Riccarton 08 Aug 2026
GOING: H(9)
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VERNON VAZEY & TRUCK PARTS OPEN 1400m Track: HEAVY 9 True |
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Genuine tempo from Shawshank leading Lord Darci. HE'S LUCID (6) won fresh up and then tried hard here on Saturday when finishing third as a warm favourite at BM75 level. He drops in weight with the step up to open-company, but this is hardly a vintage field, and we think he is the one to beat, so follow your money. BELZONI (8) only missed by a nose when finishing second in the same race as the top pick here 7-days ago, and with 2.5kg less to carry, he can figure in the top 3 again. WIRE ROPE (4) beat most of these on the first day of this Carnival, and he has no problem at all when the tracks are at their heaviest, so stick with him. EXPRESS COUP (1) missed the first day, and was last seen finishing fifth at Oamaru nearly 3 weeks ago. She has to give weight to all her rivals, which makes it tough, but she is a must for all top 4 combos. LORD DARCI (2) never featured in the Winter Cup last Saturday, but this a whole different ball game for him. A form reversal is on the cards. SUGGESTED PLAY: He's Lucid can win this, and Lord Darci is the value.
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| 1 | 63215 |
EXPRESS COUP
MICHAEL & MATTHEW PITMAN 7YO BAY MARE 60.0KG G H & R J CARR, P C CONNOLLY, J & R COUPLAND, L JACKSON, M R PITMAN, A T REID, E & J TAYLOR, T THOMAS & A WALTERS At the latest run 5th of 9 at Oamaru on July 19 over 1200m, on heavy track; 5.5 len behind Sir Sterling carrying 58kg at $19.80. The run before that won by 0.9 len at Oamaru June 14 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating The Good Shepherd carrying 56kg at $4.90. In the right race this time and shouldn’t be far away. |
4 OHARA NAJIB |
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| 2 | 04370 |
LORD DARCI
BEVAN & ROBYN WILSON 9YO BAY GELDING 56.0KG B W & R A WILSON Last start 13th of 18 at this track in the G3 Winter Cup on August 1 over 1600m, in the wet; 13 len behind Quintabelle with 53kg at $34.40. The start before that raced on the speed throughout before fading 7th of 12 at Oamaru on July 19 over 1600m, on rain affected going; 4.5 len behind Bella Luce with 58kg at $10.20. Cannot be taken lightly. |
1 FLOOR MOERMAN |
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| 3 | 0969x |
OCEAN LIGHT
MICHAEL & MATTHEW PITMAN 6YO BAY GELDING 55.0KG A & J LAWS First-up. Finished off last preparation ninth of 16 at Wingatui in the LR Dunedin Gold Cup February 28 over 2400m, soft track; 3.5 len behind Noble Knight with 53kg at $48.80. When resuming last campaign sixth of 13 at this track September 14 2024 over 1400m, soft track; 4.5 len behind Iffididit with 56kg at $24.20. Doesn't appeal. |
8 L J ALLPRESS |
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| 4 | x4651 |
WIRE ROPE
BILL THURLOW 5YO BAY GELDING 54.0KG GRANT THURLOW, PADDI THURLOW, GUY LENNOX & GILLIAN LENNOX At the latest run won by a 0.1 len at this track August 1 over 1400m in the wet defeating Belzoni with 58.5kg at $6.90. The race before that 5th of 12 at New Plymouth Raceway on July 18 over 1600m, in the wet; 4.5 len behind Jungle Love with 58.5kg at $8.90. Can double up here. |
2 TONI DAVIES |
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| 5 | 367x4 |
VICTORIAN CHARM
BEVAN & ROBYN WILSON 7YO BAY GELDING 54.0KG B W WILSON, R A WILSON & G J JOHNSON Second run back. First-up after four months 4th of 9 at Oamaru on July 19 over 1200m, in the wet; 3.5 len behind Sir Sterling carrying 54kg at $19.70. Previously second-up 11th of 14 at this track in the LR Timaru Stakes on January 24 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 7 len behind Pour The Wine with 53kg at $49.90. Strong top-4 chance. |
5 BRIDGET GRYLLS |
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| 6 | 66x13 |
HE'S LUCID
KEVIN MYERS 5YO BAY GELDING 54.0KG D M DUNCAN & K T MYERS Dual acceptor. Third-up today and placed third-up previously. Resuming favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 3 len at Hawera July 11 over 1400m on a heavy track defeating Kereti with 57.5kg at $3.20. Second-up 3rd of 10 at this track on August 1 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 0.8 len behind Wire Rope with 60kg at $2.40. Tough to beat. |
3 LILY SUTHERLAND |
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| 7 | 00116 |
SHAWSHANK
SAMANTHA WYNNE 7YO CHESTNUT GELDING 54.0KG J BELL, S WYNNE, W MORRISEY, H STEVENSON, B MCQUADE, P WOUTERS, K WHITE At the latest run 6th of 10 at this track on August 1 over 1400m, in the wet; 3.5 len behind Wire Rope with 56.5kg at $6. The run before that won by 3.5 len at Oamaru July 19 over 1400m in the wet defeating Move On with 54kg at $2.40. Looks a strong top-4 prospect. |
7 SARAH MACNAB |
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| 8 | 0x172 |
BELZONI
LISA LATTA 4YO CHESTNUT GELDING 54.0KG J C MCNEILL, D J MCLEAN, L M PURVIS, RABBITOHS RACING 1 SYNDICATE (MGN: TOM HUDSON), S W DAIS, P BYRNE At the latest run 2nd of 10 at this track on August 1 over 1400m, on a wet track; 0.1 len behind Wire Rope with 56.5kg at $8.90. The race before that raced on the speed throughout before fading 7th of 11 at Waverley on July 4 over 1650m, slow going 6 len behind Skattebo with 57.5kg at $13.10. Hard to beat on that latest effort. |
6 AMBER RIDDELL |
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