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Two Group 1 races will be run and won alongside the time-honoured staying feature, but you can find my selections for all ten races below in my 2024 Auckland Cup Day Preview.
RACE 1 - 10:30AM: Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes (1600m)Pearl Of Alsace resumes in a very winnable race on Auckland Cup Day.
The Tavistock mare turned in some smart performances last time in, filling the minors in Group 1 company here in New Zealand before finishing a credible fourth in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes most notably.
She can use this as a stepping stone into something bigger and better.
2 Units Pearl Of Alsace
RACE 2 - 11:05AM: Go Racing Handicap (1400m)Rudyard takes winning form into this race and looks the one to beat again.
The Charm Spirit gelding has been racing in strong and consistent form this time in, winning in BM75 company here back in January further to his easy win a couple of weeks ago.
He's hard fit and I can't find a reason why he won't be in the finish again.
2 Units Rudyard
RACE 3 - 11:40AM: Barfoot & Thompson BM75 (2100m)We were with Infer at each of his last two starts and I don't see any reason why we should be jumping off on Auckland Cup Day.
Infer was nothing short of dominant in BM66 company back in January, and he franked that effort with another two and a half length triumph at this grade last time.
He's hard fit and my best bet on the program.
4 Units Infer
RACE 4 - 12:20PM: Thank You To The NZB Slot Holders Special Maiden (1400m)Open race with plenty of winning chances engaged, and I thought that it looked the logical next point of call for Hat Trick.
Hat Trick didn't show a lot on debut at Arawa Park back in April last year, but returned from a break to record an easy win in maiden company a couple of weeks ago.
I'm expecting plenty of improvement for that experience and he can begin his rise through the grades.
1 Unit E/W Hat Trick
RACE 5 - 12:53PM: Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m)Captured By Love puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Sistema Stakes and does look the one to beat again.
Having debuted for an eye-catching two-length win back in November and hasn't taken a backwards step, winning each of her three subsequent starts with plenty in hand.
With even luck, she does look up to something of this quality.
3 Units Captured By Love
RACE 6 - 1:29PM: Tempur Classic (1200m)Marengo has been knocking on the door of a win since resuming and won't have any excuses this week.
Incredibly, the Charm Spirit gelding has only been denied by one galloper in each of three runs back, and was last seen finishing only a head behind a smart Opaea Joe at Tauranga.
In peak order and from the perfect draw, he might not be offered a better opportunity.
2 Units Marengo
RACE 7 - 2:04PM: Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes (2000m)Legarto is one of the best horses currently saddled in New Zealand and understandably, has opened a clear $1.50 favourite in Bonecrusher Stakes betting.
The Proisir mare is a multiple Group 1 champion and steps out again this week in winning form after destroying them in the Herbie Dyke last time.
I think she wins again but she is too short for me at the current quote, so I am going to select her as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Sharp 'N' Smart running into the first three.
Same Race Multi selections:
► No. 9 Legarto (Win)
► No. 1 Sharp 'N' Smart (Top 3)
RACE 8 - 2:39PM: SNG Media BM75 (1400m)One of the more open races on the Auckland Cup Day program and at publish, we're looking at $5 the field.
Singing Sun has been on the constant improve since resuming and looks a genuine each way chance again.
Having finished down the order over 1200m at Te Rapa early last month, the Burgundy gelding has since finished fourth in an open handicap and second, beaten a nose here last week.
The 1400m looks perfect at this point of his prep and we can have a small each way play at current odds ($9 at publish).
1 Unit E/W Singing Sun
RACE 9 - 3:14PM: Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m)I'm siding with Mark Twain in this year's Auckland Cup.
Mark Twain performed well in some leading three-year-old races earlier last year, and after returning to action to finish third in BM75 company at Wanganui in January, he impressed over 2100m at Te Rapa.
He was good through the line in the St Leger Trial at Otaki last time out, but I thought that it was the run of a horse looking for more ground, and he gets that this week.
2 Units Mark Twain
RACE 10 - 3:50PM: Skycity Horizon BM65 (2100m)Tough way to end the day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for many of them, including Desert Mystic.
Desert Mystic is yet to win in four starts back from a freshen up, but his last two starts were both desperately unlucky not to herald a victory, and he might not be offered a better opportunity than this.
1 Unit E/W Desert Mystic
