Racing: Quinella chance in first at Ellerslie

If the track surface is not moving Miss Sharapova (left) can get the win she's been waiting for in race six. Photo / File

St Mark has a slight question mark over his head in Race 1 at Ellerslie this afternoon.

Come March he might be the horse we're all talking about for the Derby - he's a staying 3-year-old for John Sargent with a load of ability.

He managed 1600m when winning on his home track at Matamata last start, but suggested he was looking for further already.

In fact, had he not been presented with a beautiful saloon passage up along the inside rail from the home turn he might not have got there, although he won well with a bit of gas left.

The problem today is he is certainly going to be ready for something a bit longer than the 1600m, something offset a little by the small field.

Look, his class may get him there anyway and he might end up winning easily, but Thorn Star is a very smart filly who was only three lengths from Knight's Tour in the Guineas on this track and has a favourable No 3 barrier.

Interesting battle between these two and it looks the quinella of the day.

The month Charma (No6, R2) has had away from the races will have done him the world of good. His best races have been when fresh, a state he won in when resuming here two starts back. He has raced in very good company for most of his career starts and is well up to this, particularly with a 3kg claim. Gaston (No5) is the query horse. He is another who goes particularly well fresh and has had a barrier trial to sharpen him for this. One of his better runs would take him close to winning.

Freedom (No1, R3) did a bit wrong through greenness on debut at Ellerslie on January 1, but got away with the win. It was only because of his very good ability and the horse he beat won easily at Woodville last Saturday. Freedom will have improved for that experience, which he will need to have done to beat a slightly stronger field this time. He will give a great sight. At Taranaki last start Green Wings (No4) easily beat Hogwarts Express, who won just as easily at Te Rapa on Thursday. That's good form, even though this is a much stronger line-up. Green Wings is a brilliant beginner and has a nice gate to set himself up as a danger. Taoist Master (No2) has drawn awkwardly wide, but is fast and classy. Great race.

It took a pretty smart type in Corporal Lance to just grab My Blossom Lady (No7, R4) at Tauranga last start and the filly should go close to getting her turn today. She has an inside barrier and will be in the party throughout.

First Response (No6, R5) is bred from a Nassipour mare, which means she should stay. Therefore the jump from 1600m to 2100m should suit her ideally. She has the perfect No 2 barrier for Maija Vance, who will strip 1kg off the 56.5kg. Hanamichi (No12) is a staying filly who will also be aided by the jump in distance.

If the track surface is not moving Miss Sharapova (No4, R6) can get the win she's been waiting for. She was a late scratching at Tauranga last week once the rain set in and she's looking for a dry day. With 54kg she's going to be difficult to beat if she gets it.

Race 7 is impossible. It will turn out to be a good form race though, so pay attention to what happens.

The Graham Richardson/ James McDonald combination is strong. For that reason Positivenergy (No3, R8) is well named. You had to like the 3-year-old's debut second at Matamata, where he was narrowly beaten. He has the barrier draw to go one closer this time.

A dead heat would have been a good result when Beauty Supremo (No5, R9) was beaten a lip at Ellerslie last start after a titanic home-straight battle. That was a hard first-upper, but Lance Noble wouldn't be running him again so soon if he hadn't done well. Watch Bazinsky (No1), who hasn't finished yet and Mangaroa Mini (No8) will appreciate a better track than she struck here last time when a luckless fourth.

A bit of opportunity in the last with a good betting race. Sparnon (No4, R10) might be good each-way value. He has been sticking on gamely lately without much luck and has a nice barrier to play with here.

•Provided the track is no worse than dead, Medici (No3, R6) will be difficult to keep out at Manawatu. It has taken him longer than expected to come solid, but the way he won on this track last start left little doubt he is now in the zone. He flattened out low like a real stayer in that race and needs only a decent surface to have a real crack at doing it again.

Casino (No11, R1) might be a decent each-way chance in the first at Manawatu. His handful of starts so far have been very promising and the step up to a staying distance is a step in the right direction.

Savour The Moment (No2, R7) is a very smart type, but so, too, is Starcheeka (No14). The difference is Starcheeka will need a very good surface to do his best.

He needed his Ellerslie run and is slightly better left-handed. Watch the track conditions.

Crocodile Canyon (No6, R8) might be the way to go in the Marton Cup.

He won't mind what the weather does and his latest runs have been luckless.