Racing: Ellerslie runner a tribute to Australia's master trainer

Wee Biskit (No2, R5) will just adore the deep, testing footing as she did when she won this race, the Great Northern Hurdles, last year. Photo / iStock

Let's hope Tranky Doo can win Race 2 at Ellerslie today.

New Zealand's best jockey Opie Bosson will be wearing Bart Cummings' famous green and gold diagonal colours as a mark of respect from all of New Zealand racing to one of the world's greatest ever trainers who died last Sunday in Sydney.

Bart did not race a horse at Ellerslie, but he bought the majority of his 12 Melbourne Cup winners from these shores and was a huge fan of the New Zealand bloodlines.

"We felt that it would be the right thing to do to honour the man who is considered the greatest of all trainers in this part of the world and who has been such a great promoter of the New Zealand thoroughbred," Auckland Racing Club chief executive Cameron George said. Tranky Doo showed class to match her attractive looks when she left maidens at Avondale last start. This is significantly more difficult, but she looks better than just a maiden winner.

Scholes (No3, R1) jumped up two grades to win in open company here two weeks ago and today's race does not look greatly more difficult. He does not mind really heavy footing - which it will be - and he fights very hard in the closing stages of his races.

Toughness in very testing conditions will win the money more often than not today. Joey Jonz (No1, R3) has just those requirements. He gets 3kg off his 59.5kg and that might just be the winning of the race. He can tough out most events and he is dropping back in grade from open company. What beats him wins.

Eksuude (No2, R4) has displayed a rare type of toughness in his last two starts, just going down two starts back then turning the tables last start. He will carry his full 59kg so this won't be easy, but he has only to show his best to be the one to beat again. Wajima (No5) will handle these conditions better than the Taranaki footing that beat him last start.

Wee Biskit (No2, R5) will just adore the deep, testing footing as she did when she won this race, the Great Northern Hurdles, last year.

This track will not be greatly different from the waterlogged track of 12 months ago. Her form this campaign, on tracks that suit her, has been first class. Thenamesbond (No3) and Australia's best jumps jockey Steve Pateman will be tough and it will be interesting to see if classy Just Got Home (No1) can manage the distance in these conditions.

Ethical (No5, R6) has poor form on paper, but it may pay to ignore that. She is a lot better and the track today will be a lot better than the footing she has struggled with lately. A telling stat is that she has won both her Ellerslie starts. Difficult to sort out the rest of the field. Go Ethical each way.

If you take the Pakuranga Hunt Cup out of the equation, Amanood Lad (No1, R7) would be clear favourite for the race everyone wants to see, the $125,000 Great Northern Steeplechase. He didn't see out the Pakuranga, but he appeared to race a touch keenly.

Remember how he saw this race out to win last year in extremely testing conditions and you will want to be on him again. Snodroptwinkletoes (No4) has been set for this race and with a 5kg pull in the weights is the horse to beat. Jack Romanov (No3) stuck out the Pakuranga Hunt Cup brilliantly.

Guevara (No3, R8) stuck on fabulously well for a close second at Ruakaka last week and his record is much better on rain-affected tracks. He should be in this for a good way. Illuminati (No5) has a good record in the wet and should be right in this.

Eletist (No1, R9) has his first start back after a sole Australian start from John Sargent's Sydney stable in which he lost his apprentice rider early in the race.

He is very good in the wet and can be difficult to manage here. Roc That (No4) could surprise. His last start was mystifying.

The last is a tough race, but Victoria Heights (No9, R10) is right in the race. Stralis (No13) will slug it out better than most here.