Racing: Sun and quality fields should bring smiles to punters' faces

By MIKE DILLON

The sun should induce a smile from punters today.

The fields at both Ellerslie and Trentham are a punter's dream.

Why not start with the best race of the day, the $50,000 St Leger, and go for a $6 quinella result on Woburn and Wings On Fire?

Both look really suited to this race and the Trentham track.

Woburn is a tough, roll-on stayer preparing for the Melbourne Cup this year and Wings On Fire, luckless for many starts this preparation, is also heading for much better things.

Rizon looks the main hope to split that quinella and a saver with him may not go astray.

Lately, few horses have impressed coming through the grades anywhere near like Sea Of Jewels (No1, R4). The odds will be short, but he's earned it, winning four of his last five starts. He has 58kg clear topweight and is not a particularly strong horse, but he looks a grade above these horses.

Sophalofa (No9, R5) was run down by a pretty smart horse after leading in the home straight at Hastings last start.

She may have got to the front too soon because when she won by a margin at Ellerslie at her previous start, she came from well off the leaders and bombed them. From No 6 gate she should be able to be buried behind them until late today.

Identity (No15) has been freshened since failing last start. She looked good before that and is worth another look.

Take no notice of Summer Nymph's (No5, R6) eighth when beaten favourite behind Kapsdan in the Wakefield Stakes at Trentham last start. She was suffering from a virus.

Take notice of her luckless close second to Clean Sweep at Ellerslie the time before. She is a determined finisher and if back to her best will give this race a real shake. Drakensberg (No8) will probably start favourite after missing the start on debut and flashing home for fourth to Keeninsky. Put Shastri (No1) in all multiple bets.

The sprint, Race 7, was always going to be a tough and has been made so much more difficult because of the barrier draw. Gwen's Rules (No2) and Dominatrix (No6) have drawn No 13 and No11, painting the race with a nightmare scenario.

The saving grace is that Gwen's Rules is brilliantly fast over the first 100m and she might cross the field and get close to the rail. If that happens she can go close. Couple her with Elegant Emerald (No13) and Golden Harvest (No7).

The easy track will be the key to the chances of little Rapid Kay (No1, R9) in the $40,000 Cuddle Stakes. She has an excellent record on rain-affected tracks and Trentham suits her storming-home style of racing.

That third to Sedecrem in the group one Waikato Draught Stakes last start was a classic.

The better the track gets back, the better the chances of underrated Eftee One (No6). The Oaks last start was probably not her type of race and a better guide is her third to Buckle My Shoe in the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie the time before.

Danette (No5) is another powerful finisher suited to Trentham. She has not missed a place in four starts on the track.

The 58kg topweight never looks easy, but as a group one winner Zvezda (No1, R10) is extremely well off in PQ class with only that weight. He is a big, strong type who should handle the task, despite facing a pretty impressive field. He should be fitter for recent racing and the step up to 1600m is what he's been looking for.

Elendil (No4) went close when third to Sir Kinloch in the group one Thorndon and has been freshened. He is underrated and the extremely wide barrier should not be a hinderance.

If you saw Tadan (No5, R2 at Ellerslie) last start at Tauranga you'll want to be on him at the northern meeting today.

Everything went wrong before he finished third to Grace and Favour and he rates highly, even though dropping back to 1400m. Take a quinella with Brave Flyer (No2), who might start favourite.

Fooram (No5, R3) has been gelded since last racing. He has shown plenty from a handful of starts and won a Cambridge barrier trial in preparation for his reappearance.

Eloquent Dancer (No10, R6) could be a value bet. She is a touch underrated and can perhaps be forgiven her last two failures, both on wet tracks. Savannah Swift (No13) is a real chance in a competitive race.

Diamond Like (No5, R8) will start favourite, but she has had two tries at 1600m and failed on both occasions. On class she looks a grade above these, but has still to show she can manage the distance. She can definitely win, but at the odds, a better each way hope might be her stablemate Desperate (No4), who never fails to produce at Ellerslie. This could be a trap race. Each way Desperate might be the go.

The last at Ellerslie is a great betting race. Filey (No3, R10) looks headed for big things for the McKee stable. She mounted a big run to win at Ellerslie last start. A similar finish would take her past most of these.

Jingling (No9) is very promising and might be at useful odds and Bruschetta (No4) will find this easier than the fillies and mares at Tauranga last time.