KEY POINTS:
TAB bookmakers can expect some business today after opening Xcellent up at $1.70 for Wednesday's $200,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.
The quote looks generous, even allowing that middle-road New Zealand punters still suffer shyness about backing short-priced favourites.
The Moroney stable and regular rider Michael Coleman are confident
Xcellent has improved lengths since his remarkable first-up winning performance in the Sir James Fletcher Stakes at Ellerslie three weeks ago.
A slight balancing factor is the 4kg weight turnaround this time in favour of Sir Slick, who finished two lengths second to Xcellent in the James Fletcher.
TAB bookies have not rated Sir Slick the main danger - they have him at an $8 third favourite - they rate 3-year-old Alamosa at $6.50 the biggest threat to the champ.
Dorabella is $1 from Sir Slick on $9.
Almost as short as Xcellent is flying filly Insouciant who the TAB yesterday opened up at $1.90 for Wednesday's $125,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic after her victories in the Eulogy Stakes and 1000 Guineas.
Keepa Cruisin, who took the group one Levin Classic last start, is second favourite at $5, well ahead of Satinka and Bella Valentina on $12.
In a remarkably even line-up, Avancer and Prince Kaapstad share favouritism at $6.50 for another feature, the $150,000 First Sovereign Trust Great Northern Guineas.
Only $1.50 separates the prices on the first five favourites in the Guineas.
Zabeel Classic: $1.70 Xcellent, $6.50 Alamosa, $8 Sir Slick, $9 Dorabella, $13 Sarajay, $18 Dezigna, Twinkling, Genuine Offer, $21 Courier Mail, $51 Ben Hogan.
Eight Carat Classic: $1.90 Insouciant, $5 Keepa Cruisin, $12 Satinka, Bella Valentina, $15 Boundless, $16 Run Roy Run, Anna Bek, $21 Somethymesoon, Pretty Vegas, $26 Shooting Star, Caparison, $61 Thief, $101 Lyrical.
Great Northern Guineas: $6.50 Avancer, Prince Kaapstad, $8 Sircross, Mission Critical, Six O'Clock News, $10 Twoeezy, C'est La Guerre, $11 Azincourt, $12 Il Divo, Beauty Express, $14 Golan Grey, $28 Top Echelon, $101 Mr Composed.
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Co-trainer Graeme Sanders said rising star Pasta Post was fine yesterday to press forward to the $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup on January 1.
The Sanders stable had a soundness issue with Pasta Post leading up to Saturday's Te Rapa victory to the point where Graeme Sanders had the horse vet checked before the races.
Purely on the surface Pasta Post was not as impressive at Te Rapa as you'd expect from a short-priced favourite, but there were several contributing factors.
It was only his second start back from a spell, he had not had the benefit of a barrier trial and he had to run a middle distance.
The impressive feature is the way he dug in and fought back when looking vulnerable at the 200m.
TAB bookmakers did not shorten his quote in from the $6 favouritism he was listed at last week. New Zealand Cup winner Everswindell and Mirkola Lass are joint second favourites at $7.
Sanders still describes Pasta Post as a day-to-day proposition.
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Chris Johnson replaces regular rider Reese Jones on Six O'Clock News in Wednesday's $150,000 First Sovereign Trust Great Northern Guineas.
Jones was on Six O'Clock News for his two Te Rapa wins in November and rode the improving 3-year-old last start when the pair finished mid-field in the Avondale Guineas, where the sit-and-sprint tactics did not suit his back-running style.
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A problem with a back muscle has kept smart filly Lovetrista from Wednesday's $125,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic.
Trainer John Sargent has been working on the problem since Lovetrista finished a smart second to Martini Red at Te Rapa nine days ago.
