NZ - Tauranga - Race 8

Thoroughbred

20 Runners

Benchmark

Turf

SOFT 5

9.9K

VIEW

Verdict

The day ends with another hard race to unpack. We have AL AZHAR (8) on top. She won her maiden by a head at Avondale before trekking South to tackle a tougher field at Otaki 5 weeks ago where she struggled in the holding ground as the favourite, finishing fourth in a 5-horse field. She is better than that, and she is worth another chance. SEXY AND I MOET (6) drove through late in the race when finishing a game third at Arawa Park nearly 3 weeks ago in a nice return to form fresh up from a spell. She has won her only start on this track, and she can win this this. IMPERIAL EMPRESS (3) has not quite kicked on with it since winning at this level at the end of February. She led up and dropped out at Ellerslie last start 6-days ago, but in an easier field, she is worth another chance at odds. WHAT NEXT (7) could not follow up her impressive maiden win at Hawera last time at Ellerslie, and she has been freshened up. Include. FOXGLOVE (5) is ready to put her best hoof forward here.

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Horse Stats

#/Silk	Horse#/Horse	Power Rating	High Speed	Win %	Top 3%	Win Prob	Odds
8	Racing well recently. Returns from a 35-day let-up. Most recently in a small field at Otaki on April 24 over 7f, on rain affected going, 8 len behind Country Salon with 121lbs at $2.90. The run before that came from midfield and won by a neck at Avondale April 8 over 7f in heavy going defeating Chaos Creator with 123lbs at $2.80. Has ability and expected to do much better. 1st Pick 8 Al Azhar Jockey: Masahiro Hashizume Trainer: Lance O'sullivan & Andrew Scott J: Masahiro Hashizume T: Lance O'sullivan & Andrew Scott	112	-	-	-	10%	9/1
Analysis Racing well recently. Returns from a 35-day let-up. Most recently in a small field at Otaki on April 24 over 7f, on rain affected going, 8 len behind Country Salon with 121lbs at $2.90. The run before that came from midfield and won by a neck at Avondale April 8 over 7f in heavy going defeating Chaos Creator with 123lbs at $2.80. Has ability and expected to do much better.
6	Second run back. First-up after five months 3rd of 13 at Arawa Park on May 9 over 6f, in the wet, 0.5 len behind Amazonia carrying 126lbs at $8.30. Previously second-up 11th of 14 at Ellerslie on October 25 over 6f, slow going 4.5 len behind Power Of Three with 130lbs at $8.10. Fitter for that run and will be tough to beat. 2nd Pick 6 Sexy And I Moet Jockey: Matt Cartwright Trainer: Stephen Marsh J: Matt Cartwright T: Stephen Marsh	172	-	-	-	19%	9/2
Analysis Second run back. First-up after five months 3rd of 13 at Arawa Park on May 9 over 6f, in the wet, 0.5 len behind Amazonia carrying 126lbs at $8.30. Previously second-up 11th of 14 at Ellerslie on October 25 over 6f, slow going 4.5 len behind Power Of Three with 130lbs at $8.10. Fitter for that run and will be tough to beat.
3	Last start faded in the straight 11th of 14 at Ellerslie on May 23 over 1m, slow going 5 len behind I Park with 126lbs at $16.20. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 11 at Pukekohe on May 1 over 7f, slow going 3.5 len behind Fleeting Glimpse carrying 126lbs at $18.10. Capable of sharp improvement. 3rd Pick 3 Imperial Empress Jockey: Unknown Jockey Trainer: Stephen Marsh J: Unknown Jockey T: Stephen Marsh	148	-	-	-	7%	15/1
Analysis Last start faded in the straight 11th of 14 at Ellerslie on May 23 over 1m, slow going 5 len behind I Park with 126lbs at $16.20. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 11 at Pukekohe on May 1 over 7f, slow going 3.5 len behind Fleeting Glimpse carrying 126lbs at $18.10. Capable of sharp improvement.

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Horse Racing Basic Terms

Turf Course

A racetrack made of grass.

Bleeder

A horse that bleeds due to a ruptured blood vessel during a race or workout. The medication Lasix can fix this problem.

Rabbit

Also known as a pacemaker; this is a horse with no expected chance of winning but is used to prompt a quick pace on the front end of the race to the benefit of a stablemate who is a closer.