Racing: Twilight Ellerslie kicks off

Classcoroc (right) is a chance in the Barfoot & Thompson Twilight Cup tonight. Photo / APN

Racing's greatest innovation in two decades - twilight Ellerslie meetings - rocks off for the first time this season tonight.

The significance of these all-too-few meetings slips under the radar for most. The broad concept is the future of racing.

A quickfire six races, champagne and fun, people arriving after work, a band to kick in after the racing - it's a marriage of nightclubs and racing.

But it's better.

Watching six glamorous races with colours up provides a better lead-up than nightclubs can offer.

Unfortunately Ellerslie runs only two meetings per summer.

"But this leads up to Christmas racing and then to Karaka Million night, which is very special," says Auckland Racing Club racing manager Andrew Castles.

"There is a public holiday the day after the Karaka Million and people generally are back in Auckland after their holidays by that point."

Wear and tear on grass racetracks prohibits more summer twilight meetings at Ellerslie.

"There are seven meetings on this track between November 30 and January 1 and grass can't take much more than that."

Which is why there has always been a desire to embrace all-weather racing surfaces, a dynamic which has yet to be mastered.

Classcoroc has been a source of frustration in recent times for trainer and part-owner Graeme Hughes and he's hopeful a return to Ellerslie today will bring out the best in the mare.

The 5-year-old has picked up four cheques from five previous appearances on the course and as a past open handicap winner she is well-placed in the Rating 75 Barfoot & Thompson Twilight Cup.

"We thought she was all set last time out [at Pukekohe Park] and she was a bit disappointing, but she didn't like the track and it was a hot day," Hughes said. "She pulled up as soon as they crossed the line - she shut down really quickly, but she's been working well since."

Classcoroc has won three races and this year she beat the Listed winner Fairway Wish in the Woodville Cup and has a 3-year-old placing behind the group one winner Rock 'N' Pop to her credit in the Karaka Mile.

"She's got a good turn of foot and she's capable of it when she's right," Hughes said.

While Classcoroc has starred at a higher level, she does meet a competitive line-up with Urban Angel on the verge of winning form after three consecutive placings. She beat the subsequent group two Waikato Guineas winner and group one New Zealand Derby placegetter Castlzeberg in her maiden win at Ellerslie over this trip.

Decorah was fourth on the course in last season's group three Sunline Vase and both her runs this time in have had merit. The Peter and Dawn Williams pair of Ready Steady and Red Dakota look sharp improvers.

- Additional reporting, NZ Racing Desk