Racing: Fitness query over mare

Brent Mangos is hoping the adage about a bad dress rehearsal making for a good show rings true at Addington tonight.

Mangos will drive favourite Alta Serena in the $25,000 PGG Mares Championship and admits her workouts performance at Alexandra Park last Saturday was hardly the ideal lead-up to tonight's feature.

Alta Serena galloped twice and finished last in her 2200m heat, which was won by New Zealand's sole hope in tomorrow night's Chariots Of Fire in Sydney, Born Again Christian.

While Alta Serena's behaviour didn't exactly boost Mangos' confidence, he is not letting it bother him greatly.

"It probably wasn't as bad as it looked," he said.

"She galloped at the start when I took hold of her because she was trying to go too quick.

"And then she galloped again on the last bend when she was hanging in against her neck pole.

"Tonight she will have her earplugs back in and is a far better mare left-handed so I think we won't have a problem."

The only real worry Mangos has going into tonight's race is that Alta Serena's recalcitrant performance last Saturday may have left her short of peak fitness.

"She has only had the one start this campaign and I think she needed a good hitout last week to be really ready for this.

"I think she will be just below her best and because of that I'll try and drive her for one run."

That could still prove to be a winning formula as the race may be run to suit the swoopers, with so much gate speed off the front line.

Mares such as Warm Soak, Princess Alberta, Flying Sands and Australian visitor Tibetan Lass should ensure plenty of early fireworks, making the race for those who can settle off them early.

Alta Serena, even with her slight fitness doubts, looks the best mare in the country but could be under the odds tonight and better value could come in the form of Armbro Innocence and Coburg.

Armbro Innocence will be having her first start for new trainer Tim Butt after being sold to United States owners.

She has won in free-for-all company on this track before and can win tonight providing she settles in the middle stages for catch driver Mark Jones, sitting in for the suspended Anthony Butt.

Coburg won the group race mares' double at this meeting last season and is racing at least as well now.

She follows out stablemate Warm Soak, a fast beginner, and may settle closer than many expect from her second-line draw so is very backable at the $8 the TAB is offering on fixed odds.

The danger horse for punters will be Imagine That, who is racing as well as any leading mare in the country but faces a very tricky second-line draw.

She follows out That's Life Lavra and if that mare could lead, Imagine That would get the perfect trip. But with so many lightning-quick beginners drawn wider on the front line, That's Life Lavra may struggle to hold the front and this could leave Imagine That locked away.

Tonight's meeting, which has a guaranteed $150,000 Pick6, also features several Interdominion nominees in the supporting pacing and trotting races, with Scorching and Bella's Boy in the pacing handicap and Cracker Nova, Major Decision, Play On and Too Much To Do in the main trot trying to win their way to Auckland.

Queens of pacing

New Zealand's best mares clash at Addington tonight.

Alta Serena is favourite even though she failed badly at the workouts last Saturday.

She faces a wide draw in what looks sure to be a fast race.

Tonight's meeting also features several horses trying to qualify for the Interdominions at Alexandra Park in March.