By MIKE DILLON
If you're looking for the exes to shout yourself a good meal, Paolino, named after a European restaurant may be the way to go at Te Aroha today.
The highly promising filly could not have been more impressive even though beaten into second at Matamata last start and looks a good anchor for the middle leg of the TAB treble.
The odds on Paolino may not be impressive today, but the show of talent almost certainly will be. With her Matamata rider Lance O'Sullivan suspended, Paolino will be ridden by Michael Walker.
The Jillings/Yuill stable could pick up another race on the programme with Pyramus (No5, R10). His overall form has been fairly smart, but last start he really impressed when he kicked away to win strongly after being taken on in the lead for much of the race. The 1600m starting point at Te Aroha will negate any normal disadvantage of a wide No14 barrier and Grant Cooksley should be able to get him across to a handy position in the long run down the back straight.
Highweights are not always top betting races, but Ally McBeal (No3, R1) looks a useful prospect. She was less than two lengths away in seventh place in a much stronger field than this at Matamata last start, a race won by Forfar, and was beaten by a very heavy track at Tauranga the time before.
Her stablemate Napoleon (No7, R5) surprised a little by being beaten three lengths by Dome at Matamata last start - perhaps Dome is better than generally thought. Napoleon looked unlucky when third at Te Rapa the time before.
In the babies race Sedecrem (Mercedes going backwards) (No3, R2) is half a chance to repeat his narrow but stylish debut win on this course a couple of weeks back. He held on gamely after taking a narrow lead early in the run home and while this field is probably a fraction stronger, he still rates.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes will be a great contest. Cinder Bella (No2, R7) is an outstanding mare at best and deserves to rate a fine winning chance provided the track comes up no firmer than 2.4. Her first-up second to Star Satire at Trentham was close enough to outstanding and trainer Karen Zimmerman swears the mare has improved lengths. Platonic (No3) and She's A Meanie (No4) are tough opponents and as much as everyone seems to always ignore Soap Opera (No1), she has a habit of sticking it to the best. Her win under 58kg at Ellerslie last time was fabulous and worth remembering is she chased Tall Poppy home in this race last year.
Star Blinka (No7, R8) is a real upset chance and Upsen Downs (No2, R9) looks a great each-way bet late in the programme.
Difficult to determine whether former New Zealand 3-year-old Sir Clive has improved since arriving at the Sydney stable of John Size, but his debut Australian win was terrific.
His New Zealand arch rival Danamite is still a chance to beat him in the $A350,000 Canterbury Guineas this afternoon.
Sir Clive will be favourite, but Danamite looked sparkling in beating Platonic in a barrier trial at Counties recently and has clearly improved since his early summer form.
Racing: Smart filly could buy dinner
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