Racing: Track the secret to Rose's success

Ombre Rose is the key to the $750,000 Riccarton Pick6 tomorrow.

If she handles what looks certain to be a slow track she wins the fourth Pick6 leg.

It will be the punters' worst nightmare if she doesn't.

The approach needs to either be Ombre Rose as a Pick6 anchor, or between 10 runners and the field.

Shane Marr believes Ombre Rose will successfully manage the track.

"I saw her mother [Lady Chenele] race and she could win when the mud was up to her ears. She won races in mid-winter."

Ombre Rose has won five of her six starts, the last three very impressively.

The worry is her racing style - she races from mid-field and produces strong late runs, a style of racing that can be upset by rain-affected tracks.

"There is only one way to find out how they handle the bad tracks," says Marr.

"Next season she'll race in some pretty good races and there's no point in going into them not knowing how she'll perform if it's wet.

"She's done very well since she last raced."

The filly that races for commentator Reon Murtha, his son Sheldon and harness trainer and breeder Michael House simple stands out in this field.

"If it doesn't rain I'd say the track will be a holding slow," says Marr.

"I heard a forecast for rain tomorrow and that might help, it will loosen the footing."

Asked what he thought might be the main danger, Marr elected his other runner Envy Me.

"She's only just won a maiden, but she likes a bit of wet footing and I rate her a chance.

"The rest are a pretty even lot."