Racing: Lightweights eye million-dollar payday at Ellerslie

Fanatic in action at Te Rapa in February

Lizzie L'Amour and Fanatic are unquestionably the best placed at Ellerslie to take the first leg of $1 million jackpot today.

The Auckland Racing Club has put in place a three-race million-dollar bonus if the winner of today's $200,000 Laser Plumbing Te Puke City Of Auckland Cup can go forward and also take the Avondale Cup and the Auckland Cup in March.

Such jackpots are suitable for some horses more than others - the weight for any horse winning today's staying contest will increase significantly for the Avondale Cup. The weight required to be carried in the Auckland Cup, if a horse wins the first two legs, is moderated somewhat by the conditions of the race.

The Auckland Cup is run under set weights and penalties, and the weight requirements will vary from horse to horse.

But starting tomorrow on the bottom weights will be a great advantage.

Lizzie L'Amour and Fanatic are both on 53kg today and that makes them difficult to beat, not only this afternoon, but going forward for the bonus.

Conversely, today's topweight, Saint Emilion, has a very difficult 60.5kg. That not only makes it very hard for him this afternoon, it makes him a 1,000,000-to-1 to win the three races.

It would be near impossible for him to win the first two legs and his weight would not be impressive in the last leg.

Nymph Monte is a chance to win today, as are Megablast, Five To Midnight, Snow Secret and Marciano.