Ahuriri’s recent return to form on a rain-affected track has trainer Chris Waller optimistic about her chances at Randwick this Saturday, where she tackles the PF Civil Handicap (2400m) under likely heavy conditions.

The 2024 VRC St Leger winner showed her affinity for wet ground when scoring over 1900m on a heavy 9 surface at Canterbury last month – her first win in over a year.

Waller believes similar ground at Randwick will again play to the mare’s strengths. “She’s got stamina, she’s won on a heavy track, and she’s in form,” Waller said. “For a winter horse, she ticks the boxes. We’re confident that she will run well.”

Ahuriri is the $3.80 favourite in early markets and will jump from barrier 13 with in-form apprentice Zac Lloyd aboard. Lloyd has a full book at the meeting, riding in nine of the 10 races.

Among his other key rides is two-year-old Master Of The Air, also for Waller, who resumes in the opener after a debut fifth to Black Opal winner King Of Pop in February.

Lloyd will also combine with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton across several races. Hurstville Zagreb ($4.40) contests the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m) as he looks to boost his Queensland Derby credentials, while Interjection ($5.50) takes aim at the Magnolia Lane Financial Services Handicap after running third in the South Pacific Classic two starts ago.

She’s Unusual ($4.60), another from the O’Shea-Charlton team, rounds out Lloyd’s strong hand in the Wilson Asset Management Handicap, bringing an impressive record on heavy tracks into the race.

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