Ric O'Shea has won at Riccarton, Ascot Park and Wingatui from four starts this season since joining the North Taieri stable of Steven Prince.
Kylie Williams who rode him last time at Wingatui on December 26, has the mount.
Schmeckenbecher and Terry Moseley, a winning combination at Gore on Saturday, could repeat in race 6 today. Schmeckenbecher was one of three wins for Moseley on Saturday. He rides Esprit D'Or, the top weight in race 5.
Esprit D'Or finished a close second to Kasbah Keeper at Omakau at his last start. The Al Jadeed gelding trained at Riccarton by Ross Beckett, has won at Gore. Moseley is also on Ryans Lady (race 9), a last-start maiden winner at Gore on December 18.
• Matamata trainer Graham Richardson has leading chances in both the Karaka Million and Wellington Cup at the weekend.
He has Green Supreme, who is favourite for the Wellington Cup on Saturday and Green Wings, who is in the $1 million sprint at Ellerslie on Sunday.
Richardson also has Single Minded and Top Spot in the Wellington Cup.
Green Supreme is at $3, ahead of Crocodile Canyon ($7.50) and Single Minded ($10) in final field betting with the TAB.
Green Wings has drawn wider than Richardson would have liked at barrier 12.
"Initially, I was disappointed when I heard that but it seems a few of the other favourites are drawn out there too, which is better than having them all drawn inside us.
"And we do have Corey Brown in the saddle, which helps.""He galloped really well Tuesday morning and was so good when I went to look at him that night I gave him another dipper of feed, which he polished off. He really is thriving."
Green Wings is fifth favourite at $8 in final field betting. Warhorse heads the market at $5, ahead of Freedom ($6), Ockham's Razor ($7) and Sell In May ($7.50). Warhorse has drawn 15.
• The Southland Racing Club has increased the stake for the Southland Guineas $2500 on last year to $47,500. Malcolm Little, of Gallop South, said the stake for the Invercargill Cup the same day (February 18) had been restored to $25,000 after being advertised in the race programme for $18,000.
