Racing: No-panic ride, please

Lance O'Sullivan asks for just one thing for Tsarina Belle in tomorrow's $275,000 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas - a cool ride.

The back-running Tsarina Belle looks ideally suited to the wide open spaces of the Riccarton course.

To take advantage of that, O'Sullivan wants to see his class filly ridden quietly.

"A no-panic ride, that's what I'd like," said O'Sullivan yesterday.

And has he mentioned that already to Leith Innes?

"No, but I will be."

Despite the strength of the field, Tsarina Belle is likely to start the shortest price 1000 Guineas favourite of horses that have gone into the race as the winner of only a maiden race, particularly with the horses that beat her last two starts included in the field.

That says nothing about the relativity of her winning chances.

Tsarina Belle hated the wet track when she finished second to Twinkling in the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie two starts back. But her fighting second to Twinkling that day is the first race that made you believe she could win the Guineas.

The second was when beaten by half a head by Pulcinella at Te Rapa on Labour weekend Monday. In that race she missed the jump by a couple of lengths, had to go wide on the home bend and flew late to just fail against a very brave Pulcinella.

The key to that race was that Tsarina Belle looked slightly big in condition and had to improve with the run.

O'Sullivan explained that the filly thrives to the point of almost being gross and takes considerable improvement out of each race.

"She's definitely tightened up with that race and the travel to Christchurch," said O'Sullivan yesterday.

Although faced with a big field, Innes should be able to time Tsarina Belle's finishing run to exactly when he wants it - which should be the key to the race.

Trainer Don Sellwood was understandably delighted with Pulcinella's winning run at Te Rapa, because he similarly felt his filly would improve considerably with the race.

There is not a lot of Pulcinella, but she has size where it matters - in the heart department.

If Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning is right then the unbeaten Seachange is going to be hard to keep out.

Seachange has won her only three starts on rain-affected footing and Manning has always said the filly is better on firm ground.

Queensland apprentice Gavin McKeon has made another trip from Australia to ride Seachange.

There is enormous depth the the field under these three.

Everswindell, Howmuchyacharging, Twinkling, Vegas Showgirl and Shikoba all have claims.

Which means the filly with the best economical run could prove difficult to chase down.

As O'Sullivan says, a nice no-panic ride please.

1000 Guineas

* Tsarina Belle should start favourite over a hot field of fillies.

* Tsarina Belle has been beaten in her last two starts and faces the same pair of fillies again.

* Pulcinella, who beat her last start, is primed for another top effort.