Racing: Alonzo ready to rumble

Punters were talking about one standout performer after Boxing Day at Ellerslie - Alonzo.

The 4-year-old raced three wide throughout and unleashed a brutal home stretch sprint to post an effortless victory.

Winning jockey Michael Coleman was warm in his praise of the Margaret Falconer-trained star and this combination will appear again today in the $100,000 Rich Hill Mile.

"Alonzo is a very, very good horse as it was a top performance to win on Boxing Day. He wasn't entirely comfortable in the ground but his class got him home," said Coleman. "It's a pity we've drawn out so wide at barrier 16 as it means we're going to be wide at some point.

"It's a big jump in class for him but he's good enough to handle it. We'll need a few things to swing in our favour to overcome the draw. If we strike a track that is a bit firmer than Boxing Day I know he'll fly around it as he has always had that touch of class.

"I rode him in a few trials before he got to the races but I missed out on the race day ride as I had commitments elsewhere.

"That was the first time I rode him in a race when we won on Boxing Day and he gave me the impression that he's a lovely well-balanced racehorse.

"I just hope that there's plenty of speed in the early part of the race as that'll mean we can work into the race at the right time.

"Kristov and Cog Hill are racing super at the moment and it's hard to go past in-form horses when the big stake money is up."

Victory in the Group Two event would be well-deserved for Kristov. He has topweight of 58kg but has proven he can carry that weight and win.

Cog Hill has a deadly sprint finish when saved for one late run as he showed two starts ago when winning a rich mile event at Riccarton.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY