Racing: Big task to win $750,000

A track on the heavy side of slow is guaranteed to give $750,000 Pick6 punters a migraine today.

The Riccarton surface has not recovered from heavy rain early in the week and those looking for three-quarters of a million dollars will have to work hard.

There are two possible anchors in Balmuse and Ombre Rose and both have different question marks over them.

Balmuse hadn't raced for six months when he won at Marlborough on Sunday. Backing up six days later in a stakes race is a huge ask, but trainer Kevin Myers poked several barrier trials into the 2004 Kelt Capital Stakes winner to have him ready to back up.

There will be plenty prepared to anchor Balmuse, who comes into the race marvellously well under the weight-for-age scale.

Ombre Rose has won her last four straight in dashing style, but there is real concern she will manage the footing, especially when stepping up to 2000m for the first time.

Races should come down to dour staying tests and that may prevent the hugely talented filly from carrying an anchor tag.

For such a large pot, percentage betting makes sense and a possible approach is to anchor, say, Balmuse, and take a few in each of the other legs.

Then anchor Ombre Rose and take a few alongside Balmuse. If funds permit, anchor Al Farouk and Coup Triumphal in the first leg with a few runners in each of the other legs.

The well-bred Mystify has been looking for 2000m, loves wet footing and has a strong finishing run. That combination makes her a real threat to Ombre Rose.

We talked to most of the South's leading trainers with horses engaged in the Pick6 legs.

Asked for their perfect anchor in the jackpot, Peter Williams went for his own horse Al Farouk in the first leg and Michael Pitman declared for his runner Coup Triumphal in the same race.

Pitman is also pretty bullish about Irish Sky in the final leg, and his job has been made a lot easier with the scratching of favourite Holigan.

What the trainers say

FIRST LEG (R5)

Kevin Hughes

Red Hot Chilli: Loves this course and likes it soft. A definite chance.

Wise Dancer: Could also give some cheek. Loves it wet.

Peter Williams

Al Farouk: Should be very hard to beat. He's a quality horse and the ground won't stop him. Our best hope.

Coup Biscuit: Real grinder who likes wet ground. The tougher the task the better he'll go.

Michael Pitman

Global Sovereign: Has had 20 starts on the course and hasn't won. Probably prefers it firmer. The only positive is Chris Johnson.

Coup Triumphal: He's a lovely horse with a big future. The ground won't be a problem and he'll go close.

Global Saint: A tough wet tracker. If he got his own rules in front he could be an upset chance. He made The Raj work hard on a wet track here.

Must haves: Al Farouk, Coup Triumphal.

Strong chances: Coup Biscuit, Red Hot Chilli.

Best roughie: Wise Dancer.

SECOND LEG (R6)

Mark Walker

Bankside Boy: Getting ready for hurdling. Can't see him winning.

Michael Pitman

Square Pants: Three really good runs lately. The ground shouldn't be a problem for him.

Loyalle: No luck taking on better fields lately. Her form looks ordinary, but I rate her a definite chance. Hayden Tinsley gets back on her and last time they combined they won over this distance on this track.

Peter Williams

Omnia: Just a runner's chance.

Shane Kennedy

Just Monty: Stepping up in distance for the first time. Will like the soft track, but I'd say no, can't win.

Shane Marr

Shimmer: She hasn't had much luck. Not sure about the track.

Callaway Girl: Honest and loves bad ground. Craig Grylls will take a lot of weight off her back. Maybe an upsetter.

Neil Ridley

Southern Courage: Being by Bahhare he'll handle the track. Nice horse on the way through and has won at Riccarton.

Strong chances: Southern Courage, Loyalle.

Next best: Square Pants, Shimmer, Te Mata Prince.

Best roughie: Callaway Girl.

THIRD LEG (R7)

Hec Anderton

Hustler: Slight question mark if the track doesn't hold together, but I'm very happy with him and he can grind well. You have to put him in the mix.

Mark Walker

Tenjuberrymud: The track is probably going to be too wet for him. He may not start.

Michael Pitman

Coup Bloomsbury: Won a group three race two starts back and got his tongue over the bit last start. Chris Johnson climbs aboard, which is going to be a big plus.

