We’ve locked in our top pick for every race at Saturday’s Trentham meeting, which features the final two Group 1s to be contested this season.
Romilly (#4) hasn’t quite delivered at her last two starts, but her dominant R75 win over 1400m on New Year’s Day is hard to overlook. The wet track suits and the key jockey stick. Both positive signs she can bounce back in the opener.
| 4. Romilly (5) J: Michael McNab 57.5kg 61756 T: Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall |
Young Jackson (#3) was a big winner three starts ago and has since put in two outstanding performances. His fifth placed effort at his last start was a lot better than it looks on paper. In a much stronger race that this, he charged home to be in a blanket finish, less than a length from the winner.
| 3. Young Jackson (8) J: George Rooke 58.5kg 8135 T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
Capaci (#7) is resuming from a three month spell but trainer Robbie Patterson will have her ready to go. She was outstanding when winning on debut and again showed a terrific turn of foot when powering into the placings at her second start, in the G3 Eulogy Stakes. She‘ll get back from her draw but will be powering home in the late stages.
| 7. Capaci (9) J: Craig Grylls 57kg 13X T: Robbie Patterson |
Geneva (#1) comes into this on the back of a NZ Derby placing so will have no issue staying the trip and has come up with a perfect draw to take a sit or set the tempo out in front.
| 1. Geneva (1) J: Rory Hutchings 57kg 57163 T: Kylie Hoskin |
Anderson Bridge (#13) is a former Aussie who has made an impressive start to his New Zealand career, winning three of his four starts. He was campaigned over longer trips in Australia, including the 2024 Queensland Derby (2400m), so I don’t expect he will have any issues seeing out the 2100 metres here.
| 13. Anderson Bridge (8) J: Bruno Queiroz 55kg X1511 T: Kevin & Stephen Gray |
Seize The Day (#4) can land the powerful Te Akau stable another juvenile Group 1 success in the first of the Trentham features. The I Am Invincible colt made a mess of his rivals to win his last start by over two lengths after a strong placing on debut.
| 4. Seize The Day (11) J: Opie Bosson 57kg 31 T: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
Archaic Smile (#7) stuck on well against strong opposition in both starts since winning here on 31 January, particularly in the Wairere Falls Classic where she finished into fourth, despite sitting wide the entire trip. She’s worth an each way play back at a track she loves.
| 7. Archaic Smile (8) J: Masa Hashizume 53kg 54144 T: Hollie Wynyard |
Mare Of Mt Buller (#10) stomped home to finish only a couple of lengths off the winner in her New Zealand debut after settling last in the run. The Chris Waller-trained mare will enjoy the step up in trip to 1600 and should be able to land a spot closer to the leaders this time after coming up with a good draw.
| 10. Mare Of Mt Buller (2) J: Rory Hutchings 57kg 80125 T: Chris Waller |
Too Sweet (#3) went off the boil late last year after showing tremendous promise earlier on in her career. Will have taken plenty of benefit from a recent spell and $21 is a juicy price for a filly who started the 2025 Karaka Million as a $5.00 third favourite.
| 3. Too Sweet (10) J: Matt Cartwright 57kg 5554X T: Roydon Bergerson |