Racing: Cambridge bet of day comes early

Good news if you haven't got much money to start your punting day with - the good thing of the day is in the first at Cambridge today.

While the odds won't be juicy the bookies should be offering around $1.60 for Pam Bromac (R1) and even from a tricky draw the southern filly should win the Sires' Stakes Silver.

She had been clashing with the best fillies in the country before dropping back to maidens last start, in which she bolted away from her key rival today, Tirol's Ziray.

The small field should negate the disadvantage of drawing barrier five and with Todd Mitchell taking the catch drive she looks the bet of the day.

Tirol's Ziray and the well-bred Delizioso look the quinella hopes.

The day's feature, the $35,000 trotting mile, may be the strongest trot in New Zealand this season but it still looks a two-horse race between Allegro Agitato and Pompallier.

With the advantage of a lot more experience behind the mobile gate and having drawn inside her arch-rival, Allegro Agitato looks the standout.

She has taken no harm from her trip home this week from Melbourne where she thrashed Australia's best trotters last Saturday night.

With Tony Herlihy back in the sulky she should be able to work her way to the lead, although over a mile she is good enough to sit parked and control the race and still be too good.

Her biggest, and possibly only threat, would come if Pompallier was able to cross her at the start but trainer-driver Richard Brosnan is unlikely to attempt that at the tricky Cambridge mile start point.

Those drawn handy, Ado's Invasion and Gold, look the best trifecta hopes although Iwi Alex is a high-speed mare capable of trotting a 1:57 mile.

The 2-year-old pacers have the first tote start of the northern season in race four and look no further than Flak Jacket (R4). He impressed when pacing close to 2:0 for the mile at Ashburton recently and the fact stable driver Kevin Townley has chosen him of the two Wayne Ross-trained favourites is all punters need to know.

Umoja (R3) looks well placed to record another win as he comes in with a good draw and racing in the same class as when he won last start.

He will not have things all his own way though as Highxcitement has raced well on this track before, Combat Cadillac is racing better than ever and Sir Henry could be the roughie after some sound recent workout performances.

The sixth race gives one-time battler Copper Belle a chance to return to the winner's circle, a place she has not visited for a awfully long time.

The big mare has improved with her stable change and her last two efforts in better fields have been good. Many of her opponents today are racing below their best and it will surprise if she is not in the finish, although Illin and Sunny Gem could be longshot hopes.

Backmarker Citra Jati, back to something like his best, looms as the other danger.

The shortest-priced maiden of the day should be Ashanna (R7) but any return could be good money for the talented mare.

Her inexperience has got her winning her first two races but there are few in today's field who would take her on early and she should be too good. Russian Rocket, dropping back from taking on the best fillies, looks the best quinella hope.

The in-form Steven Reid stable doesn't have a great representation in today but could still produce a winner in Modus Operandi in the eighth.

The 3-year-old has raced in stronger fields lately and punters should not be put off by the fact he has a junior driver up, as Jordan Compain is one of the most improved young drivers in the north.

The last should be one of the better betting races of the day, with in-form mares Keystone's A Flyin, Miss Sharvid and Exotic Lady the winning chances.

Miss Sharvid and Exotic Lady have both been racing in a lot stronger company but face second line draws so will need luck, although Exotic Lady does follow out a fast beginner, which makes her the one to beat.