Racing: Tricky start to Hastings Pick6

Sam Spratt rides Mufhasa to win the MAKFI Challenge stakes 1400m $200,000 race. Photo / Glenn Taylor

The big surprise will be if something other than Mufhasa, Wall Street or Jimmy Choux wins feature.

There are a couple of races you probably need to go wide in for today's Hastings Pick6.

The first and last legs are among them.

Leg 1 Very tricky. The fresh runners will probably play a big part. Outside of that bunch, locally trained Enuffisenuff (No7) has the right recent form on the board to be a Pick6 must. Volkswood (No3) has had two fresh-up runs in his brief career for a win and a second. He has the perfect draw and the Haworth/Dixon stable can get them ready first up. Other fresh runners that shouldn't be left out are Lady Kipling (No4), Kabuki (No12) and Capone (No1).

Leg 2 You can afford to go skinny on most of your tickets in this. Anabandana (No1) was the country's champion juvenile last season and she should have won both the races she missed out on. She will improve a fraction with this race and has a wide gate to contend with, but she is all class and will probably need a fair bit of bad luck to miss out. To be safe take a smaller ticket which includes Pussy O'Reilly (No6) and Testa Secret (No2).

Leg 3 With the possible exclusion of the big race, this sprint race will be the day's highlight. Guiseppina (No4), Beautiful Girl (No5), Italian Princess (No8) and Twilight Savings (No13) - all mares - are going to produce a sight not to be missed. Suggestion: take one ticket anchoring Guiseppina. She hasn't raced for five months, but she won first up last campaign after a break of 17 months, albeit in easier company than this. She looked exceptional last time. She will quickly need a bit more distance than today's 1200m, but is nice and fresh and will be suited by what should be an electric pace.

Italian Princess is claiming and will be very competitive and the other two mares are well capable of filling a trifecta spot.

Leg 4 These staying races are notorious for throwing upsets, but this might be a little more clear-cut. On Thursday there was a big bet for Titch (No2) in the Melbourne Cup at long odds, indicating the stable might be expecting something pretty good today. The Auckland Cup winner gets a 3kg claim, bringing his 60kg down to just a couple of kilos off the minimum weight.

Don Domingo (No11) is the quick improver. He looked good at the trials then found the 1600m a bit short and the heavy track against him when resuming. He will be much more comfortable at this 2000m. Dawn Ghost (No8) is another huge chance.

Leg 5 The big race, the $200,000 Windsor Park Plate. The major surprise will be if something other than Mufhasa (No1), Wall Street (No2) or Jimmy Choux (No8) wins.

The tote might indicate Jimmy Choux is over the line at $1.90, but he's bad value at that and is not a put-and-take proposition. We recommend taking all three.

Leg 6 The reason you need to go skinny on a couple of legs is that you require a real spread here. The list, in no particular order, is Our Ella Belle (No1), Guessing (No2), Lady Chaparral (No4), Phar Cry (No10) and Dreamcatcher (No12) and that doesn't absolutely guarantee you the winner. Great betting race, but a nightmare if you're still alive in the Pick6.

Royal Queen (No5, R4) is one to help fill the wallet for the Pick6. She overcame difficulties to win on the first big day of the Hastings treble and although this race is a little tougher, it's not beyond her. She has the perfect barrier, should probably lead and they have to catch her.