The Green Man: Honest horse. He'll run some sort of a race.

Shane Kennedy

Classic Clare: She's been struggling a bit and if she doesn't do something here she'll be retired.

Neil Ridley

Just A Dream: Very honest mare but being by Volksraad she has no form in the wet.

Shane Marr

Elferon: She's an in and out type and you have to take her on trust. Maybe Craig Grylls can extract something from her.

Peter Williams

Jinxed: Always runs a nice race at Riccarton. Place chance.

Strong chances: Coup Bloomsbury, Hustler, Just A Dream.

Next best: Jetmaster, Elferon, Pushy Too.

FOURTH LEG (R8)

Peter Williams

Condore: If she handles the ground she'll be in the money. She ran an absolute beaut the other day.

Shane Kennedy

Crazy Frog: I think she is a big chance. She's tough she was beaten a nose over 2000m the other day after sitting three then five wide. The tougher the race the better she'll go.

Keltic: Promising filly that might not be strong enough yet.

Shane Marr

Ombre Rose: The question mark is the ground, but her mother won in heavy footing and I think she'll cope. If she does she should win.

Envy Me: She's not without a hope. The wet ground will really suit her.

Paul Moroney

Lady Atire: We rated this filly an Oaks chance, but she got balloted out. There is a slight question mark on the footing, but if it's a tough, grinding test her great stamina will come into play. You can't leave her out.

Nick Wigley

Mystify: We've been waiting to get her to 2000m for a long time and the wet track will play into her hands. She's probably the third-best filly to Ombre Rose and Smitten Kitten down here and this looks our chance to win a stakes race.

Mark Walker

Northern Night: If it became heavy and testing and that threw Ombre Rose out then she'd be right in the mix. They went too quickly for her last start and the 2000m here suits.

Must haves: Ombre Rose, Mystify, Lady Atire.

Next best: Crazy Frogg, Northern Night, Envy Me, Many Danske.

FIFTH LEG (R9)

Kevin Myers

Balmuse: Myers could not be contacted. Balmuse, the Kelt Capital winner, is the obvious first choice.

Peter Williams

Coup Entrepreneur: Like all of our four, he can win. But he meets Fiscal Madness 1.5kg worse off compared to when he beat him a nose last start.

Fiscal Madness: If there is genuine pace in the race and he doesn't pull too hard like he can, then he looks the one to threaten Balmuse. He's very well.

The Raj: The wet track won't worry him.

Royal Miss: I give her a real chance to upset. She likes the cut in the track and her fourth behind Coup Entrepreneur was very good.

Terry Kennedy

Mr Toff: He's come up an absolute treat this prep. He's improved with each run and if he gets through the footing he's a very big chance.

Michael Pitman

Exonerate, Pasco, Royal Lady: To be fair, all three are probably outclassed. I like Royal Lady for her next preparation, but this is tough for her.

Kevin Hughes

Get Up: He's probably past his best, but he likes bad ground.

Savannah Zaan: She's just stepping up to the top classes and the owner wanted to see her run in a decent race before she spells. Probably can't win.

Lisa Latta

Mikki Street: Hard to see him beating Balmuse, but the track won't worry him and he's travelled to Christchurch very well. If Balmuse tripped up then he and a few others are probably pretty even.

Must haves: Balmuse, Fiscal Madness, Mr Toff.

The dangers: Royal Miss, Coup Entrepreneur, The Raj.

SIXTH LEG (R10)

Michael Pitman

Coup Baker: No luck last two runs. Would have liked to see a bit better track, but this is not a strong field.

Irish Sky: I like him, I think he's a Winter Cup type horse. Forget the last run, the back runners had no chance. I rate him a big chance to win.

Peter Williams

Coup Wellington: Useful chance provided the track doesn't chop up too much on the inside because he's drawn No 2.

Marula: Definite winning hope. Forget his last start, he's a sit and sprint horse and he had to work mid-race. Can win.

Must haves: Irish Sky, Coup Wellington, Marula.

Next best: Coup Baker, Le Saint, Magnanimous.