The strongest evidence in a race dominated by unraced or lightly-raced horses. Shambo Jack has twice finished within a length of the winner in Open grade - 3rd at Ellerslie over 1200m on Soft 5 and 4th at Pukekohe - and now drops sharply in class to a Maiden. His soft-track record shows a placing from two attempts, and Race 1 at Te Rapa on Soft historically favours well-fancied, handy runners. The 140-day freshen and 0-for-2 first-up record are genuine risks, but the class edge over this field is decisive.
New Zealand · Saturday 22 August 2026
Te Rapa tips and results
Our top pick won 0 of 8 races at Te Rapa. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Banquo Mdn
She now drops to Maiden grade with 55.5kg, an advantageous draw in barrier 7, and Joe Doyle retaining the ride for the powerful O'Sullivan & Scott operation.
- 1st6Texas CowboyErin M Leighton$45.20
- 2nd7ProteusWarren Kennedy$35.60
- 3rd1Shambo JackMatthew Cartwright$6.10
- 4th11ShiraseSamantha Collett$5.40
Full result · 13 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Texas Cowboy | 4 | Erin M Leighton | Ms D Guy | 57.5kg | $45.20 |
| 2nd | 7 | Proteus | 2 | Warren Kennedy | Barbara Kennedy | 57.5kg | $35.60 |
| 3rd | 1 | Shambo Jack | 8 | Matthew Cartwright | S B Marsh | 57.5kg | $6.10 |
| 4th | 11 | Shirase | 5 | Samantha Collett | A W Pike | 55.5kg | $5.40 |
| 5th | 8 | Fiamma | 7 | Joe Doyle | L O'sullivan & A Scott | 55.5kg | $9.10 |
| 6th | 12 | Genie | 6 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | S B Marsh | 55.5kg | $51.80 |
| 7th | 4 | Coniston | 11 | Michael Mc Nab | L O'sullivan & A Scott | 57.5kg | $2.70 |
| 8th | 2 | Lit Show | 13 | Jack Taplin | Nick Kneebone | 55.5kg | $26.80 |
| 9th | 10 | Miss Magnetica | 1 | George Rooke | Hollie Elliot | 55.5kg | $7.10 |
| 10th | 3 | Spirit Of Ardsley | 9 | Wiremu Pinn | G Richardson & R Norvall | 57.5kg | $30.50 |
| 11th | 5 | Workout | 10 | Courtney Barnes | Conor & Sarah Fahy | 57.5kg | $24.90 |
| 12th | 9 | Karabellaskye | 3 | Hayley Hassman | R R Manning | 54.5kg | $51.50 |
| 13th | 13 | Imperialstatecrown | 12 | Craig Grylls | G Richardson & R Norvall | 55.5kg | $47.20 |
Noverre Mdn
The most credible distance and going form in the race. She backs up in seven days, which reads as a stable that believes the mare is at her peak. Barrier 7 lets Leighton settle her in the first half of the field, the measured winning zone at Te Rapa on Soft. Class step up is the query, but her form lines are the strongest here.
Barrier 1 is the premium draw on the Te Rapa Soft numbers and Collett is the best-performed rider at the track in this field.
The reservations are real: she is untried at 1600m, her wet form is all on Heavy rather than Soft, and no jockey is listed in the data supplied. Barrier 11 is workable rather than ideal. She rates a genuine top-three chance on grit and consistency but the unknowns keep her at third rather than higher.
Warren Kennedy strikes at 20% at Te Rapa and is 3 from 4 for Samantha Logan - a booking that reads as intent. Sweet Torquer has been placed twice in six starts including a third at this track, and returns to a mile after a 1300m sprint that was too short.
