5 To Follow: Wairio Cup Day

Jonny Turner Harness Racing Journalist

With arguably the best fields seen in Southland so far this year, Otautau Four Square Wairio Cup Day is set to be a cracker.

Racing journalist Jonny Turner has delved deep into Sunday’s field and found five horses harness racing fans may be keen to follow.

Rakamick - Race 2

Anyone who saw Rakamick’s last start at Gore might be wondering how he is still a maiden.

The pacer worked hard in the running before fighting on tenaciously to run third.

Before that effort, Rakamick took on smart two-year-olds such as Always Dreaming and Spicey Crunch.

After enjoying a freshen-up, the three-year-old returned to the trials track where he ran a solid third behind two handy types.

Fitter for that run and into a very winnable race on Sunday, Rakamick looks well placed to finally break maiden status in race 2.

Jaccka Elvis - Race 6

After tearing up the trials track recently, Jaccka Elvis looks well poised for a big debut in race 6.

The three-year-old has only been beaten in one of his trial runs, when running home strongly out of the pack for third.

The pacer’s barrier 2 draw puts him inside all of his main threats, with most of those drawn wide or on the second row.

If Jaccka Elvis can take the experience of race day in his stride, he can make a winning debut in race 6.

Because going by his trials, he certainly has the motor.

Snap Shot - Race 9

The formline tells the story with Snap Shot.

She’s been excellent this time in and excellent throughout her short career.

She’s one of the lower-rated horses in Sunday’s field, but that secures her barrier number 1.

And it is more of a reflection of her status as an up-and-comer than her being inferior to any of her rivals.

Snap Shot’s shown gate speed in her short career, which she will need to hold a forward spot from the inside.

The one query is whether she has enough early toe to push out hard and seal her own fate.

There looks a good chance she can do that and if that is the case, she should take some catching.  

Practical Magic - Race 10

In wide-open races with plenty of talent, it’s a big risk to stand out any horse and suggest it’s one to follow.

But Practical Magic looks worth the risk in Sunday’s feature trot.

She’s not always pretty to watch and she can put in a few rough steps, but she’s been running excellent races lately and her confidence only seems to be growing.

At Winton she gets the advantage of starting from the front line and with the manners she’s been showing lately, she could take plenty of catching.

The horses off handicaps are going to make excellent beginnings or run serious sectional times to catch Practical Magic if she is able to lead and roll along at a strong tempo.

She’s no good thing, but she’s an eachway threat in a competitive race.

Built For Glory – Race 11

It may make little to pick a horse that has had one standing start and made a hash of it.

But Built For Glory gets his shot at stepping away as the only horse on the back mark of the Wairio Cup.

His trainers at Stonewall Stud are certain to have worked on their four-year-old’s early manners following the last time he faced the barrier strands at Nelson.

If he is able to step away cleanly, Built For Glory is clearly the horse to beat in Sunday’s feature.

He’s beaten his main rival Miraculous several times and the rest of the field looks within his reach.

Though there is some risk about him, Built For Glory is clearly the horse to beat in the Wairio Cup.