Te Aroha Race 1
2 Mad Max
Mad Max was scratched from the meeting here last week after drawing extremely wide. He now gets a slightly more favourable middle draw (9) to work with here. He has trialled up for this and looks to find a very winnable maiden contest here. Hard to beat.

Te Aroha Race 2
2 Love Symbol
Love Symbol ran a much improved race at this course/distance last start when closing well for 2nd. She maps to get back off what looks a torrid early tempo, which should aid her in finishing over the top of these late in the piece. The Nose Band now goes on too which should be a big assist given she can be a keen going galloper.

Te Aroha Race 3
1 Tycoon Prince
Tycoon Prince was a good run behind Osteria at Pukekohe last start over 1200m, where he was involved in the early burn and kept fighting on doggedly down the long Pukekohe straight. He now gets a nice low draw (3) to work with here, while the drop back to 1150m should be ideal.

Te Aroha Race 4
6 Highgrass
Highgrass had no right to stick on and run 2nd here over 1100m last start after being caught three-wide without cover throughout. While she stepping out against R60 company here, it doesn't look any stronger than the maiden field she faced last start. The drop back to 1000m should suit, I thought she could lead these and take plenty of catching.

Te Aroha Race 5
2 Barrel
Barrel ran well against R60 company at this course/distance last start. He now drops back into maiden grade, gets the blinkers going on and Warren Kennedy jumping in the saddle from the inside gate. Not the strongest maiden staying contest and he looks to get his chance in this.

Te Aroha Race 6
1 Egyptian Queen
Egyptian Queen hasn't been quite performing to the level that she showed as a 3yo of late. She draws the inside here and maps to trail Marketplace who I thought may be able to lead this field from the low draw. If that does eventuate, I thought Egyptian Queen was clearly the horse to beat in this field. While Hankee Alpha was impressive on debut, the map looks tricky for her here and she now has to do it on a firmer track, therefore, I'll be against her at the price.

Te Aroha Race 7
12 Reggae Queen
Tip of The Day
Reggae Queen was enormous last start when flying home for 4th at Pukekohe. She produced the fastest closing 400m and 200m of the entire meeting that day, suggesting the step up to 1400m here will be to her liking. Although there is currently no jockey declared at publish, she clearly looks the horse to beat if she takes her place in this.

Te Aroha Race 8
2 Pericles
Pericles was outstanding at Ellerslie first-up before a very underwhelming performance second-up. If you can forgive his last start flop, his close up 2nd behind Luberon prior stacks up as extremely good form for a midweek R75 contest. The wide draw (9) could prove a touch sticky, however, if he performs up to his first-up run he may not need luck in running to be winning this.

Te Aroha Race 9
1 Ridefromtheashes
Ridefromtheashes ran very well on debut down at New Plymouth, where he finished strongly for 2nd. The way he got home on debut suggests that the step up to 1400m second-up will be right up his alley. Michael McNab now takes the steer from a low draw (4) and with natural improvement from his debut effort, he will be hard to beat in this.

Te Aroha Race 10
6 I Excel
I Excel was well beaten in his first two career starts last campaign, however, both starts were on Heavy tracks. The blinkers go on for this resuming run and I thought he might be able to give a sight if they elect to push forward from the wide gate (18). Not a high confidence betting race but I thought I Excel was worth speculating on at long odds.

Te Aroha Race 11
10 Bellafranca
Bellafranca's resuming run at Ellerslie is easily forgivable given she was parked three-wide and working throughout in what was her first run in 200 days. She will get a much better run here second-up from the inside draw, which should give her every opportunity to run a much improved race this time. If she can run up to her 2nd placing behind Scarlet Oak earlier this year, she would take some beating in this. Looks a great each way play at the price.