Sunday, 10 May 2026
No more jumps at this meeting today.
Punty's Punts
Race type: Restricted Hurdle, 3000m
Map & tempo: Slow tempo, so this becomes a patience game with the jumpers and the horse that can keep rolling late
Punty read: Never Look Back gets the top billing, but this is the sort of race where the runner with the cleanest jump and the least fuss can steal a length on the way around. So Call Me and Autumn Beauty are the ones that can keep me honest if they settle and relax, while Rocem is the roughie getting plenty of love from the market. In a slowly-run hurdle, one bad jump is like missing the cue in a heist movie, the whole caper can fall apart.
Top 3 + Roughie ($8.50 pool)
1. Never Look Back (No.1) — $4.00 / $1.70 🏆 WINNER
Bet $8.50 Each Way ($4.25W + $4.25P) — ✓ Won, net +$20.82
Prob 11.4% | Place: 28.0% | Value: 0.55x
Why Honest type and the long trip suits better than a dash; if Emily Farr keeps him out of trouble, he's the one with the right staying profile.
2. So Call Me (No.4) — $5.50 / $2.10 🏆 3RD
Bet Tracked
Prob 10.6% | Place: 26.4% | Value: 0.71x
Why The top pick's each-way already covers the place angle here — doubling up is paying twice for the same insurance. Tracked instead.
3. Autumn Beauty (No.8) — $5.50 / $2.10 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 10.3% | Place: 25.7% | Value: 0.71x
Why Can run on, but this looks more like a place-place-place type than one to be throwing stones at the grandstand with.
Roughie: Rocem (No.11) — $23.00 / $5.50 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 7.4% | Place: 21.0% | Value: 2.50x
Why The market has come for him in a big way, and if he lands the right rhythm and the leaders do the usual hurdle comedy, he can absolutely loom up late.
Race type: Restricted Stpl, 3800m
Map & tempo: Slow tempo, which screams control for the on-pace types and makes the backmarkers need a miracle or a blinder from the hoop
Punty read: Fourty Eight is the one with the map advantage and the class edge, and this is the kind of staying steeple where being the bloke in front with the answers counts for plenty. Name The Game can stalk and pounce if the front-runner gives an inch, while Mr Fabulous is the sneaky roughie if the whole thing turns into a crawl-and-sprint. Race 2 has banker energy if you like horses that can keep the rhythm. Think "The Quiet Man" not "Mad Max".
Top 3 + Roughie ($10.00 pool)
1. Fourty Eight (No.3) — $2.21 / $1.25 🏆 WINNER
Bet $4.50 Win — ✓ Won, net +$5.85
Prob 18.4% | Place: 44.0% | Value: 0.46x
Why Looks the horse to catch from the front half of the map, and the trainer-jockey set-up says this is a serious play, not a picnic.
2. Name The Game (No.5) — $5.45 / $1.75 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $5.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$5.50
Prob 12.6% | Place: 32.8% | Value: 0.92x
Why Does enough of the right things to be there at the business end, especially if the favourite doesn't get the trip done early.
3. Prince Turbo (No.1) — $6.95 / $2.10 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 11.9% | Place: 31.4% | Value: 1.17x
Why Honest old bugger, but the weight and map say he's more likely to run a place than blow the doors off.
Roughie: Mr Fabulous (No.6) — $12.50 / $3.10 🏆 3RD
Bet Tracked
Prob 10.8% | Place: 28.9% | Value: 1.97x
Why If the tempo gets ugly and the leaders start playing musical chairs, he's one of the few who can sneak into the frame.
Race type: Benchmark 65, 2060m
Map & tempo: Hot tempo with Billy Boy, Uhtred and Air Dancer rolling forward; this should sort the men from the boys
Punty read: Billy Boy is the obvious map horse, but this is not a sit-and-pat race for the front-runners because the pace is going to be proper. Sacred Zed and Bernardo are the ones that can charge home if the leaders cut each other's throats, and Renegade Fighter is the roughie with a big late swoop if the race turns into a relaunch of Top Gun. You want to be on a horse that can handle the heat without folding like a deckchair.
Top 3 + Roughie ($8.50 pool)
1. Billy Boy (No.1) — $3.65 / $1.50 🏆 2ND
Bet $8.50 Each Way ($4.25W + $4.25P) — Cashed, net -$0.85
Prob 13.7% | Place: 34.1% | Value: 0.62x
Why Owns a handy tactical spot and has enough class to keep grinding when the speed horses start looking at each other funny.
