2) failed to fire at Pukekohe 4 weeks ago, but does prefer racing in an anti-clockwise direction. Expect a better run here. Each way value. SUGGESTED PLAY: Charlbury each way value.
1 38477 GIACOMO
PETER & SHAUN MCKAY
7YO  BROWN  GELDING 60.0KG
A C & L J E MACDONALD, KIM & PETER MCKAY
Dual acceptor. Last start faded in the straight 7th of 14 at Pukekohe on December 6 over 2100m, on a slow track; 3 len behind Livid Sky carrying 52.5kg at $12.90. The run before that led to the turn then faded 7th of 9 at Te Aroha on November 11 over 2200m, on a slow track; 3 len behind Gillian carrying 58.5kg at $3.50. Well-placed so he can bounce back.
6
BLUE, GOLD LIGHTNING BOLT, CAP
2 x7830 BALANCE OF POWER
MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON
5YO  BAY  GELDING 59.0KG
J O ANDERSON, DJ BLOODSTOCK PARTNERSHIP, M K DURLING, GN & CM BLOODSTOCK LTD, J F & MRS P L HEPBURN, C W KWOK, R LAU, T N SIMPSON, TE AKAU STUD & WESTONLEA BLOODSTOCK
At the latest run sat behind the speed prior to fading 10th of 14 at Pukekohe on November 22 over 2100m, on a slow track; 9 len behind Solidify with 60kg at $14. The run before that 3rd of 9 at Te Aroha on November 11 over 2200m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Gillian with 60kg at $5.30. Capable of much better and can improve sharply.
10
RYAN ELLIOT
ORANGE, ROYAL BLUE STARS, STRIPED SLEEVES
3 57515 RUA ROCKS
CARL HENDERSON
8YO  BAY  GELDING 59.0KG
C R, MRS G D & MRS M L DANDO & MS C E HODDER
At the latest run faded in the straight 5th of 12 at Tauranga on December 12 over 2100m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Mollify with 56kg at $20.60. The race before that scored a big 3.5 len win at New Plymouth Raceway October 24 over 2000m in heavy going defeating Indian Gold carrying 55.5kg at $5.30. Disappointing last time but make amends.
11
SIENNA BROWN
Gold, Royal Blue Fernleaf , Royal Blue Sleeves, Gold Cap
4 2x394 PROMETHEUS
PAUL MIRABELLI
5YO  BROWN  GELDING 58.0KG
MRS L C MIRABELLI & R SIMPSON
Most recently tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 12 at Tauranga on December 12 over 2100m, slow going 4 len behind Mollify carrying 58.5kg at $10.30. The run before that failed to make an impression; 9th of 14 at Pukekohe on November 22 over 2100m, slow going 8 len behind Solidify carrying 59kg at $19.70. Has ability and can do much better.
4
L H SATHERLEY
DEEP SKY BLUE, BLACK VEE, DEEP SKY BLUE SLEEVES & BLACK CAP
5 07874 SPANISH LAD
JOHN BELL
5YO  BAY  GELDING 57.0KG
E MARTIN
Comes here off a 29-day let-up. Last start 4th of 8 at New Plymouth Raceway on November 21 over 1600m, slow going 7 len behind Tiny Diamond with 57.5kg at $4.50. The start before that raced behind the speed prior to fading 7th of 14 at Pukekohe on November 8 over 1600m, 3 len behind I'm Lulu with 56.5kg at $33.70. Watch for sharp improvement.
8
WARREN KENNEDY
MAROON, LIME BRACES, LIME SLEEVES, CAP,MAROON QUARTERS,PEAK
6 x794l HE'S CLASSIC
BRUCE WALLACE & GRANT COOKSLEY
6YO  BAY  GELDING 57.0KG
B J, C J, J R & R J WALLACE
Most recently didn't finish the race at Pukekohe December 6 over 2100m. The race before that 4th of 13 at Pukekohe on November 22 over 2100m, on a slow track; 2 len behind Mollify carrying 57.5kg at $12.60. Happy enough to avoid.
