The old bloke has had 23 starts on heavy tracks for five wins and six seconds, but Joostens says that is a touch misleading.
"His absolute best form has been in ground that is rated just on the cusp of heavy.
"He doesn't usually like those very heavy, deep winter tracks like Trentham was last week and the fact he held on for second shows me he is right where we want him to be."
Ellerslie was yesterday rated a slow eight and Joostens would be delighted if that did not change a great deal, but Auckland had some skittery showers yesterday afternoon and more substantial rain was forecast overnight.
"I hope it ends up in our range, but whatever happens it won't be as bad as Trentham last week."
Bragato's advantage would seem to be in his weighting of 55kg, a significant 3kg below the likely favourite, Pump Up The Volume.
The 55kg - 1kg above the minimum weight for the race - is comfortable for a horse that has in the past 12 months won the Mitchelson Cup, Riccarton's Winter Classic and the North Island Challenge Stakes.
The compression of the handicap is doubtless caused by the 59kg topweight Postmans Daughter.
That weight poses a problem even for such an iron mare.
Her nine wins do not include one with more than 58kg and the last time she carried 58kg she was beaten into third in January.
Although she has won two of her 58 races in heavy ground, the other seven have been achieved in better conditions that she will strike tomorrow.
She can do remarkable things as her half-million-dollar bank account suggests, but it will be a remarkable effort if she wins this one.
Pump Up The Volume is the horse to beat. He pushed Indikator every metre of the way in the Rotorua Cup last start and although this is a slightly easier assignment in terms of field class, he goes up from 54.5kg to 58kg.
Little Alfie Brown was not that bad when fifth to Bellino at Te Rapa last start and with his 2kg drop in weights he rates a chance to get some of the stake.
If you look for significant statistics in horses, Sarsarun holds all you'll need in the $40,000 Edwards Sound Chairman's Trophy.
The mare is twice a winner at tomorrow's 1400m distance, she is twice an Ellerslie winner and her heavy track record is seven starts for four wins and two placings.
Perhaps more significant than all that is her record when fresh from a spell, which she is tomorrow. Under those circumstances she has had five starts for three victories.
Newcomer apprentice Zinjete Moki takes the ride and reduces Sarsarun's weight 4kg to a comfortable 52.5kg. Moki rode the mare to win a recent barrier trial at Ellerslie and although green apprentices can always get into trouble, in sprint races they are protected to a certain level.
This is a good and also interesting field. Jubilate was just topped off by Spin Doctor at Te Rapa last start and his liking for Ellerslie will be a major factor this time.
Give Magic Belle the benefit of doubt over her well-beaten effort at Trentham last weekend.
She did not appear comfortable in what was a shocking track and was the innermost runner in the home straight down a strip where they just were not winning.
The Filly is smart and Flower Bomb is better than her recent form reads.
Trifecta punters could do well to consider John Gray, who should have his hoof on the till after two runs back.
Punting pointers
Best bet: Brian's Honour in Race 2 may appeal on another tough day for certainties. His Australian wet track form was stylish and his one start back in New Zealand looked good when fourth at Te Rapa.
Best each-way: Man Down makes a fairly big step up in Race 5, but he left maidens last start like a horse going through the grades.
Best roughie: Magic Belle is a lot better than is suggested by her mid-field placing at Trentham last week where she got completely lost. She will do better in Race 7 this time.
