Racing: Hope still has nagging doubts about Alinghi

Greg Hope knows everything looks fine with Alinghi.

His stable star is eating well, working the house down and sprinted a slashing last 800m at the workouts recently.

But none of that can erase the nagging doubt from his mind heading into today's $100,000 Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington.

Three months ago Alinghi was the bright new hope in the fillies ranks, testing Tosti Girl and Western Dream in the Alexandra Park feature.

But her season started to go off the rails during a failed New South Wales Oaks bid and she has done little on the track since. So while Hope is outwardly confident heading into today's rare daytime meeting at Addington, you don't have to dig far to find the first vein of doubt.

"I am happy with her work and I think punters should forget her last start because she cast a shoe at the start and galloped," Hope says initially. "So we are very happy with how everything else has gone.

Then comes the doubt.

"But while everything looks fine I suppose you can't see what is going on inside, how much the hard racing has taken out of her.

"She has been up pretty much all season and maybe she is feeling it a bit.

"I couldn't say for sure she is as well now as she was at the Auckland Cup carnival."

At her best Alinghi would be a realistic winning chance today, especially with Tosti Girl missing the race.

Adding to Hope's doubt is her wide barrier draw.

"From out there I think we will have to ease at the start because I think Western Dream will lead and I don't think we can cross her.

"So we are up against it."

The race will hold special interest for punters as it has a $100,000 terminating Six Pack.

Six Pack gambling is usually a waste of time with the pools too small to reward those lucky, or smart, enough to select the first six home in the right order.

But because today's Six Pack must be struck it becomes slightly more inviting.

It means punters can take a percentage bet and if they have the only winning ticket they could get a huge payout.

There is, of course, the small matter of selecting the trifecta plus the next three home and the only affordable way to go about that may be anchoring Western Dream to win or run second. That works on the scenario that she is going to lead and if she does then the most likely trailer would be Affairs Of State, who follows her at the start, so she is a must high up in Six Pack combinations.

Pam Bromac and Zitura have been very consistent so are must-haves, while Alinghi, Tuapeka Poet, Cruzee Lass and Gretamaro, who is consistent enough to finish in the top six, are others worth boxing up.

Okay, that is starting to sound expensive, but after all it is $100,000 and must be struck so maybe it is worth a crack.