Racing: Anchors will cut spend in $1m jackpot

Wotabuzz has looked super impressive and is a top chance in the last leg. What beats him will win. Photo / Supplied

Anchor is the scariest word you can think of facing a $1 million Pick6.

But if your spend is very restricted it's a word you need to embrace.

It's going to cut your spend dramatically in today's massive jackpot at Ellerslie.

For example, a ticket covering 6 selections in each of the Pick6 legs costs $2328.

If you reduced just one of those legs to a single selection, retaining 6 horses in the other five legs, it drops to $388.

Anyone who thinks Pick6s are easy if you simply spend plenty has never taken one.

With the dramatic dollar reduction, of course, comes corresponding risk.

One of the better ways is to divide your Pick6 into three tickets, anchoring a different horse in different races on each of the tickets.

Dating, Leg 3, looks the best anchor then you might consider Wotabuzz in Leg 6 and possibly Quickasucan in Leg 2.

Here are some examples of cost: 3x2x1x3x2x3 = $36.

2x2x2x2x2x2 = $32.

Then a 3x3x3x3x3x3 comes to $365.

Looking at 5x3x1x2x4x5 will cost you $300.

And a 5x3x1x2x3x3 is $135.

Those costs are for a full unit and the option is there to reduce that down to 10 per cent of that unit, so the six horses in each race comes down to $232 for a 10 per cent ticket.

You can't emphasise enough that when you have a million dollars to play with form a syndicate and go as wide as possible in all legs.

First leg Race 5
* Best Chances Sweet Suitor: Looked to be in a different class when leaving maidens by a wide margin at Rotorua last start. If he handles this track as well will be difficult to contain.

* Extra Explosive: Too good for the others in the Castletown Stakes on a heavy track in June. Has not raced since, but won that after a two and a half month break. Also in Race 7.

* Hoofit: Only three-quarters of a length from Lion Tamer when 2nd in the Champagne Stakes and before that only 1.6 lengths away when 4th in the group one Manawatu Sires. Only question is the heavy track. Yet to be tried in heavy or slow, but tough to bowl if he gets through it. The 1400m looks ideal.

Possibles
* Upsala: No starts on heavy and record says two on slow tracks. Both were unplaced, but was running on each time, the most recent when 4th (1.7 lengths) to Smoulder and We Can Say It Now in the Foal Stakes this track in May. Chance in this field on that.

* Laughing Gor: Only 1.6 lengths from Lion Tamer when 6th in the Champagne after drawing wide. Left maidens nicely on slow track at Ruakaka last start.

* Gold Card: Not far away in good class 2YO races in old season then left maidens in classy style fresh up two weeks ago. Suggestion he handled the heavy track that day through class more than anything else, but might be a bit too good to risk here.

Longshots
* Toma Velea: Only two starts and has run on bravely into 3rds in both, each time on heavy ground. Should be improving.

* Waiana Gold: Has placed form in good fields, including third to Remember Howe in stakes class at Wanganui last start. Ran home strongly in that and will be suited by the step to 1400m.

Second leg Race 6
This race is so wide open it's a nightmare.

Best Chances
* Quickasucan: Has looked potentially very good. Bolted in on home track at Tauranga in heavy footing last start back in June. Yet to race at Ellerslie. Big chance if he manages that part of it.

* Innocent Lady: Had deserved win at Tauranga last start, racing away by a wide margin. Capable of going on with it now.

* Belle de Jeu: Hasn't had much luck in her career. Backed and beaten last start, but did not get many breaks. Doesn't mind the wet and is a must-include.

Possibles
* King Guru: Loves the wet. Hasn't raced since winning in June, but has had three recent trials to get him fit.

* Kinarne: Another who relishes the heavy stuff. Very fit after two runs in the last 10 days.

* Heydental Tourist: At his best in the heavy stuff. Not bad runs lately when having no luck.

* Haere Mai: Disappointing for a few starts then better when narrowly beaten at Taupo last start. Peak run would have him in it.

Perhaps
* Thornbirds: Useful runs since maiden win without creating "wow" factor.

* Masquerade: Rarely far away.

