Riccarton Race 1
8 Hinata
Hinata is first-up in NZ since coming across from Australia. It raced under Mark Walker's care in Melbourne before recently shifting into Robert Dennis' stable in Southland. It comes into this with no public trials or jumpouts, which is a slight query/concern. Her sole career win in Australia over 1000m when first-up was impressive, she wouldn't have to improve much of that effort to be winning what looks to be a fairly moderate R65 contest.

Riccarton Race 2
3 Cool Aza Rene
Cool Aza Rene won well on debut, beating home a subsequent race winner in Abbakiss. While she is very short in the market, she does look awfully hard to beat. I would consider having a saver or exotic plays with Miss Ziggy who should be much better suited getting back on to a firmer deck.

Riccarton Race 3
2 Jon Ol Rocco
Jon Ol Rocco simply wasn't suited to the Heavy10 track underfoot last start, therefore I'll be putting a line through that run. He gets back on to a firmer surface this time and he maps to get a nice cart across outside of Green Luck in the early stages, which will see him up near the speed in what will likely be a slowly run race. He looks the one they'll have to beat with something close to his best here.

Riccarton Race 4
15 Words Of Mine
Tricky maiden contest to assess at publish, with many of those accepted for this race backing up from Saturday. Should Words Of Mine back up, I thought the opening price about her at publish was well overs compared to others out of the same race on Saturday. She got back on a day where not many made ground from the back or in the outside lanes, whilst also having excuses in the home straight. Low confidence betting race but I'll be siding with Words Of Mine at the price.

Riccarton Race 5
17 Malacca Bay
Malacca Bay comes out of a Waverley maiden that rated well for mine. She was caught wide and working from the outset in that race, while those who fought the finish out were in lanes 1-3 in the run home. She was strongly backed first-up, which is always a promising lead from this stable also. She draws a nice low gate (4) here and should get every chance to run a much improved race.

Riccarton Race 6
1 The Hottie
Under the conditions of this race, The Hottie and Third Decree look incredibly well weighted compared to many others in the race. I am siding with the Hottie, off the back of a very impressive win when resuming in the Taranaki Breeders' last start. With natural improvement 2nd up, she looks the one to beat with even luck in running.

Riccarton Race 7
2 Class
Tip of The Day
I'm keen to be against Domain Ace if he was to line up here, given this would be his 3rd start in two weeks whilst also doing a fair amount of travel. Class won well on debut at Waverley, which rated well enough to suggest he wouldn't have to improve much to be winning this race. He draws gate one, Liam Riordan now takes the reins for team Te Akau and he looks to get every chance in what looks a moderate race outside of Domain Ace. Best bet.

Riccarton Race 8
3 Matscot
Matscot comes into this off the back of a last start 3rd in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate behind One Bold Cat. He will get back from the middle draw (8) in this, which should be favourable, as I expect this race to be run at a genuine clip throughout. He has a great record here at his home track and looks to get every chance to add to it in this.

Riccarton Race 9
10 Black Betty
Black Betty stuck on best of the leaders in a race that was run to suit those back in the field. She was ridden against her typical racing pattern that day and she has previously raced best when saved for one run at them. Not a high confidence betting race for mine, however, I think Black Betty will run a much improved race here with even luck in running.

Riccarton Race 10
13 Sheaf
13 Sheaf: I found this a very tricky race to assess to close proceedings at Riccarton. Sheaf is on the quick back-up from Saturday where she was very good coming from the back of the field to run 5th against the pattern on the day. The drop back from 2000m to 1800m is okay for mine, given she did look to peak on her run late last start. Not a high confidence betting race but Sheaf does look a nice each way bet to finish the day at Riccarton.