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Roger James is making up for lost time.
The Cambridge trainer made a slow start to the season, but goes into the premier meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday on a roll.
James, who will have five runners at Te Rapa, has won six races in the past three weeks and had three wins, four seconds and a third from his last 10 runners.He will be double-handed in both the Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup and the Listed J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa.
Delago’s Secret and The Tidy Express tackle the Waikato Cup and Miss Foxwood and Tavy rate highly in the Listed sprint, while Zaviera is a form runner for the rating 75 2400m.James has won more than 100 black type races and prepared a host of good stayers, but has never won a Waikato Cup.
That might change this weekend as Delago's Secret, in particular, looks a strong chance.He produced an eye-catching late run when sixth in the Counties Cup at his last start, after having trouble getting clear, and also hit the line well when sixth in the Feilding Cup at his previous run.
He will be suited by the step up in distance and has won two of his three starts at Te Rapa.His one defeat on the track came when he finished a creditable fourth in the 2014 Waikato Cup and he won the Gr.3 City of Auckland Cup (2400m) at his next start.
“He probably should have run third in the Counties Cup and a mile and a half on a big track is his go,” James said.The Tidy Express, who is in foal, will be at longer odds than her stablemate but was another to make ground late in the Counties Cup, after drawing wide and becoming unbalanced on the turn.
“Her work has been really nice and I think 2400m will suit her,” James said.Miss Foxwood is an obvious threat off the minimum this weekend, after running at weight-for-age in her two previous starts.
Little went right for her when she was unplaced in the Gr.2 Auckland Breeders’ Stakes at Avondale at her last start and a better guide to her prospects would be her third, behind Kisses and Recite, in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes at her previous attempt.“You can forget her last start and her work on Tuesday was exceptional,” James said.
Tavy is making her open class debut but is a quality mare and has raced well this campaign, despite drawing wide in three of her four starts.“We have had to ride her back because of her wide draws,” James said. “She still won easily last start and will be able to settle closer to the pace on Saturday, with a better barrier.”