Racing: Two great Ellerslie prospects - but they may not get the chance

Trainer Ricky Carston will probably know today whether he has two feature runners at the three-day Ellerslie carnival or none.

Carston, his training partner Shane Kennedy and some stable owners will make the decision whether to press ahead with Hurrah in the $150,000 Starcraft Stakes and classy juvenile Italia for the $150,000 Ford Diamond Stakes.

Hurrah galloped in sparkling style at yesterday's Breakfast With The Stars at Ellerslie, in direct contrast to his effort when he tailed the field home in the $100,000 Whakanui International at Te Rapa last start.

Carston knows there was a good reason for Hurrah performing so badly at Te Rapa - he just doesn't know exactly what it is. "Straight after the race he went dark in the eye and I thought for a while he was going to collapse," said Carston.

"He was really down for two or three days after that, but his blood was fine, his heart reading came out perfectly and his colour was good.

"We've got no idea what went wrong.

"It's possible he whacked his head during the night, or he might have got cast in his box."

Whatever it was, Hurrah looked completely over it in his gallop with handicapper Tantalic yesterday.

He clocked 49.40 for the last 800 and 38 for the 600.

Noel Harris rode Hurrah at Te Rapa, but is engaged for 3-year-old filly Pulcinella in the Starcraft Stakes and will be ridden by Leith Innes if he starts.

Innes was very pleased with yesterday's effort.

"He's a bit of a clown, he gets his head up and gazes around."

Carston and Kennedy are keen to press on to the Diamond Stakes with Italia and are attempting to talk their Christchurch owners into lining up.

Italia won the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique then finished fourth, 2.4 lengths from Naturo in Saturday's Robin, Duke Of Bedford Stakes at Matamata.

Rider Vinny Colgan said he felt the filly was a little weary on the day, but Carston says Italia is in great shape now.

"On the face of it she's come through this race even better than she did coming out of Te Rapa."