KEY POINTS:
It was a nervous afternoon again yesterday for Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock as he prepares the favourite Wahid for today's postponed $77,000 Sir James Fletcher Stakes at Ellerslie.
Unpredicted showers hit Auckland mid-afternoon and although parts of the North Shore saw tropical, if brief, downpours, Ellerslie remained dry.
But a changed forecast for today is predicting showers in Auckland this afternoon.
Sharrock will be pleased to get this race behind him in what he sees as a desperately necessary assignment to have Wahid fit for races like the $200,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
If conditions are okay, Wahid looks the winner over a classy line-up.
Any showers would similarly not assist Xcellent, who is at his best on very firm conditions.
Dezigna and Kirra Sand are definite threats in a race that is intriguing.
Wahid's rider Leith Innes has a good chance of riding multiple winners in only seven races.
Celebes Sea in Race 2 is a winning prospect if Innes can find the filly some cover from a wide gate at the 1400m start. She has been racing with little luck.
His ride in Race 3, Intent is stepping up to some smart types in Prince Kaapstad, Sandblaster and Azincourt, but has real potential and is not out of contention.
Innes should go close in the fourth in short-priced favourite Ebony Babe, winner of three of her four starts. The 58kg will not be easy for a mare, but she has been so dominant it is difficult to say she can't handle it.
In the last race Innes has a very strong chance on Vanderbeel, who is a lot better than his form reads on paper.
Vanderbeel is an emerging stayer who looks nicely placed to get the right run from an inside draw at the 2200m start.
The one he has to beat is Classic Legacy, who was caught down on the inside where they weren't winning at the Counties meeting at Ellerslie last Saturday week.
All bets from Saturday have been refunded and scratchings re-introduced into the fields.
The $150,000 Pick6 from Saturday has been transferred after it was initially thought it would have to be scrapped.
