By MIKE DILLON
It's pretty tough when a jumper might be the best bet on an Easter Handicap card, but Little Bro looks the goods at Ellerslie today.
The underrated speedy hurdler showed he was close to full fitness when winning on the flat at Avondale last week. As he has been further hardened by that race, he is a great way to start the day in Race 1. The better the footing the better Little Bro is suited and with only a easy rating last night following heavy Thursday night rain, he will take plenty of beating.
The Vance stable last night had not decided which race Zabeels Angel (No2, R4 and No15, R9) will start in but leaned towards Race 4. "I'm not certain the track is quite wet enough for her," said Bob Vance, husband of trainer Jenny. The stable was hoping for more showers overnight to take the track to soft and if that happened she would just about be the bet of the day.
If the track stays within the easy range they will struggle to beat Flying Babe (No6, R5) at level weights, despite her not having raced since winning the Matamata Breeders Stakes in February. She is all class and speed and while she will improve greatly with the race after being flattened by a virus, class counts for so much in this type of race. Watch for a big finishing effort from Lady Tess (No7), who impressed at the trials last week. Finishing School (No5) could not have been more stylish winning on debut when not entirely suited by a soft track rating.
Lord Romar (No7, R6) could not have produced a better trial for this than his gallant close second to Butterscotch at Tauranga last start. He lunged very hard at the end of that 1600m and will be much better suited by the 2100m today. His stablemate Mr Brook (No6) will appreciate the easing of conditions and Laughing Cavalier (No5) is the most improved horse around.
Classify (No1, R7) should win. The 58kg topweight might look daunting, but it is only 3.5kg above the lowest weighted runner. He should be fitter for his Tauranga run two weeks ago and the easing of the track is perfect. Wake Forest (No5) will also appreciate the conditions.
Anchor your quinellas and trifectas in the Jaguar Easter around Country Rose (No5, R8) and Party Queen (No15). If she is at $4 or more, Country Rose is a great each-way bet. Her bad luck cannot possibly continue, the track conditions are perfect, the 1600m similar and most important she did not have a hard race when 10th at Awapuni last week simply because Michael Walker could not find her racing room in the home straight. As a result of her easy run she is in sparkling condition and will be finishing hard at the leaders in the closing stages. O'Malleys Boy (No2), Conference (No8), Classic Babe (No9) and Regency (No16) are trifecta chances in a wide open field as Easter Handicaps almost always are.
If Zabeels Angel does not start in Race 9, Vyner's Lane (No3) will take some beating. The tough Taranaki sprinter grows two more legs when there is rain about and his latest form on firm tracks has not been that bad. The track will probably be getting a bit cut up by Race 9, suiting horses coming from off the speed - Vyner's Lane's best style of racing.
The better the conditions the better the chances of Kakaho (No8, R9) finishing the day with a win. He is showing extreme promise, but probably does not want a track worse than easy. Scheherezade (No7) is the danger horse, regardless of the conditions.
Sydney's $A2.5 million Doncaster, like last week's Golden Slipper, is a no-bet race for my money - there are simply too many chances to declare it in one.
A much better betting vehicle is the $A2 million Derby. This isn't easy either, but it is easier than the Doncaster. Boxing four in the trifecta might be the go - Universal Prince (No2), Sale Of Century (No5), Danamite (No8) and Zareyev (No10). That is taking a risk in leaving out last week's $A1 million Mercedes winner Curata Storm, but he is unlikely to get the race run to suit so perfectly again.
New Zealand filly Star Satire (No13) will find the drop back from 1600m to 1400m suitable, but she has a wide barrier to overcome. If she gets half a decent run she can get right into the action after her last-start fifth in a strong field.
Racing: Little Bro looks the good for Ellerslie
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.