2. Sacred Zed (No.4) — $3.38 / $1.40 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 14.1% | Place: 34.8% | Value: 0.57x
Why The top pick's each-way already covers the place angle here — doubling up is paying twice for the same insurance. Tracked instead.
3. Carignan (No.8) — $5.90 / $2.15 🏆 4TH
Bet Tracked
Prob 11.4% | Place: 29.3% | Value: 0.89x
Why Can hit the line, but wants a few things to go right and this tempo might get messy before the real run home.
Roughie: Renegade Fighter (No.10) — $24.25 / $5.50 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 8.8% | Place: 25.9% | Value: 3.24x
Why If the speed collapses and the backmarkers get their chance, he's the bloke storming home down the outside like he's late for the airport.
Race type: Maiden, 2060m
Map & tempo: Moderate tempo, which should give the midfield runners a fair shake without turning it into a sit-and-sprint lottery
Punty read: Djibouti has the ace draw and the best numbers on the page, and that's the kind of thing you lean into in a maiden on a soft deck. Loose Enz is the danger because the map says he'll get a nice enough trail, while Heza Monty looks the type to keep rolling late if the tempo is honest. Keepz Occurring and Justify That are the roughie-ish types, but this is one of those maidens where the horse with the cleanest run usually gets first crack. Feels a bit like an old-school football final: nothing fancy, just survival.
Top 3 + Roughie ($11.00 pool)
1. Djibouti (No.8) — $4.90 / $2.00 🏆 2ND
Bet $6.50 Win — ✗ Lost, net -$6.50
Prob 12.9% | Place: 31.2% | Value: 0.78x
Why Best map in the race and enough dash to make the good gate count if Kelly Myers can ping him into the right spot.
2. Loose Enz (No.3) — $3.77 / $1.60 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $4.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$4.50
Prob 11.9% | Place: 29.2% | Value: 0.81x
Why Has the right sort of profile for a soft-track maiden, sit handy, save ground, and keep coming when others are gasping.
3. Heza Monty (No.1) — $3.98 / $1.65 🏆 WINNER
Bet Tracked
Prob 12.0% | Place: 29.4% | Value: 0.81x
Why Good enough to threaten, but not enough to be smashing the door down at this price.
Roughie: Les Boots (No.5) — $9.40 / $3.10 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 8.6% | Place: 22.1% | Value: 1.00x
Why Needs the race to get messy and the others to botch it, which is possible in a maiden, but the engine isn't begging you to jump.
Race type: Maiden, 1200m
Map & tempo: Hot tempo, with Justadude, Jasper and Bee Precious all likely to make this a proper scrap from the jump
Punty read: This is the race where the bar opens before the gates do. Roc All Night is the one the market has latched onto, and fair enough too, there should be enough heat early for a horse with a decent sit to take the last shot. Bee Precious is the clear place play, La Florida can ping into the frame from a better draw than some of the outer chaos, and the roughies are all needing the racing gods to look kindly on them. This one has "someone's going to get bailed up" written all over it.
Top 3 + Roughie ($11.00 pool)
1. Roc All Night (No.1) — $2.52 / $1.50 🏆 WINNER
Bet $6.50 Win — ✓ Won, net +$11.05
Prob 12.1% | Place: 33.9% | Value: 0.73x
Why Short enough, sure, but the map still says he gets the right run in the right race and that's half the battle in a 1200m blaze.
2. Bee Precious (No.8) — $4.05 / $2.00 🏆 4TH
Bet $4.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$4.50
Prob 10.4% | Place: 29.7% | Value: 0.74x
Why The sort of filly that can lob into a handy spot and stick on when the front end starts coughing dust.
3. La Florida (No.9) — $4.05 / $2.00 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.9% | Place: 28.4% | Value: 0.76x
Why Has enough natural speed to be a pain in the arse for the favourites, but the task gets harder from the map.
Roughie: Real Comedy (No.3) — $9.40 / $3.40 🏆 2ND
Bet Tracked
Prob 7.3% | Place: 21.9% | Value: 0.95x
Why Needs a proper collapse in front of him, but if the speed turns into a suicide mission he can hang around late.
Race type: Maiden, 1360m
Map & tempo: Genuine tempo with Bokushi setting it up front, so the trail horses should get their chance to stalk and strike
Punty read: Platinum Norway is the one I want on top, good enough to win, clean enough in the map, and not forced to do anything silly. Manuka Rush is the danger if he gets the right tow into it, Reconvene is the one who keeps the exotics honest, and Another Code is the roughie who is way bigger than he should be if you like a backmarker to gobble them up late. This is a race where tempo and lane choice matter more than the fashion parade.
