Boxing Day at Ellerslie: Sethito aims for repeat win in Group 2 Eight Carat Stakes

Sethito. Photo / Kenton Wright / Race Images

The debate over the best Wexford Stables filly has gone quiet heading into today’s Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Stakes at Ellerslie.

That doesn’t mean Prosegur can’t strike back in the Group 2 but both punters and her own trainers admit it is advantage Sethito at this stage.

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott couldn’t decide who was their better chance when the two high-class fillies met in the Bonecrusher Stakes last start but Sethito bolted in, with Prosegur a brave second.

The win was so convincing Sethito has been heavily backed to repeat it today and O’Sullivan, who wasn’t sure who he favoured more last start, is more definitive today.

“She was so good last start even after working early she has to be the one to beat again,” says O’Sullivan.

“Going into their last clash we thought she [Sethito] may have the talent but Prosegur the attitude but she was very good winning.

“She overcame a wide draw that day so it suggests she can do it again.”

Maybe the greatest concern for Sethito is the step up to 1600m after her two recent 1400m wins as her motor seems to run very fast and she got keen two starts ago, albeit relaxing better last start.

That would suggest she is improving mentally and she has winning form at the new Ellerslie, which could be crucial in the major races this summer.

The Eight Carat is anything but a two-filly race but it could continue a huge run for the stable’s three-year-olds with Checkmate (R7, No 3) also contributing in the Shaws Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas today.

He was enormous winning last start and while he has to concede weight to a class filly in Damask Rose today, O’Sullivan says Checkmate is thriving.

“He has a week off after that win but has worked up well and while Damask Rose will be hard to beat, we think he is up to it.”

The stable looks like one to follow again today, with Smokeshow and Saxs N Silks in Race 1, while there has already been money for Grande Gallo ($14 into $8) in the third race.

“She is good enough to win and flying but it is a very strong Rating 75 so she could go great and still get beaten,” says O’Sullivan.

The stable also have the hard-to-catch Karman Line in Race 4 but she is not ideally placed at the weights.

How to play Boxing Day

The best five races to (responsibly) bet into today:

1: Zabeel Classic, R9: Snazzytavi should win but if you’re not keen on the $1.70 then La Crique top 2 at $2.60 is a fair price.

You can even make a case for Meaningful Star at $2.90 top 4 as he was good at this type of distance in Hong Kong and loves this track.

2: Auckland Guineas, R7: Checkmate top 2 at $2.20 is a great bet as he can win but even if Damask Rose is too sharp, he should run second.

3: Eight Carat Classic, R8: Those at the stable are saying Sethito is their best chance, which is all you need to know. She is getting better so anything around $2.50 to win is a good bet.

4: Horizon By Skycity 2YO, R2: The right people are saying Belle Du Monde is a good filly and real Karaka Million chance. If they are correct she must go close to winning this.

5: Royal Descent Stakes, R4: Malt Time is thrown in at the weights, even more so as Ace Lawson-Carroll claims 2kg. But if you taking her $3.30 win price make sure you cover at $6.50 on Dazzled, who has a stunning sprint.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.