Racing: Danz Star ready to sparkle

Danz Star, All's Well and Marea, who all had their hopes abandoned at Tauranga last Saturday, are ready for the chocolates at Avondale today.

Danz Star and All's Well, particularly, should pick up their consolation prizes and don't be surprised if Marea and Ben Sparta, another in the same situation, pick up wins.

Against his own age group last week, 3-year-old Danz Star (No 2, R5) looked a standout and even having to deal with seasoned, harder, older horses this time he should shine. The No 19 barrier looks dodgy on paper, but there is an extremely long run down the back straight from the 1600m start which will allow Vinny Colgan plenty of time to make arrangements. Vamperalla (No 10) is racing honestly and deserves to be in multiple bets.

All's Well (No 3, R7) is simply a very good horse - better than your average winter galloper and provided something remarkable does not pop up like he is anchored by an extremely sticky track, he should win. The likelihood of a sticky surface is almost certainly going to inconvenience Millnorm (No 2) more. He has a known dislike of such conditions, which strengthens the case for All's Well even further. It's a case of All's Well being too good.

That was a smart first-up run by First Endeavour (No 7, R1) when she resumed from a spell on this track on May 25. Don Sellwood has given her plenty of time to recover and he should reap the benefit.

Ave Maree (No 7, R2) has hit the line strongly in the last two attempts of her short career, managing both easy and heavy conditions, so she should not be inconvenienced by anything today. Advanced (No 1) is another who looks determined and Stiletto Queen (No 8) looked good at the trials.

Nothing was going to get near Dead Rabbits at Ellerslie and Travis' (No 2, R3) second was a sound effort. As an inexperienced horse he should be getting benefit from each of these runs and will take beating this time.

Tuscaloosa (No 3, R4) did not give the impression he was prepared for the grinding finish at Ellerslie last start and ended up being narrowly beaten. The third horse was a fair way back, so it was an okay effort, if not spectacular. Jim Collett really knows the horse now and that's a big help on his type. Take no notice of the wide draw from the 1600m barrier, it should not be a factor. Louise's Gold (No 16) is getting close to a win.

Have something on Dicktator (No 2, R6) and follow him. He is a very useful stayer in the mud and should be close to a win. Noble Singa (No 4) looked good winning at New Plymouth.

Ben Sparta (No 1, R8) is a hugely talented winter galloper. He is dropping back in distance, but has never previously let that stop him and even with 57kg he looks the goods in the sprint.

There are no All's Wells to contend with this time. Sir Kinloch (No 2) is close to a win.

Marea (No 4, R10), Fire Song (No 3), Opiki (No 2), Roaring Jake (No 8) - the last is a tough race. Marea should have won at Te Rapa last start and Lee Tiley will be looking for compensation. She can really hit the line and that will be important late in the day.

At Hastings, Murray Baker's Tacit Approval (No 3, R1) is set up to make a winning steeplechasing debut. His hurdling was very sound and if he manages the bigger fences like Baker expects he will, he will go close. Survey (No 6) looks the danger.

Hautap Hunny (No 8, R10) will make good use of the drop-back rule. She finished a good third to Labasa in progressive grade when resuming from a spell and will appreciate the one-win base for this contest.