Racing: Shez Sinsational a likely anchor

Shez Sinsational will be No 1 with Pcik 6 punters if she wins at Te Rapa today. Photo / Sarah Ivey

There is a large variation in degree of difficulty in the six legs of today's $500,000 Pick6 at Te Rapa.

Huge. From downright easy - in horse racing terms - to close to impossible.

Discovering which is which will help save at least a little of the up-front input.

Leg 5, the Waikato Draught Sprint, really requires only Mufhasa and Guiseppina. Yes, Veyron is top class, but the other pair are as good as we've got and if one of them fails to win, there has been a major upset and you were probably never meant to share in the Pick6.

•LEG 1: A top class line-up for the $200,000 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and these types of races have a big percentage result for pretty much running to form. The cream generally comes to the top. Zurella (No 4) ran awful at Ellerslie when expected to go close on January 1, but the wet track and getting hyped up in the parade ring made things difficult. She has had plenty of time to cleanse that from her memory and as a previous Te Rapa winner, rates very highly. Capital Diamond (No 7) had the fillies' race at Trentham won until the last bound and was beaten a nostril. She is very talented, but her problem here is the wide barrier. If Jonathan Riddell can weave a bit of early magic - and he's done it before - Capital Diamond can be right in the finish. Artistic (No 6) should have won that Trentham race instead of being beaten two noses. She was close enough to last on the home bend and absolutely flew the last bit. She has a much better barrier this time and might finally get her turn. Quintessential (No 3) and Chicharita (No 2) are at the top of their form and should be included if this is the race you prefer to go wide in.

•LEG 2: A smaller field and perhaps some measure of relief from stress. Siem Reap (No 6) and Cat Woman (No 10) are the two top tips. Siem Reap was never a chance to beat Eight Schillings over 1200m here last week when they ran it in a lightning 1:08.61, but he fought hard for his second like a horse looking for a bit further. He gets it here with the 1600m and has the inside draw to get the right run. Cat Woman can't seem to win one, but many of her races have been in more competitive fields than this. The wide draw is not an issue because the Te Rapa 1600m start allows a long run down the back straight and James McDonald will find her the right passage. Not sure about The Terminator (No 8), who has been backed and beaten. Trainer Roger James appears to have made the decision to drop him back in distance from staying contests and there was some improvement in his fifth to Postmans Daughter in open class last start. It's probably going to pay to include him because getting the other five legs and missing on The Terminator would be more than most could handle. Gendarme (No 3), Zankuro (No 5) and Justa Kinda Magic (No 4) are the others for punters going extra wide on a small percentage, and there will be plenty of them.

•LEG 3: Forget Shez Sinsational (No 9) went around in the Thorndon Mile last start. The race was a farce as a sit-and-sprint and the back runners like Shez Sinsational had no chance. Dropping back to that 1600m was never going to be easy and back here up to the 2000m she won the Zabeel Classic which puts her in the frame. The smallish field is going to be to her advantage and look for her to be steaming at the leaders at around the 220m point. Three-year-old Rock 'n' Pop (No 11) will be a player if Matt Cameron can get him into a good position early from his wide barrier and the filly Our Famous Eve (No 12) may not be out of it as a longshot. She is improving rapidly and should get the perfect trip from the No 2 gate. Six O'Clock News (No 2) has found his form again, but in handicaps and weight-for-age racing is completely different. In two wins he narrowly beat Roi d'Jeu and Spiro, both of whom would be lapped by Shez Sinsational. Hold It Harvey (No 1) looks the best of the others.

•LEG 4: Unquestionably the toughest Pick6 leg. Go as wide as you can afford here, because this race could be a trap. John Sargent holds a strong hand with Suaza (No 8) and Mr Thorpedo (No 1). Both have found it difficult to win lately, but their minor placings have been solid and this is the type of race they could win. Mungo Jerry (No 3) had his share of bad luck before breaking through last start. He liked the 2300m at Trentham and will find today's 2400m perfect. Miss Isle (No 14) hit a flat spot in her form, but her close fourth at Te Teko last start suggested she might be returning to her best. She is well up to these at her best. Visitor Duke Of York (No 4) has to be included and Endor (No 9) could be the surprise. Very difficult race.

•LEG 5: What a race the Mufhasa (No 1) - Guiseppina (No 5) clash will be. Provided there are no significant showers they should run 1 - 2. This column is suggesting that on a very firm surface Guiseppina is more than a good chance to get past Mufhasa - one of the toughest tasks in racing. She is freakish and don't be surprised if she stretches the hot favourite's neck. But it will need to be very firm. Just take the two.

•LEG 6: Not easy. Full Of Spirit (No 10) ran a nice race in the Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day then finished only fourth when favourite back in her grade race at Pukekohe last time. She was beaten only half a length though and really got going too late. She is an absolute Pick6 must. So are Beauty Supremo (No 3), Za Pak (No 6) and Hexie Hao (No 7). It would be a big effort to win this in her first start in nine months, but Madamoiselle (No 9) is smart and Stephen McKee is a good trainer. The draw is good.