Oamaru Race 1
2 Castlebrae
Massive effort last start here when doing a mountain of work wide out on the track throughout. While he was beaten home by race rival and favourite, Peachy Keen, he was undoubtedly the better run of the two. I don't think Castlebrae will be three and four wide the journey from gate one, which should aid in seeing him running out the 1600m strongly.

Oamaru Race 2
4 Kabugee
Really keen to be with Kabugee in this, now getting on to a surface which is slightly firmer than what he has encountered of late. He's a much better horse than he's been showing of late, I think this is his chance to find some of his better form.

Oamaru Race 3
6 Pomalo
Happy to stick with the same form reference as Castlebrae in Race 1. Pomalo was another doing plenty of work up on speed and stuck on gamely in the straight. Drawing 1 should see her land on speed again which can be hugely beneficial around this circuit. While El Chapeau looks a horse with plenty of upside, I was much happier siding with Pomalo off the fitness edge and better price.

Oamaru Race 4
4 Titicaca
Tip of The Day
I was in Titicaca's corner last start on the Riccarton Synthetic, where he got back in a slowly run race and potentially didn't handle the synthetic surface. Now getting back on a Heavy8-9 deck, drawn low (2), with a senior rider on, there looks to be plenty of ticks in his favour.

Oamaru Race 5
2 Hidalgo
Gutsy efforts his past two starts, when copping plenty of pressure in front on both occasions. Expect he will roll forward again and utilise the 3kg claim of Yogesh Atchamah. If he is allowed to dictate terms in front, or takes a sit without doing too much early work, he looks the horse to beat in this field.

Oamaru Race 6
3 Fakeittillumakeit
Won well here last start when clearing his maiden. That win rated well enough for mine to suggest he could go on with it now in R65 grade.

Oamaru Race 7
11 Retail Therapy
Really keen to be with this ex-Northerner who is now first-up in the South Island for Kenny Moore. While she was well beaten in her only start in the North Island, Retail Therapy trialled up really impressively for mine, which I think is a great guide to her chances first-up in the South Island.

Oamaru Race 8
11 Paramount Prince
Low confidence betting race to finish the card, a race that I found difficult to assess. I did side with Paramount Prince though, he's very hard to catch (as his record would suggest), however, his A-game would be competitive in this sort of field.