Racing: Banchee holds key to Pick6

Banchee returns to the birdcage after winning the Auckland Diamond Stakes over 1200 metres at Ellerslie. Photo / Greg Bowker

Banchee holds the key to tomorrow's $70,000 Hawkes Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes on at least four levels.

And you can include the key to the $750,000 Pick6 to that.

It was no accident Banchee won Mercedes Champion 2YO - she is an outstanding filly in every sense.

The wet track for tomorrow's meeting poses a major problem - the connections are concerned about a first-up run being too tough on a filly heading to the Guineas at Riccarton.

If you're doing your Pick6 study today and tonight, factor in that she may not be running.

"I've left it to the owners whether she runs or not if the track gets heavy," said trainer John Sargent.

Banchee has yet to run for Peter and Philip Vela, who bought her after she'd finished racing last season.

"The decision will be made at the last minute," said Sargent yesterday.

"I'm going to take her down tomorrow, even if it's just for the trip, and the decision will be made after I've walked the track Saturday morning."

For punters, Banchee presents almost a bigger problem if she runs.

She would be a Pick6 anchor for some on a decent track, but where do you put her on a surface that's completely foreign?

"I have no idea how she'd handle a wet track. She might love it, I don't know. It's hard to believe you can race a filly for a whole season and not know about a wet track.

"I'm keen to learn whether she can manage the wet or not, but the problem is this time I don't want her to have a hard race."

The problem for Banchee is that six of her main rivals Smoulder, Dating, Remember Howe, Magic Briar, Zennista and Lol have all won in the wet and appear to love it, which would result in them pressing Banchee into a tough effort.

There is massive talent in that half dozen and in the next three or four in the race as well.

Dating won the Ryder Stakes narrowly in heavy ground, which followed wins at Te Rapa and Counties.

Zennista might have been unlucky in finishing second to Dating in the Ryder and is open to a bit of improvement.

She, too, handles the worst of footing, evidenced by the 1:16.58 time when she won at Manawatu.

The Kelso stable at Matamata has a big opinion of Magic Briar and there was plenty to admire about the dash she showed to score at Te Rapa.

"I'm confident she'll handle whatever the ground is on Saturday," says Ken Kelso.

You can forget Smoulder's fourth placing in the recent Fillies' Stakes at Wanganui where she sat three wide throughout.