SATURDAY 10 DEC. AT TE RAPA

Saturday 10 December at Te Rapa

Weather: showery, track: Soft5, rail: true. 16mls rain forecast Saturday.

12:40 p.m. R1 5 Shoes (2 f Derryn – Ambitious Beauty, by Towkay) – Cameron Lamams; cornered well and never really out of second gear winning 800-metre trial with ears pricked on 29 November at Avondale, and debuts in the $50,000 2YO 1100 metres. She meets small but select field and rates top three if able to emulate trial performances. Fixed odds: $4.20 & $1.25.

1:50 p.m. R3 10 Lingjun Hero (4 h Spirit of Boom – Weekend Surprise, by Rubiton) – Cameron Lammas; raced outside leader and eventual winner Clever Ruds (El Roca) when finishing third with notable fresh-up run in the Rating 75 1300 metres here on 5 November, and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1200 metres. Meets stronger field, likely to go forward from wide draw (10) and should go well with repeat performance. Fixed odds: $21.00 & $5.50.

2:28 p.m. R4 10 Dragon Queen (5 m Sweynesse – Happy Endings, by Tavistock) – Cameron Lammas; resumed with notable third in the Open 1300 metres on 29 October at Matamata, and chased well for second in the Open 1300 metres here on 26 November. She won the Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) last season, good quality mare and ideally drawn (3) to race well in the $100,000 J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m). Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00. Pictured

2:28 p.m. R4 11 Tevere (5 m Contributer – Italian Princess, by Bertolini) – Michael McNab; finished sixth in the same race as Dragon Queen (above) here on 26 November and contests the $100,000 J Swap Sprint (Gr. 3, 1400m). Fitter for two runs this preparation, won four of eight course attempts, and shapes to prove competitive. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.30.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard said: “Shoes trialled up really well, having her first race day start, and continues to improve all the time. She is starting to stretch out, but looks good and looks fit. She is professional and has a great nature.”

“Lingjun Hero finished third here when resuming and really happy with the way he came through the race and has worked up since. He is jumping out of his skin.”

“Dragon Queen has been kept fresh since finishing second here last time and she is very well. She looks fantastic and worked up super.”

“Tevere is having her third start in this preparation and fitness should now be spot on. She has worked up well, looks good, and in good frame of mind. She is mature and stable and we hope to see her finishing strongly.”