- 1st12Autumn HeightsMasahiro Hashizume$7.60
- 2nd13Wedding BelleJoe Doyle$14.00
- 3rd9Queen SansaSamantha Collett$4.90
- 4th10Sweet TorquerWarren Kennedy$9.50
Full result · 13 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | Autumn Heights | 8 | Masahiro Hashizume | M H Brosnan | 56.5kg | $7.60 |
| 2nd | 13 | Wedding Belle | 15 | Joe Doyle | Ms M Falconer | 56.5kg | $14.00 |
| 3rd | 9 | Queen Sansa | 1 | Samantha Collett | Emma Faber | 56.5kg | $4.90 |
| 4th | 10 | Sweet Torquer | 13 | Warren Kennedy | Samantha Logan | 56.5kg | $9.50 |
| 5th | 8 | Rippin Along | 7 | Erin M Leighton | Maxim & Samantha Van Lierde | 56.5kg | $5.80 |
| 6th | 11 | Scaredoheights | 5 | George Rooke | Peter & Shaun Mckay | 56.5kg | $4.50 |
| 7th | 15 | In Tune | 14 | Craig Grylls | G A & D G Rogerson & Clint Isdale | 56.5kg | $57.30 |
| 8th | 3 | Iron Throne | 2 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | D C Lang | 58.5kg | $9.60 |
| 9th | 6 | Ten To Two | 3 | Jack Taplin | P & J Brosnan | 56.5kg | $38.70 |
| 10th | 5 | Echo Two | 12 | Hayley Hassman | Shelley Wright | 57.5kg | $155.60 |
| 11th | 1 | Janka | 6 | Lynsey Satherley | Shelley Wright | 58.5kg | $38.20 |
| 12th | 4 | Beau Ondago | 9 | A Lawson-Carroll | J Williams | 58.5kg | $136.70 |
| 13th | 2 | Requisite | 10 | Matthew Cartwright | Ms K Stead | 58.5kg | $10.10 |
| Scr | 7 | Bonus Bond | 11 | Taui Johnson | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Bellavinsky | 4 | Corentin Berge | Emma Faber | 56.5kg |
Thank You Savabeel Hcp
He won his only prior start over course and distance, has three wins from nine at Te Rapa, and is the sole progressive type here, having won through Rest60, BM65 and BM75 grades this preparation while his rivals are exposed 7- and 8-year-olds. The 3.5kg drop to 54kg is a genuine plus, his soft record reads 14 starts for 3 wins and 2 thirds, and barrier 5 in a small field gives Cartwright control. Class rise is the risk, but this Open field is modest.
The most reliable soft-track and distance credential in the field: 31 soft starts for 4 wins and 7 placings, plus a 2100m Soft 6 win at Ellerslie in June. The knock is a modest career strike rate and Taplin's cold run, so he is taken to be in the finish rather than to dominate.
The problem is surface: his record on soft is 15 starts for 1 win and 1 third, while 8 of his 9 career wins have come on heavy, and his three most recent soft runs were 11th, 8th and 7th. Today's Soft 6 with no rain in 24 hours is unlikely to be testing enough, so 62kg becomes a genuine burden.
- 1st1Diamond JakSamantha Collett$7.00
- 2nd4Rosetown PrincessMasahiro Hashizume$9.60
- 3rd5Quick FireHayley Hassman$6.50
- 4th8CharlburyMatthew Cameron$13.60
Full result · 7 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Diamond Jak | 4 | Samantha Collett | M H Brosnan | 62kg | $7.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Rosetown Princess | 6 | Masahiro Hashizume | D B Hollinshead | 54kg | $9.60 |
| 3rd | 5 | Quick Fire | 3 | Hayley Hassman | Ms K Fawcett | 53kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 8 | Charlbury | 1 | Matthew Cameron | Ms C Cameron | 54kg | $13.60 |
| 5th | 3 | Fly My Wey | 2 | Jack Taplin | M H Brosnan | 53kg | $3.40 |
| 6th | 7 | Perfectmanz | 8 | Joe Nishizuka | S Ralph | 51kg | $13.70 |
| 7th | 6 | Heza Sharp One | 5 | Matthew Cartwright | G A & D G Rogerson & Clint Isdale | 54kg | $2.80 |
| Scr | 2 | Joshua Brown | 7 | Lynsey Satherley | L R Gussey | 55.5kg |
Ocean Park (Bm65)
She has won on Soft over 2000m, draws the favoured inside gate and keeps Michael Mc Nab, who is riding at 20% recently. The 2400m is untried, but her staying pattern at 2100-2200m and consistent finishing margins suggest the extra trip helps rather than hinders.
The most reliable finisher in the field and arguably the best wet-tracker. Rosina has eight top-three results in ten, including a Heavy 8 win at Taupo six days ago and a close third on Soft 5 at Te Rapa over 2200m. Craig Grylls takes over and is in good order at the track.
Ziggy Khan brings a genuinely progressive sequence — 2-1-2-2 across her last four — and those placings included efforts under 66.5kg and 67kg, which flatter her at 57kg today. She stays well, has won on Heavy over 2100m and holds a 37% place rate. The unknowns are a first visit to Te Rapa, an untried 2400m and a jockey with a modest strike rate at the course.
