Racing: Chance for rare quinella in big race

We Can Say It Now. Photo / Race Images.

Quinellas are difficult at the best of times, but more so in group one races.

Yet We Can Say It Now and Altered Image might be worth a tickle in the $200,000 Captain Cook Stakes this afternoon.

After all they are the best two horses in the big Trentham event.

You need a lot of luck in these types of races and Altered Image should get his from his inside gate.

We Can Say It Now was nowhere near as lucky in the barrier draw, but she is an adaptable filly with a gorgeous nature and that's going to help first-time rider Lisa Allpress to find her something like an economical trip.

If she gets that look for her to be storming up the centre of the track from the 300m.

Altered Image is very talented and this looks like the best clash we've seen in a while.

For trifectas, well, you have to throw Obsession in. Her Pukekohe Breeders Stakes win was achieved against the odds and Frank Richie is happy the mare has trained on well. Then you've got Dancing Jess, Mac O'Reilly and, yes dare we say it, Firebolt. He's as good looking as Valentino and he's broken as many hearts.

At Ellerslie you can probably take the short odds about A Chance To Dream (No4, R3). John Sargent's team is now starting to fire after a slow start to the season and this mare has simply been waiting to get a trip beyond 1600m. She's jumping straight from 1600m to 2200m, but she's had three races this preparation and should be ready for it. She went up to win at Ellerslie last start, but found the race just a touch too sharp and her fifth was not at all bad.

With there being a niggling doubt about Destiny Cove (No10, R4) handling the firm track, Peace Lilly (No9) makes a bit of appeal with Alvin Ng's 2kg claim. She sticks well and looks suited to this race.

Probably wouldn't pay to leave Destiny Cove out altogether. The connections of The Miner (No2, R5) have donated whatever stakemoney the horse earns to the Pike River Miners' Fund (winning stake $5900) and the Auckland Racing Club has matched it.

That should shorten the horse's price somewhat, but it was always going to be in the market after its close debut second at Dargaville recently. This is a strong maiden race with Chivas Regal (No1), Hatupatu (No5), despite its wide gate, and another impressive trials winner in Giant Steps (No4).

Sam's Town (No5, R6) is in two races. If he starts here he's a royal chance. He doesn't win out of turn, but he's a very talented sprinter and has a good draw here to help him cope with a couple of talented opponents. He is dropping back from open class behind Italian Princess to R80. Mae Jinx (No8) and Make A Wish (No9) are in the market.

If Beautiful Girl (No7, R8) gets any run at all from her wide gate here she will be right in the finish. She was a good thing beaten when stopped in her tracks as she was charging at the leaders when resuming at Te Rapa last start. She needs luck, but has a confident rider in Jason Collett to help her. Everything went wrong for Vincent Mangano (No8) in the Stewards at Riccarton and that run can be forgiven. He has a couple of issues, but he's talented and looks nicely placed on 53.5kg.

Historian (No3, R9) should have learned a bit from his debut second at Awapuni and poses a threat here from a nice barrier. Hustle (No1) might be some value.

Prairie Star (No3, R10) won stylishly over 1600m at Pukekohe last start and is a real stayer in the making. She jumps to 2200m here, but has drawn to get an economical run and should finish off well. Bone Of Contention (No6) is the improver.