Racing: Heavy tracks make life hard for punters

El Marino. Photo / Steven McNicholl.

BACK THESE
* El Marino: The opposition wasn't great and he won by only 1.25 lengths, but there was a bit to like about his jumping and his stickability.
* Time Pays: Showing plenty of determination and won't be tagged a maiden for long.
* Fastnet Lady: Stuck grimly to her task to be narrowly beaten by under-rated Elle Tresor at New Plymouth. Win soon.

SACK THESE
Difficult to put the pencil through any of them in the conditions they were asked to race in.

FORGIVE
* Ourforeignminister: Best suited to on-speed racing. Freshened, he's worth staying with.
* My Cool Jo: Conditions too testing when resuming. Will improve.

HEAD SHAKERS
* Fives'a Diamond: Wasn't up to keeping up and was under pressure to keep them in sight at the 650m. Advantage is she's in a stable capable of sorting them out.
* Bobby: Impressive physical type on debut who looked well but failed to do anything and tailed off under a big punt. Clearly better.

YEAR'S BIGGEST CALL
Chief stipe Cameron George calling for a much-needed reduction in the number of racetracks, 15 to 20. Go you good thing. Ignore the age-old opposition.

DON'T MISS
Hypnotize taking on the Great Northern for a third win at Ellerslie on Saturday week. Massive.

IMPROVER
* Fair King: Blew out late in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, but it was his first steeplechase this preparation. Set for the Great Northern, which he won last year, and will be dead ready for that. Anything other than a bog track will help. Will go close, but Hypnotize the big problem.

OH P-L-E-A-S-E
Open handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday - really? The quinella, Saved By The Bell and Kamikaze Flyer, one a 5-year-old with one win and the other a 6-year-old with one win. Have we ever seen open handicaps so pathetic? You could kick your hat quicker than they can run.

Thank God for the jumpers - most of them can run as quick - and hurry up next Saturday's $250,000 Mudgway so that we can see some real open horses.

FOR THE RECORD
How did Kamikaze Flyer not get the race? For this column, Saved By The Bell cost it much more than the long head margin. Probably close to one length. You can't stop a horse's momentum and ask it to change ground - in heavy footing - and expect it to not to lose more than a long head in distance.