Racing: Quick march to the front

Brent Mangos is hoping a different approach produces the same result when Tosti Girl chases her second Oaks win of the season in Sydney tonight.

Mangos drives the Great Northern Oaks winner in tonight's A$100,000 classic in which she clashes with fellow Kiwi filly Alinghi and Australian stars Lady Waratah and Protikori.

The field is unusual strong for this early stage of the Australian season and luck in the running may be the crucial component.

And that is why Mangos is hoping Tosti Girl can secure exactly the opposite run she did when she won the Great Northern Oaks.

On that occasion she came from last but tonight Mangos wants to use her as yet untested gate speed to lead, which is often half the battle around the tight Harold Park track.

"She hasn't really had the draw before to use the gate speed but I am sure she would have it," said Mangos.

"The way she won last start I don't want to be unlucky because she is really racing well.

"And the best way not to be unlucky is to be in front so that is what I will be trying to do.

"It is not the be all and end all but it is my first option."

Tosti Girl has been one of the big improvers over the northern summer and returned from a freshen-up for a stunning win at Alexandra Park two weeks ago.

After being checked at the start she recovered to thrash some good fillies and would only need to race up to that form tonight to be the one to beat.

News of her recent form has made it across the Tasman too, with two $3000 bets at $6 already placed with Australian bookmakers this week, bringing her into $4.75 third favouritism.

She shares that mark with Alinghi, who has excuses when she only battled in third in her prelude last Friday.

The racey filly did not eat well in the days leading up to the race, prompting co-trainer Greg Hope to ease her workload. That meant she went into last week's race fresh, causing her to over-race before fading in the home straight.

Hope is adamant Alinghi, who ran third to Tosti Girl in the Great Northern Oaks, is back to her best this week and that should see her improve lengths on her Australian debut effort.

While many would expect Alinghi to try for an all the way win driver Jo Herbert says she would rather sit just off the pace.

"I have no doubts she could lead if we wanted to but I think she is better coming from behind so we might try that," said Herbert.

"Still, I haven't spoken to Greg yet and he may want to stay in front."

While both the Kiwi fillies are outstanding it will not be a simple case of turning up to divide the Australian riches between them.

Both Lady Waratah and Protikori are class acts, with the former in particular up to beating the Kiwis.

The two Aussie stars do, however, face second line draws and unless there are some early fireworks they may struggle to give the Kiwis a start and a beating.

His trip to Sydney was originally going to cost Mangos the drive behind one of his stable stars, Mr Williams, at Alexandra Park tonight but that clash has been avoided with the exciting pacer being scratched.

Mr Williams was set to meet his arch-rival Mr Bojangles in the $12,000 feature race at tonight's meeting but did not work well on Wednesday.

"Hayden (Cullen, stable driver) wasn't that happy with his work so we got a blood test taken and it showed he has a slight virus," said Mangos.

"He is too good to race even a little below his best, especially with all the money that would have been on him, so we pulled him out.

"He can have an easy few days and will now start on Auckland Cup night (March 10)."

The scratching of Mr Williams makes Mr Bojangles the anchor in tonight's $75,000 Pick6.

He will start a hot favourite even from his second line draw though after he returned after a month away from racing last Friday with a fighting second to Alta Serena in a far stronger race.

He was forced to come wide in that standing start event and was only beaten after Mangos secured Alta Serena a dream run along the passing lane in the home straight to grab him inside the last 100m.

Mr Bojangles should have improved with that outing, will love the 2700m and if he is to be any chance in his next main aim, the Auckland Cup on March 10, he will have to win tonight.