It will be an exciting last race of the season with any of four or five boats able to take the prize for the overall Cruiser/Racer stakes of the Spring carnival. The form guide to beat the bookies is as follows: 5 to 6 would have to be favourites but need to overcome a recent form slump. Going around the wrong buoy last week shows they need their tactician and sailing master (Fluer) off the injury list and back on board to make the turnaround. Primary Wave forgot their spinnaker last week, and are a real chance if they dont forget something else this week. Leau Co.s is a welcome international import this year, and is certainly adding lots of colour and vibrancy to this celebrated carnival. Her waterline length will be a distinct advantage on the predicted heavy track, and will be there at the finish. At 66 years old Antares is the grand dame of the fleet. Still looks good, but carries a bit more weight than her younger compatriates. Might struggle on a heavy track. Considered a highly fancied outsider. Shambles were the celebrity front runners last year. She has been lavished with attention by the owners sydicate, jockey and stable hand during the off season, and she looks like a new boat this year. She has been just that little bit off the pace and might need to replace that pyjama headsail to get back on it. Vitamin Sea has been plugging away tirelessly all year, but hasnt shown quite the spectacular form she did last year when she was showing us all how it is done. Would have to be the Steven Bradbury of the competition to take overal carnival honours from here though. Orient Express comes from a highly regarded stable, and impecable lineage. Expect her to be leading from the front of the pack, and see if she can hold on to finish on a high note. Supertramp has been showing all the qualities of a winner lately, but broke early last week, and had to go back and apologise to the starter. Expect her to come back hard this week, especially with a heavy track. Spindrift was hampered with a dirty bottom last week and retired hurt. Word around the docks is that she is working on improving her handicap, so the smart money is on her to take a fair portion of the silverware home from the summer carnival next year. Manu Kai has been flying her colours with some very creditable performances this year, but too many scratchings to take the chocolates this time. Slips has been gracing us with her presence on the track, but has dropped a few sitters in the form of a few DNCs. She is a proven performer in the big races and running like a yearling and working like a four year old. Expect her to give the big fancy boats a run for their money. Like her sister ship Slips, Midwicket may have been distrated by events at cricket this year. She is always well sailed, so expect her to back to her best at the front of the fleet. .
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:41:55 +0000
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