By MIKE DILLON
You just know that at the end of duck shooting season you are probably going to have to settle for a jumper as your bet of the day.
That's New Zealand racing.
Willie Tee in today's $35,000 Ecolab Waikato Steeplechase looks a good investment, even though the return is unlikely to do more than offset the ructions in this week's currency woes.
The dashing 'chaser looked close to his best chasing Boon's Boy home in an Ellerslie start two starts back. Willie Tee looks on the verge of a great run of form and could be one of the real stars by winter's end. This looks like being a great race with Royal Ways and Drops O' Rain real dangers.
There is no one hotter in racing right now than Michael Walker and you could do worse than start the day with him aboard Oliverdance (No 5, R1). Oliverdance could finish only 12th on this track last start, but it was a lot better than it looked. He was only three and a half lengths away and had to battle a pattern which did not suit back runners. The heavy track should make a big difference today.
Salimha (No 1, R2) seems to handle soft tracks and may have a bit too much class for the opposition. She is improving with racing and while there are some smart sorts, like Sir Wille Montague (No 13), she should prove hard to beat.
Von Nida (No 4, R3) deserves to be ignored after failing badly at Te Rapa last week, but could well redeem himself today. He is likely to be fitter this time and the odds could be better than last week. Star Blink (No 13) could be the value.
For betting value, Race 5 is perhaps the best. The crucial ingredient will be hitting the finishing line hard and on that score, Zaitan (No 2) looks the one. He is very smart on an "off" track and while Mi Count (No 7) and Jaiapeno (No 6) are strong chances, he looks a trifecta anchor.
Race 7, the Fairview Motors, is a tricky one, but the short odds on Chase Alida (No 1) should be worth taking. While he had a hard race just being beaten at Rotorua last weekend, he's tough and the biggest incentive is the 3kg apprentice allowance claimed by apprentice Kris Shailer.
Class counts, even in the mud, and Zapeace (No 1, R8) should be too classy in the second leg of the double. She showed it last week and should show it again.
Indian Chant (No 3, R9) will be all the rage, but look for an improved effort from Manch Warrior (No 4). Indian Chant s much fitter for two runs this campaign and will find the line very strongly, while Manch Warrior is veru classy when conditions suit.
Dancing Daze (No 3, R10) is on the way through and can use this as a step. She hit the finish strongly last start and while a middle distance will suit soon, this will be a testing race and and should see the mare finding the line well.
The 58.5kg may not be enough to stop Kiwi stayer Bluebird The Word being a threat in the Metropolitan Handicap at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. He is hugely improved for his last New Zealand start.
Giovana faces a tough task in her Australian debut in today's $A200,000 Grand Prix at Eagle Farm, but she is on the way up and can fill a trifecta spot.
The filly is now being trained by leading Matamata trainer Roger James, who has flown to Brisbane to oversee her preparation for today's clash with AJC Derby winner Fairways and some talented Aussie 3-year-olds who are heading to the Queensland Derby.
But James is realistic about Giovana's chances against the race-hardened 3-year-old colts and geldings and says today's Grand Prix is more a lead-up race for the Queensland Oaks.
"It is a good lead-up because she gets in with a light weight and this should be an ideal blowout before the Oaks," said James.
"But in saying that she is a good filly and has come to hand well."
Racing: Dashing 'chaser looking close to his best form
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