Top 3 + Roughie ($10.00 pool)
1. Platinum Norway (No.9) — $4.20 / $1.60 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $5.50 Win — ✗ Lost, net -$5.50
Prob 15.1% | Place: 38.0% | Value: 0.86x
Why Best fit for the race shape and has enough quality to sit off the speed and finish the job.
2. Manuka Rush (No.3) — $4.00 / $2.10 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $4.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$4.50
Prob 13.6% | Place: 34.9% | Value: 0.90x
Why Can get the right trail behind the speed and has the sort of profile that says he'll be there when the whips are out.
3. Reconvene (No.1) — $3.75 / $2.00 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 13.5% | Place: 34.7% | Value: 0.94x
Why Honest enough, but the map means he needs to be a bit slicker than the market's asking.
Roughie: Another Code (No.13) — $27.00 / $5.00 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 6.2% | Place: 17.5% | Value: 1.90x
Why Needs the leaders to come back to the field and a fair wind from the back, but if the race melts he's the swooper who can pinch a place.
Race type: Benchmark 65, 1360m
Map & tempo: Genuine tempo, with Aramaki likely forcing the issue and the rest needing to get the right tow
Punty read: Portland is the one the market's already started to sniff around, and I can see why, the map is tidy, the race shape is fair, and this doesn't look like the sort of sprint where you want to be doing too much early. Sweet Talkin Gal and The Dirty Dee can both be in the mix if the pace doesn't get out of hand, while Redana is the roughie I don't hate if the leaders knock seven bells out of each other. It's a proper little trench fight, this one.
Top 3 + Roughie ($10.00 pool)
1. Portland (No.8) — $3.43 / $2.15 🏆 WINNER
Bet $10.00 Each Way ($5.00W + $5.00P) — ✓ Won, net +$28.50
Prob 9.5% | Place: 27.5% | Value: 0.50x
Why Maps like a horse that can sit in the right slot and get the last say when the pressure goes on.
2. Sweet Talkin Gal (No.10) — $3.44 / $2.15 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.4% | Place: 27.3% | Value: 0.49x
Why The top pick's each-way already covers the place angle here — doubling up is paying twice for the same insurance. Tracked instead.
3. The Dirty Dee (No.3) — $4.50 / $1.90 🏆 2ND
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.7% | Place: 28.0% | Value: 0.62x
Why Can stalk and fight on, but the market's got him about right and the sprint could get ugly fast.
Roughie: Redana (No.14) — $10.70 / $3.60 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 7.5% | Place: 22.2% | Value: 1.27x
Why If the speed gets overcooked and the wide run isn't a killer, she's the one who can come out of the smoke and nick a cheque.
Race type: Maiden, 1600m
Map & tempo: Slow tempo, which means the horse with the best turn-of-foot and the cleanest late run should get every chance
Punty read: Greek Anthology is the anchor of the day for me, best horse in the race, good enough to handle the soft deck, and if the speed is only moderate he'll get the last crack at them. Teams is the horse that can track into it from a decent spot, Ballinran is the honest engine room type, and Charlunga is the roughie if you want to dream a little. This is the sort of maiden where the class horse can look a million bucks or make everyone look silly, but the map says he gets his chance. Bit of Lord of the Rings here: one ring to rule them all, and Greek Anthology looks like the one carrying it.
Top 3 + Roughie ($10.00 pool)
1. Greek Anthology (No.3) — $2.44 / $1.32 🏆 2ND
Bet $10.00 Win — ✗ Lost, net -$10.00
Prob 13.9% | Place: 32.6% | Value: 0.76x
Why Best finisher in the race and the slow tempo should let him wind up when the others are still looking for their cue.
2. Teams (No.5) — $7.85 / $2.70 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.4% | Place: 23.4% | Value: 0.80x
Why A real chance — but at $2.70 the place he's not a saver, he's a punt, and that's not a price I insure at. Watching, not betting.
3. Ballinran (No.2) — $11.25 / $3.30 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 8.4% | Place: 21.3% | Value: 0.99x
Why Stays honest and can fill a hole if the leaders go nowhere, but he needs the race to fall into his lap.
Roughie: Charlunga (No.7) — $11.25 / $3.30 🏆 WINNER
Bet Tracked
Prob 8.1% | Place: 20.6% | Value: 1.03x
Why Untested enough to be dangerous, but you'd want the race to be run at a crawl and for someone else to crack first.
