TRACKCHAT: Counties Cup Day - Saturday 25th November 2023

Need an insider tip? Keen to know how the track is shaping up?

Here’s your preview of Counties Cup Day complete with Craig Baker’s preview of the day’s feature races, speed maps, a track report AND some tips from the office lads.

Track update

The track on Friday morning is rated a Soft5.  Light winds and cloud is predicted tomorrow. 

Watch below to see what Mark Nowell and Emery White had to say this morning:

Feature Races Preview:

Race 5 | Haunui Farm Counties Bowl | Group 3 – Open 1100 

Speedy mare Babylon Berlin will be looking to erase last year’s running when she lost her rider the start.  She looked back to her best with a dominant last start victory and will certainly take some beating. Group performer Sacred Satono finished second last year and is back again hoping to go one better on Saturday.  

The dangers include Johnny Johnny and Group One winner, Romancing The Moon. 

Race 8 | Counties Cup | Group 3 – Open 2100 

Topweight Aquacade returns to Pukekohe Park after winning the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day and looks hardest to beat despite the weight. Last year’s Counties Cup winner Aromatic, finished second to Aquacade in the Balmerino Stakes but meets the topweight three and half kilograms better this time. Lightly raced One Bold Cat keeps will also be competitive. 

Cakebytheocean had excuses when unplaced in the Group One Livamol Classic. 

Race 9 | Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes | Group 2 – F&M 1400 

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained mares Campionessa and Wolverine have both been runner-up at Group One level and form like that should take them close in the Group 2 feature. Another Group One runner-up Malt Time was trapped wide here on Melbourne Cup Day but showed excellent from through the Hastings spring carnival.   

The dangers include Our Alley Cat and Flamebird. 

More things to know about Counties Cup Day:

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION

Timings

Facilities open: 10.30am

Hospitality opens: 11.15am

First race (of 10): 11.45am

Group 3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl: 2.14pm

Group 3 Counties Cup: 3.53pm

Group 2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes: 4.28pm

Last race: 5.08pm

View the fields: Click here

Check out the speed maps: Click here

Need some tips?

ATR CEO Paul Wilcox rates:

Race 1 | 11:45am | Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Qualifier 2100
Bet: Canheroc #4 (FFW)

Race 8 | 3:53pm | Group 3 Counties Cup
Bet: Aromatic #2 & Aquacade #1 (Quinella)

ATR Sponsorship Manager John O’Malley rates:

Race 6 | 2:48pm | Ellerslie Events 1600
Bet: Volare #11 (Win)

Race 8 | 3:53pm | Group 3 Counties Cup
Bet: Aromatic #2 (Win)

ATR Deputy Chair Mark Chitty rates:

Race 4 | 1:35pm | Listed Counties Challenge Stakes
Bet: Poetic Champion #1 (Win)

Race 5 | 2:14pm | Group 3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl
Bet: Babylon Berlin #1 (Win)

Race 8 | 3:53pm | Group 3 Counties Cup
Bet: Aquacade #1 (Win)

Dunstan Horsefeeds Director David Smith rates:

Race 1 | 11:45am | Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Qualifier 2100
Bet: Rock My Heart #10 (Win)

Race 8 | 3:53pm | Group 3 Counties Cup
Bet: Aquacade #1 (Win)

Race 9 | 2:14pm | Group 2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes

Bet: Our Alley Cat #2 (Win)