Captain Dolmio's dominating group three Summer Cup win at Addington last month points to him being the horse to beat in the $40,000 Yaldhurst Hotel Northern Southland Cup at Ascot Park on Saturday.
His previous two outings had also been in group threes and hadn't been that bad either. First of those had seen him just edged out by the McGrath pair Classie Brigade and Ears Burning in the Central Otago Cup and the next by Classie Brigade alone in the Invercargill Cup.
At Addington, Classie Brigade was among the tidy line-up chasing Captain Dolmio and with from some notable individual exceptions, Saturday's Cup field doesn't have the same depth.
Most notable of the exceptions is Titan Banner who was superb when winning last Saturday's 3200 metres Wyndham Cup in 3:58.9 after starting off 50 metres.
The win was a credit to the conditioning skills of his trainer Graeme Anderson and there is no doubt he will have him ready for another top run. This, despite the seven-day back-up after a couple of months away from racing.
However, the New Zealand Cup placegetter will be giving Captain Dolmio 20 metres at the start and even in a small field, that will be a big ask over just 2700 metres this weekend.
Last year's Northern Southland Cup runner-up Costa Del Magnifico has been a tad below his best this campaign. From the same mark as Titan Banner, he looks unlikely to threaten the top two. While certainly a trifecta chance, so too are Ears Burning and Luciano.
Since running sixth in Harriot Of Mot's group three Prydes Easi-Feed Southern Lights Trot at this meeting 12 months ago, Bordeaux has competed at the highest level.
Fourth in the Dominion in November, the six year old had his most recent outing at Alexandra Park in the group one National Trot. From back in the pack at the 800.
Bordeaux worked hard to get in contention and clocked 3:20.0 for the 2700 metre mobile, failing by just three quarters of a length to overhaul Quite A Moment. He was given a trial at Rangiora on Wednesday a week ago and after running in the pack mostly, stretched out nicely the last bit to ready him for Saturday.
Eyre I Come returns to Ascot Park for the first time since failing in this race in 2015. He is a previous winner at 3200 metres and has won his latest three starts including the group three Summer Free For All at Addington last month. Although the six year old gives Bordeaux a 10 metre start, he won't make it easy for him.
Dual jewels winner King Denny also failed in this race in 2015 and has had injury problems since. There will be plenty of interest in his performance, and that of up and coming Wyndham winner De Vito.
The group three Alabar New Zealand Caduceus Club of Southland two year old fillies Classic brings together three Canterbury and four Southland runners, all but one not seen before on raceday.
A trial at Winton on Wednesday a week ago showcased three of the southerners with Shawami Lass, after trailing the leader to the turn, running home best to win by three and a half lengths in 1:59.6.
However, Excellent, a trial winner back in December, was hard held on the back of Iwanadancewitsumbody when fourth and appeared to have more to show. Nice trials by Dizzy Miss Lizzy suggest she may be the best of the Cantabrians.
Mac Henry
