Riccarton Race 1
6 Zelia
OpenRace time: 06:55 pm, 25 Oct 2024
Zelia couldn't have been more impressive in her latest trial win when streeting her opposition by 12.5L. The possibility of a wet track wouldn't concern me too much with her given her trial win was on a Soft7, while I have question marks about how many others in this will cop a rain-effected track.

Riccarton Race 2
4 Mogul
Mogul looks to get a very similar setup here to what saw him run a very good 2nd to Tonia's Dragon two starts back at this course/distance. He maps to settle closer than usual if he can jump cleaner with Jonathan Riddell taking the reins this time from the low draw (2).

Riccarton Race 3
11 Retail Therapy
Retail Therapy had been going from strength to strength until copping a check last start when not looking very likely. I'm relying on the rain for her in this, as if it arrives I think she should be favourite in this. I have concerns about almost all of these outside of her handling a Heavy track, while she also has a recent race fitness edge over many of her rivals.

Riccarton Race 4
1 Baggio
Baggio is first-up in the South Island for Andrew Carston after not being able to break his maiden in the north. He's first-up without a trial but brings strong wet track credentials from the North Island, which would hold him in good stead here if the forecasted rain hits Riccarton. If the rain doesn't arrive, then Bealey Valley would be the one to beat with the blinkers now going on. This race will be a weather/track watch as to who I side with.

Riccarton Race 5
2 Times Ticking
Similar to the previous race, I'll be basing my selection off the forecasted rain arriving at Riccarton, which would see Times Ticking extremely hard to beat if it did. He's one of the better wet trackers going around and while he has performed to a high level on top of the ground (including his last start win), he would become a much better chance if the track was to become Heavy.

Riccarton Race 6
1 Noble Knight
Noble Knight went great for 2nd behind Lombardi in his first run back since returning from Australia. The step up to 3000m will be a question mark for many of these, however, Noble Knight does have a 2600m win to his name at Riccarton which rated very well. He looks the one they have to beat on paper.

Riccarton Race 7
2 Kiwi Skyhawk
Tip of The Day
Kiwi Skyhawk has shown plenty of ability to date and the Riccarton mile looks right up his alley now. He's drawn to land a trailing position from the inside gate and with even luck in running he should be winning this. If the track was to become Heavy, I think you could do worse than saving on He's Lucid also.

Riccarton Race 8
7 Warlac
Warlac was strongly backed first-up at Ashburton and duly saluted. Donovan Cooper rides and claims 3kg again, where he looks to get a very similar run around midfield tagging Nuncio. He is better suited on top of the ground yet may handle the potentially rain-effected going better than most here going off his sole Heavy track placing.

Riccarton Race 9
1 Aljay
Aljay tends to hit his straps around this time of year and his win at Rotorua last start would suggest he is on song for another NZ Cup carnival this year. His ability to handle anything from a Good3 to a Heavy10 makes him a reliable commodity in a race where many are banking on firmer footing.

Riccarton Race 10
1 Treybon
Treybon trialled well before running a very brave 3rd first-up after being caught wide and working throughout. He now gets the services of Tina Comignaghi 2nd up, which should only aid his chances here. While I have question marks about where many of his rivals are at, Treybon historically rates significantly better 2nd up than what he has 1st up, which would see him go close if that trend continued here.