The least exposed runner in a field of well-known quantities. Non-winning status and a mixed Soft record keep him a value rather than top rank.
- 1st11With GraceGeorge Rooke$9.10
- 2nd8Sweet But PsychoMichael Mc Nab$3.80
- 3rd15ZolzayaSamantha Collett$19.20
- 4th9Ziggy KhanHayley Hassman$11.40
Full result · 15 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | With Grace | 6 | George Rooke | Ms K A Hoskin | 57kg | $9.10 |
| 2nd | 8 | Sweet But Psycho | 4 | Michael Mc Nab | L O'sullivan & A Scott | 58kg | $3.80 |
| 3rd | 15 | Zolzaya | 3 | Samantha Collett | Ms K A Hoskin | 55.5kg | $19.20 |
| 4th | 9 | Ziggy Khan | 11 | Hayley Hassman | Ms N Sinclair | 57kg | $11.40 |
| 5th | 10 | Rosina | 17 | Craig Grylls | Ben & Ryan Foote | 57.5kg | $9.50 |
| 6th | 14 | Diva Kingdom | 9 | Courtney Barnes | Ms D Andersen | 55.5kg | $71.00 |
| 7th | 2 | In A Pickle | 10 | Ashlee Strawbridge | R R Manning | 57kg | $17.90 |
| 8th | 12 | Melkor | 12 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | G A & D G Rogerson & Clint Isdale | 57kg | $32.10 |
| 9th | 3 | Afore Ye Go | 2 | Warren Kennedy | J W Bell | 59kg | $20.30 |
| 10th | 7 | Jake | 21 | Erin M Leighton | P & J Brosnan | 58.5kg | $47.10 |
| 11th | 16 | Gina Rosa | 18 | Toni Davies | Ms M Falconer | 54kg | $49.30 |
| 12th | 17 | Wry Smile | 5 | Samantha Logan | 56.5kg | $30.30 | |
| 13th | 6 | Guipago | 15 | Niranjan S Parmar | M H Brosnan | 58.5kg | $37.00 |
| 14th | 1 | Dee Vee Pee | 19 | Jack Taplin | S A Sharrock | 58kg | $8.70 |
| 15th | 4 | Arjay's Flight | 1 | Matthew Cameron | S C Phelan | 59kg | $4.80 |
| Scr | 5 | Mobilized | 8 | Sam McNab | S & E Clotworthy | 57kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Opera Belle | 22 | Lisa Allpress | Ms K A Hoskin | 56kg | |
| Scr | 18 | Charlemagne | 13 | M & K Murdoch | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 19 | Jamaican Boy | 20 | S L Crawford | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 20 | Cyber Patch | 16 | Ms C Cameron | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 21 | Lord Goliath | 7 | Danny Walker & Arron Tata | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 22 | Paper Romance | 14 | Aimee Black | 54.5kg |
Return To Conquer (Bm75)
Her Te Rapa 1600m second on Soft 5 in May is the strongest distance-and-surface reference in the field, and barrier 3 sits squarely in the gates that measurably outperform here on Soft.
The strongest track-and-distance credential in the field - she won over this exact course and trip on Soft 7 in July, from a wide gate, with Rooke aboard. Her last start over 2100m on Heavy at Te Rapa saw her beaten under a length, so she comes back to the mile fit and with stamina in reserve.
The improver of the race. Five career starts against exposed rivals with 20-plus runs gives him the profile of a horse still finding his level, and the Foote stable with McNab aboard is a positive combination.
- 1st2ZenithMatthew Cartwright$4.00
- 2nd6DrommyMichael Mc Nab$3.00
- 3rd4AftergloGeorge Rooke$7.30
- 4th1RibkrakaKyle Wilson-Taylor$10.00
Full result · 9 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Zenith | 9 | Matthew Cartwright | J W Bell | 56.5kg | $4.00 |
| 2nd | 6 | Drommy | 10 | Michael Mc Nab | Ben & Ryan Foote | 55kg | $3.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Afterglo | 8 | George Rooke | S R Autridge | 55.5kg | $7.30 |
| 4th | 1 | Ribkraka | 7 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | L O'sullivan & A Scott | 59.5kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 8 | Billy Blinx | 4 | S & E Clotworthy | 54kg | $12.00 | |
| 6th | 5 | Amazonia | 2 | Craig Grylls | J W Bell | 55.5kg | $8.60 |
| 7th | 9 | Mineshaft | 5 | Joe Doyle | Ms P Gerard | 54kg | $14.30 |
| 8th | 3 | Transaction | 3 | Samantha Collett | Ms K A Hoskin | 56kg | $10.10 |
| 9th | 10 | Time Traveller | 6 | Jack Taplin | P & J Brosnan | 52kg | $102.40 |
| Scr | 7 | Misissipi Gambler | 1 | Ben & Ryan Foote | 54kg |
Ardrossan (Bm65)
Barrier 2 lets McNab settle him handy, which the measured Te Rapa Soft data rewards. The 60kg impost and maiden-to-BM65 rise are real, but two starts hardly expose his ceiling. Short but justified.
