Racing: Eletist good chance at Tauranga

Aaja Nachle shoots for a hat-trick in the $50,000 Tauranga Classic today. Photo / Trish Dunell

Storming The Tower might finally strike a track surface that suits in Kiwifruit Cup

Punting won't be easy at Tauranga today if the predicted weather bomb for the top half of the North Island hits the Bay Of Plenty.

The useful byproduct will at least be a loose track. Let's hope it's not bottomless.

Eletist (No5) in Race 3 is close to another win. He looked good finishing second at Ellerslie last start and should be slightly improved. The looser track this time should be more his style than the sticky footing at Ellerslie.

Elusive Gold (No2, R2) is well named. He's found a win very elusive lately, always running into one just too good for him. This time he drops a grade to R85 and will have 2kg taken off his back by apprentice Brendan Hutton. That gives him every chance and there should be no excuses if there is rain on the day. Airfield Road (No1) is another here to benefit from an apprentice allowance and on form is right in contention as is One Cool Message (No5), who is improved for recent racing.

Weight should be a deciding factor in Race 4, one of the toughest on the day. Hey Mr (No1) has some good form, but will carry his full 59kg. Springloaded (No7) might be rising nine, but his latest form has been excellent and the apprentice claim of Ulrika Holmquist takes him down to 4.5kg below Hey Mr.

Queens Rose (No2, R5) has one of New Zealand's best wet-weather records. She was hopeless two starts back on "that" Rotorua track and even last start at Ellerslie she hated the footing, but did well to finish second. This loose track should see her back in winning form.

Not that this will be easy. Alleyoop (No5) has to prove she can handle this track, but her latest form is impressive. Aaja Nachle (No4) is in career best form and The Filly (No1), inconsistent though she might be, has plenty of ability.

Spoke To Carlo (No9, R6) is an ex-English galloper who made a big impression winning at Ellerslie on his New Zealand debut. He won with style at Ellerslie and don't be surprised if he does the same in better class here. He could be pretty useful. Pace Setter (No14) is close to a win.

Joey Jonz (No1, R7) is as tough as and that is going to be important today. Brendan Hutton brings his 59kg back to a more manageable 57kg and that puts him right in the frame here. Doiknowyou (No12) has looked really good lately and this could continue that run of form.

The main handicap is a mixed bunch.

Storming The Tower (No4, R8) might finally strike a track surface that suits. Loose and wet is his go and don't be surprised if he gets through to win. Not much to choose between the first four here. Ethical (No8) will appreciate a wetter track than the one that bested her last start, Peacefuleasyfeelin (No5) and Pump Up The Volume (No2) are dangers.

The last is hardly a get-out stakes, but you could do worse than Wajima (No15, R9) if he regains the field. He will love this track, even if it's deep and testing and few in this race will be the same.

Fair Fleet (No10) is the upsetter.

There is a crazy phenomenon in horse racing.

When a horse's name is mispronounced the first time by a racecaller, the name sticks.

Take Pasha Sumore, scratched from the open sprint at Otaki yesterday.

For all of the mare's 30 starts and six wins, it has been declared by racecallers as Pa(r)sha Sumore.

Pash is a longtime slang for kiss. To the best of our knowledge there is no such word as parsh.

"I don't know who first decided it was Parsha, but it's definitely meant to be Pasha," says owner and trainer Clare Dravitski.

"It's meant to say Kiss Her Some More." Ask a female for a parsh and you're liable to cop a right hook. On the other hand, ask for a pash, and, well, you never know your luck.

Let's kiss Parsha goodbye.