FRIDAY AT PUKEKOHE

Counties Racing Club at Pukekohe

As on Thursday 26 October the conditions were: overcast and Slow7, rail out 7 metres. 3mls rain forecast race day.

12.22 p.m. R2 16 Salt Bay (3 f Redwood – Marsh Harbour, by Volksraad) – rider to be advised; was far from disgraced on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1100 metres on 20 September at Te Rapa, a race that has produced three winners since. The year younger sister to the very well-performed Swampland (Redwood) in Melbourne, she requires a further three to scratch in order to make field for the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She is also on the ballot in race three (12.57 p.m.).

12.57 p.m. R3 10 Crossed My Mind (3 f Zed – The Lions Rule, by Viking Ruler) – Michael Coleman; makes her debut in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres, following one preparatory trial. Bred by Mike Moroney, from a mare he trained to win twice up to a mile, she has drawn barrier one and finding the line off a soft trip would be ideal.

2.07 p.m. R5 10 La Estrella (4 m Cape Blanco – Star Charm, by Cape Cross) – Shaun McKay; makes her debut in the $10,000 Maiden 1200 metres, following two nice trials for second and fourth respectively at Te Teko. From a good family – her grand-dam Sarwatch (Jetball) was a very good stakes winning NZ Filly of the Year in 2000 – she is ideally drawn in barrier two and should go well.

3.17 p.m. R7 9 Ruby Armani (5 m Makfi – Trujillo, by Saint Ballado) – Mark Du Plessis; spelled after finishing third here over 1400 metres in May and resumes in the $11,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Close up when fifth at only other course attempt, last November, in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), she is lightly raced, goes well fresh, has performed well for this rider and capable of getting into the finish with the right trip from barrier eight.

3.57 p.m. R8 7 Fortaleza (4 m Darci Brahma – Bunyah, by Distant View) – Shaun McKay; circled and closed late (fastest last 600m: 36.7 on Slow9) for sixth in the Maiden 1400 metres on 20 September at Te Rapa, a race that has produced two winners since. Drawn wide in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she raced into contention last time when coming from off the pace and rates an each way chance with a similar effort.

5.04 p.m. R10 4 Kane (5 m Darci Brahma – Dream Lass, by Dream Well) – Shaun McKay; after two notable efforts for second and fifth, respectively, over 1300 metres at Taupo, she should appreciate stepping up in distance for the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Unlucky not to have won thus far, she appears capable of a bold performance, in this field, from barrier four.