Racing: No justice if mare misses again

There will be no justice if Multi Tasker misses out on racing luck at Ellerslie again this afternoon.

At her last two starts on the course, New Zealand's unluckiest maiden galloper should have won. Multi Tasker (No11, R2) could have taken the prize easily if the gap had opened early enough her last time to the races and her trackwork since suggests she has trained on the right way. The odds won't be good, but that doesn't matter provided the luck is.

Rowdy Yates (No8, R3) left maiden class well enough last start to suggest he can make a race of it stepping up a grade. He finishes off powerfully, the only question mark this time being the considerably wetter conditions. Prangelica (No7) is smart and don't totally disregard Catalina Lady (No1). Catalina Lady has benefited from an apprentice allowance lately, but the stable has elected this time to engage Michelle Innes. The 58kg is a lot of weight for a mare, but she certainly does not lack heart.

The Danz Star - Leigh Valley (No8, R4) clash was going to be the day's highlight until Tim Carter scratched Danz Star yesterday. Leigh Valley is really going places and there is no reason to think she cannot make it three straight this afternoon. She manages wet tracks and finishes her races off right to the line. I Rock My World (No2) and Lazaros (No6) will love the conditions.

Danz Star was withdrawn because Tim Carter's only brother Robert died suddenly in Hamilton this week and was buried yesterday.

"I just didn't feel like going racing this week," said Carter yesterday. "But Robert would have wanted the horse to start, he was a very keen racing man and had a big bet on Danz Star when he won at Ellerslie a couple of weeks back."

Spring 3-year-olds are risky punting propositions on wet tracks, but Race 5 is the first leg of a $100,000 Pick6and here will be plenty trying to sort it out. Twinkling (No11) went just a fair fourth on a soft track at Ruakaka last start, but you are more inclined to think that may have been a dislike of the sandy surface more than the rain-affected conditions. She has already won in heavy footing at Ellerslie and rates highly here. Be careful though, even if the top two Crusoe and Black Panther come out because of the footing, there is huge scope for an upset. Gomez (No5) managed a heavy track at Matamata on debut, but apparently did not do so well in trackwork on similar ground during the week. If he gets footing he has the ability.

Echo Maid (No6, R7) is going to be hard to keep out, even allowing that the Soliloquy Stakes field is packed with talent. A number of them are not going to do the conditions and Echo Maid will definitely cope. Forget she went around at Hastings last start - she was done in by a wide barrier and never got into the race. Additionally, trainer Richard Yuill believes Echo Maid is fitter for this. Lance O'Sullivan is not confident with his trio Tsarina Belle (No10), Crepe De Chine (No2) and Hpnotiq (No7) even though all three can win. In what is an extremely difficult Pick6, it is perhaps worth the risk of leaving them out. City Affair (No5), Howmuchyacharging (No4) and Pulcinella (No3) are musts.

You can't help blinking when you see the 58kg Northern Beau (No1, R8) has to lump in the An Egg A Day Is Ok Mitchelson Cup and what about the name of the race! It's right up there with the Lazy Fish Hurdles at Paeroa tomorrow. The 58kg is going to be significant at the end of a 2400m slog in testing conditions and if something like Cut The Cake (No4) drew close at the 300m with 3.5kg less, he might make it interesting. You certainly have to include Northern Beau, he's one of the most improved around but you also need to include Tantalic (No3), Expectalite (No2) and Mandana (No7).

Nothing is ever easy in heavy ground, but the last two legs of Pick6 look a bit more definitive. You would not be far astray if you included Pure Shinko (No7, R9), Kabikushi Kabigum (No2) and El Perez (No8). If you wanted to go wider late in the Pick6, include Punt Higher (No6) and Mia Bambino (No12).

You suspect Superalloy (No8, R10) has too much class for a really heavy track, but he has shown so much potential you have to stand him and Temple Hills (No17) out ahead of this field. The blinkers go on Temple Hills for the first time and after his exhibition in greenness when winning here last start, it's none too soon. They should have it between them, but if you wanted to go for value, Focal Point (No2), My Lips Are Sealed (No4) and Sophalopha (No7) have talent. Watch for a sneaky run from Pin High (No15).