Racing: Chance for Britt Ekland to regain winning list

Horse Race. Photo / Thinkstock

When Britt Ekland last raced at Riccarton - finishing well beaten - jockey Danielle Johnson told stewards she felt the classy mare needed a more rain-affected track.

Britt Ekland may not get that at Ellerslie tomorrow, but she should get more comfortable conditions.

The track at Ellerslie yesterday was that comfortable surface on which horses run electric times.

Every race was run in swift time and there should be enough bounce tomorrow for Britt Ekland, part owned by Auckland Racing Club head Cameron George, to rate highly in Race 4.

A couple of fresh runners appeal in Race 5: Madam Jamai, who has raced in stronger company than this and has had the benefit of a barrier trial, and Makali Runner is another who goes well fresh for trainer Nigel Tiley.

Last preparation he won on debut.

The best-bred horse going around at Ellerslie tomorrow is Emperium in Race 7. She is by Encosta Delago from Caulfield/Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal.

She has had only a couple of starts and shows plenty of talent. She looks set up for this race.

Zeldara, a Zabeel mare who has been to the races just six times, looks ready to break through for another win in Race 8.

She has had just the two runs beyond 1600m and finished second in both.

Her trainers, the Baker/Forsman stable, can win the last with Eye Raced Ninety and the danger could be Bhiwani.

Matamata trainer Graham Richardson is one of New Zealand's biggest television promoters in his line of work.

But that doesn't mean anyone famous gets special treatment.

Richie McCaw and Ali Williams co-own the likely favourite Snapshot in the last race at Rotorua today, but like every trainer, Richardson prefers his owners to email rather than pick up the telephone.

The All Black captain and the former All Black race Snapshot with Berri Schroder, Henrietta Duchess Of Bedford and Will Rouse.

"No, I haven't spoken to either Richie or Ali about this horse, but they regularly email.

"Both are very interested and Richie is a very smart man."

Snapshot, who is by Stravinsky from the high-class mare Snap, a group one winner, made her debut at Te Aroha on November 26 and drove home strongly to win narrowly.

This is her second start.