By MIKE DILLON
The money is where the money is.
The punting money, that is, looks to be where the big stakemoney is today, both at Ellerslie and Australia's biggest raceday at Randwick.
Our $100,000 State Insurance Easter and Sydney's sparkling array of $A8 million prizemoney are the drawcard.
And it's Kiwi females all the way in Australia. What a day if Sunline can win the $A2.5 million Doncaster, Hill Of Grace can topple the boys in the $A2 million AJC Derby, Spottswoode can match her own sex in the Adrian Knox and Pravda can yet again prove Kiwi stayers have it over the Aussies.
There will be some success in that quartet.
While we are hoping Sunline can do it, Spottswoode might be the best bet and not only because she is making her Australian debut and the Australians have yet to cross reference her form.
There is a clear sign the Australian fillies are not as strong as ours.
Spottswoode is the big improver among the Kiwis and this is not the top level of those available across the ditch. Brian York should be able to get Spottswoode a lovely trip from the No 3 barrier and while she may be looking for the 2400m of the Oaks next start, 2000m at Randwick is sufficiently testing to put her right in the frame.
Track conditions hold the key to the Easter at Ellerslie. On a track no worse than a very good soft, Mr Emperor (No 12, R8) is a great each-way chance. Easy would be even better. You can imagine the conditions suiting horses running home strongly down the outside for at least the second half of the Ellerslie programme and that's what Mr Emperor needs. Cinder Bella (No 4) is the safest bet. Don't forget she's won six from nine and the size of her heart is not in question. On an easy track, Integrate (No 1), Bawalaksana (No 2) and Furnish (No 8) are strong chances with Soap Opera (No 13) the danger, while if it gets to soft include Creme De Honor (No 11).
Bemuze (No 3, R4) shows the fight of her dam, Mesmerise, in the wet and looks one of the better chances at Ellerslie.
Two-year-olds are tough betting affairs when there is rain around. A Viking (No 1, R5) looked to have a big future when he flashed home late to win at Counties and if he can produce the same effort on today's footing will take plenty of beating.
Pretty Wicked (No 2, R6) has had a chance to freshen since things blew apart when she tackled the guns behind Tall Poppy at Tauranga. This is much easier. Cheeky Baby (No3) did not get a crack until late behind Platonic last week.
Ngaio (No3, R7) and Windsor Phew (No3. R9) strong chances.
\EE Sunline will be almost no value on our TAB, so quinellas and trifectas are best, even though Doncasters are notoriously open races. Hire is unquestionably the danger, while Referral and Allez Suez are strong trifecta chances and don't leave out Kiwi mare Pace Invader. She got bagged for her failure last week, but it was a lot better than it looked and the Randwick track will help her.
Trainer Robert Priscott has a niggling worry about Hill Of Grace going into the Derby, but not about her ability to handle the class. The unknown factor is that it is the first time the rugged filly had backed up with only a week between races, otherwise Priscott is confident. VRC Derby winner Blackfriars will take plenty of beating, but Hill Of Grace is as tough a stayer as there is in her age group and 2400m at Randwick is what she is all about.
Pravda did not have a lot to spare when she won the Manion Cup in her Australian debut, but she found the line strongly and Randwick should suit her even better than Rosehill.
Racing: Punters chase the big stakemoney meetings
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