Tauranga Race 1
1 Detrimental
Detrimental looks a great bet to kick off proceedings at Tauranga. He will likely push forward and try to lead from the wide gate (7), which would see him very hard to beat if he found the front. Many of these are untested on firmer footing, which is a big question mark for me. Hoping to see a positive ride from Riddell aboard Detrimental, think he can show these a clean pair of heels if he were to find the front.

Tauranga Race 2
16 Bamboozle
While Bamboozle doesn't currently have a rider declared at publish, I think he looks the horse to beat should he run here. He comes into this off the back of two very nice trials, which should have him in good order to run well first-up over a mile. There looks to be a strong speed engaged here, which may see him land at least a couple of pairs back on the fence from the inside draw.

Tauranga Race 3
12 Nigella Lane
Nigella Lane looks well over the odds for mine here. She fought on doggedly at Te Rapa last start despite being wide and working throughout. She now switches back to the inside draw here, which should see her land a great trailing position behind a genuine speed. Happy to speculate each way on her at a price.

Tauranga Race 4
4 Frostfair
Frostfair was very good last start at Te Rapa when running 3rd, where the two horses that beat her home when lead and trail in run. There looks to be a very strong early speed engaged here, which should see her land a great spot ahead of midfield from the middle draw (5).

Tauranga Race 5
3 Sako
Sako was very underwhelming at Te Rapa first-up, where he got back on the fence and made up no ground in the straight. I'm willing to forgive that run, as the race shape didn't see many in the race make up much ground. He has typically raced up on the speed in the past, hopefully they elect to ride him more positively here. Safe to say a much improved effort can be expected second up and McNab jumping aboard only helps.

Tauranga Race 6
4 Twain
Twain was ridiculously good last start at Ellerslie. Although he was beaten for the first time, that performance rated better than both of his wins prior. The form out of Twain's last start has stacked up with Luberon winning by nearly 3L in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes since. Sam Spratt now jumps aboard, therefore a positive ride from the middle gate (8) can be expected. There looks to be a strong tempo engaged, which may see Twain roll forward and take a sit behind the likes of Shoes early.

Tauranga Race 7
2 Rebecchi
Extremely difficult race to dissect, where I thought Rebecchi would win doing handstands if the best version of him showed up. Unfortunately, that is a big "if", given he has been inexplicably poor on occasions also, which has seen him only beat home 6 runners in aggregate across his last 5 starts. Back on a firmer deck here and jumping up in trip second-up both look to be ticks in his favour. Think we're getting the right price to speculate on the best version of him showing up.

Tauranga Race 8
10 Jolted
Jolted has been building nicely this campaign and running very well over trips shorter than her best so far. She now gets a very ideal setup to be winning this. Jolted's now third-up, stepping out over 2100m and gets down on the minimum due to stepping up to Open Handicap company. Drawn to get a cosy run throughout, if she can blend into the race at the right time she'll take some beating.

Tauranga Race 9
8 Navigator
Tip of The Day
Navigator has been ultra-impressive at his two starts this time in. He had no right to be sticking on and running 2nd to Luberon last start, where he was caught wide and working throughout yet still beat home three group one winning sprinters from last season. He maps to settle handy to the speed with a clean getaway, which should see him poised turning for home. I think he can prove too sharp for the likes of La Crique and Wild Night over 1300m with the additional race fitness on his side. Best bet.

Tauranga Race 10
7 Modernise
Low confidence betting race to close the card at Tauranga. Outside of her very moderate resuming run, Modernise probably brings some of the better form on top of the ground for this, having performed well in races much stronger than this last season. They've tinkered with her gear, with the Cornell Collar now going on. Will need luck from the wide gate (19), can win this if the breaks go her way.