Racing: Rain should provide a more suitable surface

A surprisingly firm track cost Danz Star dearly at Ellerslie two weeks ago.

The classy Cambridge galloper will have no such problems on the same track this afternoon.

Danz Star (No1, R5) still managed to finish a sound third on the firm footing on Great Northern day, fighting hard against a smart sort in Hi Yo Wassup.

The considerable rain in Auckland this week has the Ellerslie surface rating slow and that's just fine with Danz Star. Vision (No3) looks the danger after his recent luckless first-up fourth at Awapuni. The quinella result looks good and standing those two out in the trifecta might be smart.

Race 1 has drawn a terrific field for a $15,000 hurdle race. High Season (No4) and Norville Prince (No8) are potential top class hurdlers as their jumps record suggest - three from seven and two from three. It's difficult to separate them and the quinella result might be best again. Throw in Just Jeff (No3) for the trifecta.

Ritzy Lady (No13, R2) will find this maiden event a lot easier than the Wanganui stakes race in which she finished sixth after a few traffic problems. There is probably a slight question over track conditions, but she might be worth the risk and staying with.

It wouldn't pay to drop Ben Sparta (No1, R3) just yet. Yes, his fifth behind Mr Hefner last week at Paeroa was a fair short of his best, but it was almost too bad to be true. Give him another chance, despite his 58kg.

Falsetto (No12, R4) turned in a useful debut sixth at Te Rapa this month, being slow away then making ground late behind an exceptionally smart winner, Tsarina Belle. She should have learned a bit from that.

Few maiden winners during the winter looked as good as Temple Hills (No13, R6). He looked as though he had a fair bit to learn from trainer Lance O'Sullivan, but he might be up to winning in his first start since June. This is a very competitive race with the likes of Balinova (No4), Jiao Dragon (No1) and Flux Capacitator (No7) making appeal.

Race 7 is the day's most competitive, with at least six strong winning hopes. Sista (No10) is the type to throw in a big race when fresh from her winter spell. She won't mind the slow conditions and for this second half of the programme the wide draw may be an advantage. Her autumn form was a little difficult to fathom, but she has good ability and her spell should have sorted her out. Durango Kid (No15) is the value runner and the likes of Pin High (No11) and Mark Dean (No4) are capable of getting into the frame. A very tough race, but there will be value divvies for those who get it right.

Race 8 is close to a no-bet even - you can make a case against practically every runner. Lazaros (No4) will be favourite now he is back on his favourite wet footing and looks as good as any of them.

Catalina Lady (No1, R10) has had no luck and deserves to break through for another victory. She did enormously well to come from last into second on an on-pace track at Tauranga last time and before that copped a bad rap at Te Aroha.

For the $45,000 Mason Appliances at New Plymouth, Alonzo (No2, R8) is worth the risk on the slow track. He has yet to strike a track as bad in four starts, but his connections feel he might get away with it. If it falls over there will be plenty of other opportunities to catch him right.