Today she draws three and retains a Cartwright booking that clicks with the Marsh stable at 17%. Her placing form at this course and distance and her tight two-week backup make her the most reliable each-way proposition. The only genuine caveat is that her soft-track record shows three runs without a placing.
Amusement brings the strongest proven wet-track credentials in the field, with a soft record of 5:1-1-1, and the drop back to 1200m corrects a clearly unsuitable 1400m Heavy 10 assignment last start. Barrier 4 and 56kg give her every chance to settle in the productive first half of the field, and the Grylls booking is a positive signal from the Weatherley barn. She needs to bounce back but her Te Aroha and Matamata form reads competitively here.
- 1st6OberonMatthew Cartwright$8.60
- 2nd8AmusementCraig Grylls$8.80
- 3rd1SartiMichael Mc Nab$1.40
- 4th4Levels UpMatthew Cameron$18.40
Full result · 8 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Oberon | 3 | Matthew Cartwright | S B Marsh | 58kg | $8.60 |
| 2nd | 8 | Amusement | 4 | Craig Grylls | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | 56kg | $8.80 |
| 3rd | 1 | Sarti | 2 | Michael Mc Nab | K & B Kelso | 60kg | $1.40 |
| 4th | 4 | Levels Up | 1 | Matthew Cameron | Ms C Cameron | 58.5kg | $18.40 |
| 5th | 2 | Faultless | 9 | Hayley Hassman | Peter & Shaun Mckay | 58kg | $15.70 |
| 6th | 3 | Feel The Stag | 8 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | S B Marsh | 59kg | $13.90 |
| 7th | 9 | Ridgeview Vicky | 5 | Niranjan S Parmar | G K Opie | 56kg | $29.70 |
| 8th | 10 | Notabadbergs | 7 | A Lawson-Carroll | S & E Clotworthy | 56kg | $21.20 |
| Scr | 5 | Deep Pursuit | 6 | Sam McNab | A W Pike | 56kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Girlzgirlzgirlz | 10 | Ms D Logan | 57.5kg |
Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate
He signed off last preparation with three straight wins, the middle of which was a Group 1 over today's 1200m on a Soft 5 surface, then a Group 1 at this very track over 1400m. Te Rapa suits (5:2-1-0), barrier 4 sits in the productive zone on Soft, and Pinn is 2 from 2 aboard. The 196-day let-up is the only genuine query, and his first-up record of 1 win from 3 says he can be competitive fresh.
The most conditions-proven runner in the field. He won a Group 2 over this exact course and distance last winter, holds a soft record of 10 starts for 5 wins and a distance record of 4 starts for 3 wins, and is 2 from 4 first up.
Against that, her last three completed starts were all failures, she has never raced at Te Rapa, and barrier 10 misses the measured Soft draw advantage.
A classic fresh-horse overlay. He is 3 wins from 4 first up, holds a Te Rapa record of 3 starts for 2 wins and a second including a win at this course and distance, and won a Group 1 over 1200m on Soft 5. Kennedy's 20% strike rate at the track and a serviceable barrier 6 complete a live each-way case.
