Racing: Let's Elope... but not until the other races are over

Springbank Richard is in good form and should be an each-way chance in the sixth event at Alexandra Park today. Photo / Alan Gibson

Punters may have to wait until the last race of a 13-race monster programme to find the best each way bet at Alexandra Park today.

The meeting starts with what should be a winner in You Rock (R1, No 9) but there won't be any great odds about him after a sensational last-start victory.

And while there are plenty of good bets throughout the day, it is Let's Elope (R13, No 16) who could end up being over the odds.

Last season's Sires' Stakes winner would have been super competitive in today's $275,000 Sales Series Pace but is ineligible so falls back into a moderate 1-2 win field.

His latest outings have been against the best three-year-olds but four starts ago he came from last on this track to beat Jarcullembra, Livingontheinterest, Ideal Scott and Easy On The Eye over today's distance.

That is hot form and if he can be covered up for one clean shot at the leaders he should win.

The Young Guns heats provides an interesting clash between earlier heat winners Mexicano (R2, No 7) and Ohoka Punter (No 8). Ohoka Punter won their last meeting but the tables could be reversed today as Mexicano was very brave on that occasion.

One of the bets of the day should be Maid In Splendour (R4, No 5) who drops back from racing in the Queen Of Hearts last start and has the services of Tony Herlihy.

She is a good mare with options of going forward at the start or using her explosive finish so gets the nod over stablemate Victors Delight (No 8).

Dancing Diamonds (R5, No.5) should win. She was one of our best fillies last season, so it is hard to see how she even snuck into the consolation of the Sires' Stakes.

She has been racing just below her best but drops a long way in grade.

Her stablemate I Can Doosit (R6, No 5) will be very short in the National Trot after two national record wins in his last two starts.

Many of his opponents today seem to be going through a trough and with The Fiery Ginga likely to set up a solid pace again, I Can Doosit should be too strong under the same conditions in which he won the Interdominion Final here in April.

Springbank Richard (No 9) flew home at Cambridge last week and is the best quinella option again.

The $170,000 Fillies Championship could come down to how hard they go early, with a searing pace likely to play into the hooves of Twist N Twirl (R7, No 15).

She has improved a long way since last season and looks a genuine Oaks filly.

She will need to work though to get around and challenge Alchemist (No 1) who has the gate speed to lead or trail and that makes her a solid each way chance.

O Baby (No 8) and Here We Go Again (No 14) are both good enough to win, but will need luck somewhere because of poor draws.

Bettor Dream (R9, No 11) is a smart horse who was only just behind Gold Ace and Terror To Love in the NZ Derby last season.

He has been brought back to racing quietly, but even in a hot field today he has the raw speed to win if he gets the right sit and could be at backable odds with the likes of Easy On The Eye (No 3) and Murphy Maguire (No 2) in the field.

The feature of the day looks like going to a Cran Dalgety-trained runner - Raging Bull (R10, No 2) is a deserved favourite and will have options at the start.

Dalgety is tipping stablemate Texican (No 7) as a chance but Ideal Scott (No 1) looks the most likely upsetter from the ace draw.

And the question of the Manukau Cup will be how hard Sir Lincoln (R12, No 5) has to work to get the lead and whether he cops any pressure.

If he doesn't, he will be awfully hard to run down - he had a stunning last-start win over most he is meeting today.

Pembrook Benny (No 7) is flying and is the danger for new driver Zac Butcher, while Sammy Maguire (No 8) is also in great form and could be the bolter.