Racing: Old mate opts for Alta

Nobody is in a better position to rate the merits of Molly Darling and Alta Serena than Brent Mangos.

So when the reinsman who has driven both great mares most of their careers suggests Alta Serena should win their clash at Alexandra Park tonight it would pay to believe him.

Mangos piloted Alta Serena to second in the New Zealand and Auckland Cups last season but has had to forego the drive on her this season because he has two potential open class pacers in Molly Darling and Mr Williams in his stable.

Ironically, he is not driving Molly Darling tonight, opting to hand the reins to stable junior driver Hayden Cullen as a reward for his efforts with the mare.

But that will mean he can't drive Alta Serena who Mangos believes has the best chance of victory in the race which opens the northern elite pacing season.

Alta Serena faces a 50m handicap but that is somewhat negated by only having six rivals and her most serious ones also starting off long marks.

"Alta has to be the one to beat," says Mangos.

"Horses like Molly and Myron are still very much on the way up and this is just a kick-off point for them.

"In fact, I was going to take Molly back to the workouts again this week but I thought why bother when she can come here and race for some money."

Mangos knows better than anybody how quickly Alta Serena begins from a standing start and he says that will be crucial tonight.

"She can really motor early and by the time they settle down inside the first lap she won't be too far from them.

"If that happens I think she will be too fit for most of us because she has had that race at Cambridge and about four workouts this time in.

"And let's not forget, she is a very good mare."

While horses rarely win at Alexandra Park off 50m handicaps, Mangos does argue a convincing case for Alta Serena, particularly as neither Molly Darling nor Myron can be at their peak tonight.

Molly Darling did win a workout among the three at Alexandra Park last week but that was with the benefit of a healthy head start and an easy run in front.

Myron ran on well in that workout but looked in need of the run.

At his best he might be as good as Alta Serena but after so long away from the track he should need at least tonight's race before gettingnear to his peak.

With the three biggest names in the race short of their best it does give Badlands Bute a hope of taking a step closer to a New Zealand Cup start.

The dual Derby winner has won his last two races, albeit promoted in the latest, but finds himself off a tricky mark.

He does however have a decided fitness edge and the manners to put a few lengths between himself and Alta Serena. His recent racing may also instil driver James Stormont with the confidence to move mid-race, a luxury his key opponents probably can't afford.

While the race is the undoubted highlight of tonight's meeting, race five may actually prove to be the best betting race.

It brings together a number of horses who have been racing well, headed by Ready For Battle.

The gelding sat three wide for the last 1400m before finishing a gutsy second in a similar field last week so looks a must for Pick6 punters.

But should he suffer any more of the bad luck which has dogged him so often in his career then in-form pacers Cash Up Front, Dream Del and Monaro could upset.