- 1st12Alabama LassMichael Mc Nab$2.30
- 2nd5Media WorldMatthew Cartwright$16.90
- 3rd3Sterling ExpressMasahiro Hashizume$6.70
- 4th11Affirmative ActionGeorge Rooke$26.00
Full result · 13 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | Alabama Lass | 10 | Michael Mc Nab | K & B Kelso | 56.5kg | $2.30 |
| 2nd | 5 | Media World | 13 | Matthew Cartwright | S B Marsh | 58.5kg | $16.90 |
| 3rd | 3 | Sterling Express | 3 | Masahiro Hashizume | M H Brosnan | 58.5kg | $6.70 |
| 4th | 11 | Affirmative Action | 9 | George Rooke | Ms P Gerard | 58.5kg | $26.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Tardelli | 7 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | S B Marsh | 58.5kg | $17.00 |
| 6th | 1 | First Five | 4 | Wiremu Pinn | D G Greene | 58.5kg | $6.50 |
| 7th | 6 | Twain | 5 | Craig Grylls | J W Bell | 58.5kg | $13.70 |
| 8th | 10 | Jethro Tull | 2 | Joe Doyle | B S Gillovic | 58.5kg | $30.50 |
| 9th | 4 | Spencer | 8 | Lisa Allpress | Peter & Shaun Mckay | 58.5kg | $54.50 |
| 10th | 8 | Riverplate | 11 | Toni Davies | A R Campbell | 58.5kg | $51.90 |
| 11th | 2 | Crocetti | 6 | Warren Kennedy | Danny Walker & Arron Tata | 58.5kg | $11.00 |
| 12th | 13 | Churchillian | 1 | Samantha Collett | A W Pike | 56.5kg | $15.80 |
| 13th | 9 | Dusty Road | 12 | Matthew Cameron | G M Cameron | 58.5kg | $109.50 |
Chittick Family Back Butch Castles Legacy Trust (Bm65)
The most reliable form line in an open BM65. Add a second at Arawa Park beaten a nose in this grade and you have a mare running into form with four top-three finishes from eight starts.
Ideally drawn at barrier 3 in a race where the Te Rapa Soft data gives inside gates the clearest edge. The soft record of 3:0-1-1 confirms she handles rain-affected ground, and Michael McNab at 14% here is a solid booking. Untried at 1500m is the query, but her breeding and finishing pattern suggest it will suit.
A lightly raced four-year-old with a maiden win on Heavy 9 and three placings from five starts, he is trending upward. The concerns are real though: 60kg top weight, barrier 10, no confirmed rider in the data, and he meets Misissipi Gambler 4kg worse than a fortnight ago. Solid each-way claims rather than a winning proposition at the weights.
The classiest horse in an open BM65 on a track profile that specifically rewards career earnings and track experience. Recent form is plain, but the Grylls booking is a clear upgrade and the drop back to 1500m on a surface he has won on gives him a legitimate chance.
- 1st6Halo's FireJack Taplin$2.80
- 2nd3Bella's BoyMasahiro Hashizume$9.90
- 3rd7CapoteWarren Kennedy$10.60
- 4th11Born To Be RoyalWiremu Pinn$12.10
Full result · 12 runners
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Halo's Fire | 8 | Jack Taplin | M G Forbes | 57kg | $2.80 |
| 2nd | 3 | Bella's Boy | 4 | Masahiro Hashizume | R R Manning | 59kg | $9.90 |
| 3rd | 7 | Capote | 14 | Warren Kennedy | B S Gillovic | 58.5kg | $10.60 |
| 4th | 11 | Born To Be Royal | 2 | Wiremu Pinn | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 57kg | $12.10 |
| 5th | 8 | Ever Charm | 5 | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | L O'sullivan & A Scott | 58.5kg | $16.30 |
| 6th | 13 | Noble Cabello | 3 | Michael Mc Nab | B H King | 56.5kg | $9.10 |
| 7th | 2 | Mister Meaner | 12 | George Rooke | R R Manning | 59.5kg | $19.80 |
| 8th | 9 | Misissipi Gambler | 11 | Sam McNab | Ben & Ryan Foote | 56kg | $4.60 |
| 9th | 5 | Chahoo | 6 | Joe Doyle | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | 59kg | $41.50 |
| 10th | 12 | Sir Fergus | 15 | Hayley Hassman | Barbara Kennedy | 56kg | $16.60 |
| 11th | 16 | Endean Ace | 9 | Erin M Leighton | Shelley Wright | 54kg | $107.80 |
| 12th | 10 | Just A Tipple | 1 | Samantha Collett | G K Opie | 57.5kg | $35.10 |
| Scr | 1 | Drommy | 10 | Ben & Ryan Foote | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Billy Blinx | 7 | Craig Grylls | S & E Clotworthy | 59kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Zacabasso | 16 | Lisa Allpress | G Richardson & R Norvall | 54.5kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Mister Pucci | 13 | G K Opie | 54.5kg |
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