Third leg Race 7
Possible Anchor
* Dating: Class filly with plenty of toughness. Three starts on heavy tracks for three wins. Touch unlucky when third in Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings last week.

Next Best
* Elle Tresor: Caught late by subsequent Gold Trail winner Remember Howe in stakes class at Wanganui. Tough and speedy and handles heavy tracks well. Will be in it for a long way.

* Extra Explosive: Classy filly on wet tracks. Castletown Stakes victory last start in June was decisive. Also in Race 5.

* Singapore Sling: Ran off the track in a shock move at Te Rapa last start. Forget that and go on her debut win and luckless only other run, which was in stakes class.

* Lady Kipling: Looks very promising on only three juvenile runs. Stable can have them ready after a break.

Fourth leg Race 8
Top Chances
* Superturf: Remarkable effort to flash home against the pattern from well back to take 2nd behind Spare A Fortune in open class at Awapuni last start. Repeat effort would win this, but the unknown is having not run on a right-handed track. The heavy no problems.

* Chickilicious: Has made rapid progress through the grades this winter. This race is up a fraction in class, but her ability in the mud will take her right there.

Others
* The Fred Factor: Has enjoyed little luck lately. Four of his five wins have been in the heavy stuff and that puts him in this finish.

* Don Dixit: Tried hard against talented Matost when 2nd here last start. Again has a big apprentice claim which will help. The more the pattern suits on-pace runners, the better his chance.

* John Gray: Dropping back a grade, but goes right up in weight to 58kg. That makes it tough, but looks exceptional on occasions. Best form on loose wet tracks and will possibly not get that.

If You Need Two More
* Saved By The Bell: Keeps mixing his grades, but shows ability in the wet.

* Hurricane Mickey: Battling overall even though narrowly beaten last time. Four wins from nine starts in the heavy and the wetter the footing the better his chances.

Fifth leg Race 9
This is the other nightmare race. Nothing leaps out of the race on form, so make sure you go as wide as possible.

The potential for a long-priced winner is enormous.

Best Chances
* Deep Forest: Sat three wide without cover at Awapuni last start, but still kept going strongly to take third. Mare who should be getting stronger and deserves a win.

* Juliandean: Drifted mid-race at Awapuni last start then battled on again when the pattern was to be handy on the home bend. Not far away from Affairoftheheart in a stronger field than this at Hastings the time before.

Others
* Magna Carta: Young stayer on the way through who left maidens on his home track at Ruakaka last time at only his fifth start. Has to step up, but will not get a better opportunity to do so.

* D'Nood Lady: Sticks well and stepped to 1800m at Taupo last start and got the money. This is a bit harder, but not by much.

* Azincourt: Capable on his day and showed improvement when 2nd at Ruakaka two weeks ago. That was on a dead surface, but doesn't mind the tracks wetter.

Longshot
* Sunlight Kiss: Recent races at Taupo and Hastings in better fields than this.

Sixth leg Race 10
Top Chance
* Wotabuzz: Well ridden to win similar race on this track last start, but still super impressive. An extra 300m this time, but could have gone around again and won last start. Up 2.5kg, but what beats him will win.

Others
* Caratacus: Flew home from last to win at Ruakaka last start. Overall record on heavy tracks is good, but recent best efforts have been on better footing. Drops back a grade from Ruakaka win, but goes up from 54kg to 58kg.

* The Jungle Boy: Not finishing off quite as well as you'd like, but still almost always right there. It makes it difficult to leave him out.

* Fletcher Baybe: Has looked impressive a couple of times lately. This is harder, but handles the heavy stuff well, which is more than half the battle.

* Cash Kingdom: Fought hard after leading at Pukekohe on Sunday. Faded after fighting for lead here time before. Has apprentice claim he didn't have on Sunday and can be in it if left alone in front.

You Need A Spread
* Zer Ebeny: Second to the favourite here two starts back. Only battled at Pukekohe last Sunday, but that will have him very fit for this.

* Deep Forest: Looks much better placed in the previous race. Still a rough chance if she lines up here.

* Brompton: Battling efforts since winning.