That's the ticket as I struck it — the legs below are exactly what ran, no rewriting history.
Smart: 1,4,8 / 3,5,1 / 1,4,8 / 8,3,1 (81 combos x $0.38 = $30.78) -- 38% flexi
That's the ticket as I struck it — the legs below are exactly what ran, no rewriting history.
Smart: 1,8,9 / 9,3,1 / 8,10,3 / 3,5,2 (81 combos x $0.38 = $30.78) -- 38% flexi
That's the ticket as I struck it — the legs below are exactly what ran, no rewriting history.
Smart: 1,4 / 3,5 / 1,4 / 8,3 / 1,8 / 9,3 (64 combos x $0.47 = $30.08) -- 47% flexi
The day's multi leans on three win legs across the card.
1 - Roc All Night (Race 5, No.1)✓ Won — $2.52
2 - Platinum Norway (Race 6, No.9) — $4.20
3 - Greek Anthology (Race 8, No.3)✗ — $2.44
Meeting Stats
Selections
Punty's Early Mail
Rightio Loose Units, Wanganui's serving up a Soft 7 with the rail out 4m, a shower or two hanging around and a bit of a crosswind to make life annoying for the leaders. This is the sort of card where the brave get rewarded and the mug punter starts yelling at the sky after the third if they get stuck on the fence.
MEET SNAPSHOT
Track: Wanganui, 1200m to 3800m card
Rail: Out 4m
Official going: Soft 7, expected to play a touch lane-savvy early and a bit chopping late
Weather: Shower or two, 15°C, humid with a decent SW breeze and gusts, watch for the track drying unevenly and the sprint lanes shifting around
Early lane guess: Best runs should be just off the fence early; later on, horses stalking the speed and peeling out look the sweet spot
Tempo profile: The sprints look genuinely run, the staying races are more of a grind, and the hot-speed races will punish the ones that overdo it
Jockeys to follow:
Masahiro Hashizume, gets aboard a couple of the cleanest maps on the card, and he's got the right sort of sit-and-steal style for this soft, tactical meeting
Kelly Myers, all over the card with live chances, including a couple that map nicely and a couple who'll need her to save every inch
Jonathan Riddell, the bloke you want when a race needs timing, patience, and a jockey who won't panic when the gaps don't appear straight away
Stables to respect:
K T Myers (5 runners), has a proper hand in the meeting with live darts across the hurdles and maidens; not here for a sightseeing tour
Robbie Patterson (2 runners), Roc All Night looks a serious anchor in the sprint, and The Dirty Dee can lob into the right sort of run
Ms L Latta (2 runners), Platinum Norway and Keeping Time both get their chances if the maps play as expected, and that's the sort of stable pattern you want to trust on a day like this
Punty's take:
This is not a day to get cute and start tossing darts at $30 pokes because they look sexy in the form guide. Wanganui on a Soft 7 with the rail out is one of those meetings where the first thing you do is respect the map: horses with a clean run, a bit of tactical speed, and the right wet-track manners are going to keep showing up like a bloke who knows where the good pie shop is.
The sprints look spicy, the middle-distance stuff is a bit of a chess match, and the staying races are where the grinders can nick a result if the pace goes to sleep. Race 5 is the chaos drumroll, hot speed, plenty of runners, and a favourite that still has to do it the hard way. Race 2 is the sleeper banker for mine, while Race 8 looks like a clean maiden for the class horse to boss if it gets anything like the run the map suggests.
Market action's given us a few clues too. Rocem in Race 1 has been crunched, Bokushi in Race 6 has firmed, and Greek Anthology in Race 8 has had the early love. That tells you where the sharper money is sniffing around, but on a card like this you still want to let the map do the heavy lifting instead of just chasing steam like a bloke in a Spider-Man suit sprinting after the last tram.
What it means for you:
Keep the aggression for the races where the map lines up cleanly and the market isn't making you pay through the nose. The best play today is to lean on the horse that can control or stalk a race on wet ground, then take a place line when the field's messy and the winning lane is sketchy. That's how you stop donating like a charity tin with legs.
Don't try to make every race a hero race. The banker-ish types should carry the load, the open races should be kept on a leash, and the roughies only come into play if they have a very obvious path to winning, not just because they're paying for your beer. This is a day for discipline, not fireworks. Let the track tell you who's travelling, and don't be shy about firing the place money where the price has been squeezed and the race shape still gives you an out.