7
ELEN NICHOLAS
ROYAL BLUE, WHITE CROSSED SASHES, WHITE CAP
7 x2657 ONE BOLD GIGOLO
ROBBIE PATTERSON
5YO  BAY  GELDING 57.0KG
K M NEILSON
Most recently 7th of 17 at Trentham on December 6 over 2100m, slow going 3.5 len behind Crackercol with 57.5kg at $9.80. Before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 13 at Wanganui on November 29 over 1600m, slow going 3 len behind Uncle Arch with 55.5kg at $12.50. Rates highly. Big chance to return to the winner's list.
2
SAM MCNAB
TURQUOISE BLUE, GOLD HORSE HEAD, STARS SLEEVES, QUARTERS CAP
8 91931 OVERRATED
MURRAY GARRETT
6YO  BAY  GELDING 57.0KG
MRS J R & M B GARRETT
Form hard to fault. Last start won by 3 len at New Plymouth Raceway December 4 over 1800m in the wet defeating Sir Bruce with 58kg at $8.50. The start before that held ground to the line 3rd of 12 at Arawa Park on November 16 over 1950m, on a slow track; 0.7 len behind In A Pickle carrying 57.5kg at $15.10. Going well and could follow up.
12
JASMINE FAWCETT
DARK BLUE, LIGHT PINK DIAMOND, DARK BLUE SLEEVES, LIGHT PINK ARMBANDS, DARK BLUE CAP, LIGHT PINK QUARTERS
9 55151 PRINCIPLED
PAUL RICHARDS
5YO  BAY  GELDING 57.0KG
RICHARDS RACING LTD
At the latest run favourite; settled well back; won by a long-neck at New Plymouth Raceway December 4 over 1800m in the wet defeating Ballroom Blitz with 60kg at $2.70. Before that 5th of 14 at Tauranga on November 15 over 1530m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Crackercol carrying 58kg at $14.60. Solid top-three hope.
9
M CAMERON
DEEP PINK, BLACK SEAMS, STRIPES SLEEVES,CAP
10 0x002 AWHINA
NICHOLAS BISHARA
5YO  BAY  MARE 56.0KG
N P BISHARA, R W CASSIDY, I R HORSNELL, S V JAMIESON, G W KNOWLES, K R ROPER & D WAIROA
Last start gave a sight but was run down late 2nd of 11 at Arawa Park on December 5 over 1950m, slow going 0.8 len behind Gallant Hero carrying 55.5kg at $23.50. Before that 12th of 14 at Pukekohe on November 22 over 1600m, on a slow track; 6 len behind Queen Zou carrying 56.5kg at $55.60. Wasn’t too far off the mark last time. Not far off the winner latest and looks a genuine hope.
5
DARREN DANIS
BROWN, GREEN SASH, BROWN SLEEVES, GOLD ARMBANDS, GOLD CAP
11 30x46 ROCTAVE
STEPHEN MARSH
4YO  BAY  GELDING 56.0KG
D KARREMAN
Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. Resuming 4th of 12 at Te Aroha on November 11 over 1600m, slow going 1.1 len behind Lachie with 56kg at $11.90. Second-up 6th of 13 at Wanganui on November 29 over 1600m, slow going 3.5 len behind Uncle Arch with 57kg at $15.50. Top-three hope.
1
RORY HUTCHINGS
White, Royal Blue Band And Cap
12 08500 CHARLBURY
CATHERINE CAMERON
6YO  CHESTNUT  MARE 56.0KG
MS J R ALEXANDER & N D R MCKERCHAR
Last start 11th of 14 at Pukekohe on December 6 over 2100m, on a slow track; 5 len behind Livid Sky with 54kg at $59.40. The race before that ran last of 14 at Pukekohe on November 22 over 2100m, slow going 14 len behind Solidify with 54.5kg at $11.70. Great chance to atone.
3
AMBER RIDDELL
EMERALD GREEN,WHITE BRACES,EMERALD GREEN SLEEVES,WHITE ARMBANDS,EMERALD GREEN,WHITE SEAMS CAP