Racing: $300,000 Telegraph shapes up as classy affair

File photo / APN

It doesn't help the punt, but what a race the Telegraph is going to be.

An Aussie topliner, a high class mare and a hugely talented emerging sprinter.

Atomic Force, Guiseppina and Durham Town will put on a show worthy of a group one race.

Apart from that winning Otaki run, Guiseppina hasn't had things to suit since before she struck a slightly wet track in the Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha in the autumn.

Time can dull memories on racehorses.

Before the Breeders Stakes we were all saying Guiseppina was the next good thing.

That remains and she might show it today, despite her horrible draw in the $300,000 Telegraph.

Atomic Force and Durham Town close to the inside will get to the pace at roughly the same time in the home straight with Guiseppina storming home out wide.

If that's the scenario the mare can swamp them with her light weight. That's this column's recommendations.

Irish Rebel (No2, R3) beat himself at Ellerslie, like a lot of green horses he didn't manage his first trip to Ellerslie that well. He'd won this left-handed way before that and can do it again today.

His stablemate Burgundy (No2, R6) did a similar thing, with rider Matt Cameron believing it would be a different story next start. Well, this is it. The boom colt has been beaten in his last two and there is real pressure on the line today. Making it difficult for him is the rapidly improving Ocean Park (No1), who was desperately unlucky at Ellerslie last start.

Ransomed (No2, R8) got home strongly over 1400m last time and jumps to 1600m here. It's a good field, but he's a fine each-way investment.

Our Zeby (No14, R10) looks the value bet in the last. She made ground strongly at the end of her 1600m last week and will be suited by the 2100m.

The best at Pukekohe look to be Yourin (No7, R1), who was unsuited by the wet last start, Payette (No9, R7), unlucky last start and It Has To Be You (No7, R9) who will find this easier than the Guineas last start.