3 minute read

Matt Markham: Best At Motukarara Harness Saturday Night

Race 1
7 Bounce N Beyond

Touted as being good enough to take on the best of the age group in last campaign, but manners were a big issue. Impressive winning a recent trial and might be ready to get going this campaign and live up to the potential. Big field to contend with, but class is good enough.
Selections: 7-11-15-10-6

Race 2
1 Shine All Over Me

Greg and Nina Hope trained first starter who brings some tidy public runs to today's debut performance. Lands the ace draw on debut which can be a huge assist and if able to hold up and control things from the top should take some stopping.
Selections: 1-6-2-8-4

Race 3
4 Spectator

Improving runs across the two days on the Coast and appears to be getting better with racing. Great stand start manners are a huge assist here as likely to be in front before most have even thought about getting going. Good trip and she's well in play.
Selections: 4-6-10-9-5

Race 4
6 Tanganyika

Late scratched at Reefton after being wiped out at the start. Big run on the Friday at Westport against a field no stronger than this one. That form should hold up well enough here and from the handy draw will be right in the fight throughout and hard to catch.
Selections: 6-1-5-9-7

Race 5
3 Natives Inferno

Putting in some really good work late last time out when finishing fifth and looks to be building nicely toward another winning turn. Good chance here in what is a pretty even field and does go well on this track. Just has to be close enough.
Selections: 3-10-7-16-6

Race 6
6 Divine Angel

Had to wait for a clean shot at them last week at Reefton and the bird had flown by the time it came. Still a good performance. Motukarara track suits as lots of time to wind up and can stalk the speed and then finish over the top of them late.
Selections: 6-1-9-10-11

Race 7
14 Mandalay Bay

Best horse in this race by some notable distance and has good form behind quality opposition far inferior to this. Has to come from the outside of the second row, but good enough to do that and get around them and outstay them up the long straight.
Selections: 14-2-8-3-1

Race 8
7 Kiss The Girls

Speed-merchant pacer who loves going around on the grass tracks and has been taking on better fields than this recently. Only has one sprint, but when saved up for it can really let down. Robbie Close needs to plot the perfect path, but with it can definitely win.
Selections: 7-9-2-4-8

Race 9
3 Hope For Love

Returns from the West Coast meeting full of confidence after two strong placings and is clearly going to pick one up against a short notice. This looks a suitable race for that to happen too from the good draw. Will get forward and be handy throughout.
Selections: 3-7-10-4-1

Race 10
3 Lady Boutique

Has done a handy enough job in the short career to date and finds a pretty winnable race here today. Good draw and John Dunn will be keen to make the most of that and get onto the speed and make them work to beat her. Looks a strong chance.
Selections: 3-9-4-2-1

Race 11
8 Holly Highlander

Form just went off the boil slightly there for a while so freshened up and ready to go once again. Can generally step pretty quickly so might find a way to the lead, or near to it, early and then with a bit of luck in the running can be right there when things get serious.
Selections: 8-7-11-1-9

Race 12
1 The Real McCoy

New comer to the Dalgety stable after showing some promise previously. Change of environment and a new approach might just work the oracle and from the inside draw with a naturally aggressive driver in the bike gets a chance to go back-to-back.
Selections: 1-4-3-9-14

Best: 6 Tanganyika (Race 4)
Next: 4 Spectator (Race 3)
Value: 7 Kiss The Girls (Race 8)