Racing: Mare to bankroll Oz feature

Guiseppina looks so talented she will take plenty of beating in race 8 at Awapuni today. Photo / Supplied

If you're looking for your Golden Slipper bankroll this afternoon, Shandream in the last at Ellerslie might provide you with it.

Race 10 at Ellerslie is run 20 minutes before the A$3.5 million ($4.75 million) Golden Slipper, perfect timing to organise things.

Shandream got into all sorts of strife when beaten second favourite at Ellerslie last start.

She drew the outside of the 15 runners at the 1400m and things continued to get worse from there. She was a long way off them on the home bend and Leith Innes looked as though he almost gave up on the promising mare.

She was just three lengths away in a pretty useful field and the chances are good that she'll get better opportunities this time. If you are looking for a multiple bet around her don't leave out Sweet 'N' Keen, who created a big impression coming from last to win here two starts back and looked just as good finishing fifth last time.

There are very few standouts on the Ellerslie card, the races shaping as very handy betting propositions.

Justa Kinda Magic (No1, R2) is the type of horse to get on and follow for the next couple of runs. He was coming back from a long break when sixth over the Ellerslie carnival and will have improved a lot with that. He showed exceptional talent a season or so back and his performance this time will be very interesting. Mercury Mistress (No2) was barely half a length from winner Cent Per Cent in fifth place after leading at Te Rapa last start. She drops well back in class for this.

Alysha Collett rides exceptionally well for her relative lack of experience and the 3kg she takes off Quinn Tait (No2, R3) will be critical. He was less than half a length away without a claim last start, which puts him right in this. Noble Warrior (No4) will almost certainly appreciate the step up to a middle distance.

Lord Carson (No4, R5) is one of the more interesting runners all day. The track was way too heavy for him when he resumed from a new stable over the Ellerslie carnival and that run can be forgotten. His preferred footing appears to be just with a bit of give in it and that looks like what he's going to get.

State Of Elation (No5) will find this a bit easier than chasing Magic Briar around at Ellerslie last start. He has drawn to get the beautiful trip.

Whistling Straits (No3, R6) has been threatening to win a maiden race and this looks his chance. He finished off well here last time and this field looks fractionally easier overall.

Follow The Birds (No4, R7) looked extremely promising last preparation. He was rested after finishing unplaced to Jimmy Choux in the Hawkes Bay Guineas and this is his resuming run. John Morrell knows how to get them to win fresh from a break. Monarch (No12), also from a good barrier, looks dangerous.

Belle De Jeu (No13, R8) goes well fresh and from an inside barrier she might give a lot of cheek today. She's at least as good as a lot of these, even though it's a pretty useful line-up. Mygoodgrace's (No14) runs lately have been behind Magic Briar and Jimmy Choux, so she's due some relief.

Queen Of Pop's (No10, R9) form on paper looks average, but the efforts have been in good class races and she hasn't been far away. This is easier, which makes her outside barrier draw a shame. Fashion Rock (No2) rates again.

At Awapuni Guiseppina (No17, R8) strikes open company for the first time, but she looks so good that's unlikely to halt her progress up through the grades.

She meets some smart types in Dasoudi (No6) who has been fabulous in recent starts, but Guiseppina looks so talented she will take plenty of beating with just 53kg on her back. She looks like the next "you beaut good thing".

It's difficult to see anything outside bad luck beating Anabandana (No9, R7) in the $200,000 Sires Produce. She is a fine filly and even with some talented males in the race she stands out.

The last at Manawatu is interesting. Stellaphyta (No14, R10) got the money for this column at Ellerslie over the carnival and has been given plenty of time to get over that.

She is the type that could go significantly forward from here and although the barrier draw looks horrific on paper, there is a long run down the back straight from the 1600m barrier and James McDonald is on board to weave some magic.