Jockey Andrew Calder is confident punters can get off to a good start at Tauranga on Saturday where he partners $2.10 favourite No Filter in the opening event for his father-in-law Richard Collett.
“He’s a horse that took on the older horses last start and did it really nicely,” Calder said of the lightly-raced three-year-old.
“I think the ace draw (barrier 1) tomorrow at Tauranga, particularly being in the first race, where there can be an on-speed bias, he should put himself in a perfect spot and it is a nice small field where bad luck is the only thing that is going to beat him. He is a pretty smart horse going through the grades.”
Calder also rides stakes-performed filly Fleetwood Maca in a Benchmark 74 1600m event, with the filly aiming to get her campaign back on track after being a late scratching at the barriers in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).
“I’m really looking forward to riding the filly again,” Calder said.
“We expect her to be running pretty well in what is a lead-up to the Manawatu Classic (Gr.3, 2000m). She needs to put her hand up and run a competitive race to warrant going down to Awapuni in a couple of weeks. She has drawn well and although she has to carry a bit of weight against the older horses, her form is very strong.”
Calder is also keen on the chances of Giant Gem over 1400m, with the Bernard Dyke-trained six-year-old racing consistently.
