Racing: Benefits from Counties

Someone had to gain some benefit from last week's shocking cancellation at Counties and Robert Priscott figures it may as well be him.

Priscott lines up one of the favourites, Rosetti Bay, in the $75,000 NRM/Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Ellerslie tomorrow.

The classy mare would have disputed favouritism had the race been run at Counties last week, but she is an even stronger fancy with the event scheduled for Ellerslie.

The Counties track was very firm last week, but this time there will be the surface yield that Rosetti Bay acts best on.

"The footing was a touch too hard for her at Trentham last start," said Priscott.

In that race Rosetti Bay raced a fraction below her best when 3.25 lengths behind Leigh Valley in fifth place.

The Ellerslie track was yesterday rated at 2.3 and showers were forecast for last night and again for late today. That should have tomorrow's rating exactly where Rosetti Bay prefers.

A touch disappointing is the fact that this group two event has not attracted all the good mares around.

"She won't have to face La Sizeranne and Leigh Valley, the horses that have beaten her lately," said Priscott.

When on her game, Rosetti Bay can hit the line hard and that will be a big advantage tomorrow.

The weather is good news for Eric Betty, part owner and trainer of Madamvizelle. The emerging mare has always shown a preference for some bite in the ground, which is no surprise given her breeding.

Madamvizelle won on easy ground at Hastings on August 27 then did well on a much firmer surface to chase home the talented Sea Shells on the same track five weeks later.

Miss Ivy is the interesting runner. The former Australian racemare looked good dashing home late under 57kg in a too-short 1200m in her New Zealand debut in September then struck trouble in running at her only subsequent start.

Being by Gold Brose you would believe any easing of the footing would be to her advantage.

Viennetta comes north from Awapuni with a growing reputation and she certainly appeared to have a lot left when winning an R83 race by a clear margin at Awapuni last start.

Belle Mia is an improver and Clean Sweep will have her followers, but she continues to race a touch below her true form.