Racing: Seventh Up looks set to show fizz

Seventh Up has a great record first up. Photo / Trish Dunell

Seventh Up has the right stats to make a splash in the $30,000 Te Akau's Gingernuts Trans-Tasman G1 Winner sprint at Ellerslie tomorrow.

Forget the seventh up, Seventh Up the horse is brilliant first up. In fact, from three fresh career runs, he has won two of them.

And on heavy footing, which is likely - certainly it won't be better than slow - he has three wins and a placing from four starts.

With the main rivals up in the weights, Seventh Up looks well placed on 54kg. He will be ridden by Grant Cooksley who knows him well.

A winner of five of his 13 starts, including three of four on heavy tracks, Seventh Up resumes in the 1200m open handicap, having not raced since an unplaced outing at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Cambridge trainer Shelley Hale has had to monitor the Shinko King six-year-old after he jarred up after racing at Riccarton in November.

"The hard track for the Coupland's Mile took its toll, like it did for a lot of horses," she said.

"He's back again and ready to kick off. It's a handy field and he will take improvement out of the run. He's first-up on bad ground which won't be easy, but should go a pretty good race."

Cooksley has a decent chance to also win the following event, the $25,000 Celebrating Chenille 1500m on Cheeky Boy. The six-year-old has a good record econd-up in his preparations with a win and two placings.

His first-up fourth under 59.5kg was not as bad as it looks on paper and he will be sharper for that run.

- NZ Racing Desk