Racing: Weights should suit Irish Colleen

Cream generally rises to the top in the best races.

Which means at level weights the best horses should be the ones to beat in Race 9 at Tauranga today, the $45,000 Ingham-Sears Mercedes Tauranga Classic.

And that almost certainly means Irish Colleen (No1) and Dasoudi (No4). As a seven-times winner of $229,775, Irish Colleen comes into this race well in terms of weight and Dasoudi is the newcomer, with sparkling form on the way through.

Irish Colleen ticks all the boxes - one of the most important being that she likes the Tauranga track. She also likes the 1400m trip and the testing footing, which may hinder a few in this race, will be of no concern.

Dasoudi was spectacular winning on this track last start when trainer Jon Miller thought she wouldn't handle the wet conditions. We haven't yet been able to establish just how good she is and although the weight scale is right against her, don't be surprised if she again dominates.

The value bet in Race 1 is Master Guru (No2), despite him being only eighth when a beaten favourite at Te Teko last start. He was unusually slowly away and was never in the race.

Three starts back, he led and was a close-up second at Rotorua. He is fresh again and worth another look.

Horses need to be fit at this time of year and Hula Belle (No11) is certainly that after racing at Ellerslie last week, where she was run down late by impressive winner Whispering Beauty. Provided she has come through that well, she should be rockhard.

Limoux (No11, R2) has had only the eight race starts and comes in here fresh after a break following her fourth to Our Tigress at Ellerslie in mid-April.

Today's conditions shouldn't worry here because in her sole win she ran the 1400m in a hand-canter 1:33.96.

The widish barrier draw may be an advantage in a big field today.

It probably went largely unnoticed, but Belle De Jeu's (No8, R3) recent first-up third at Ellerslie was a cracker. She had not raced for seven months and was badly hampered when a rival broke down badly and dropped quickly back through the field at the 700m.

That she was able to get going again for third was fabulous. Conditions are no snag today. At her debut on a slow track at Ellerslie last autumn she beat this season's Filly Of The Year, Katie Lee, by three lengths.

The biggest snag to Belle De Jeu is topweight I Am Sam (No1), winner of two of his past three. He was third to a very good sort in The Brown Bomber last time, but the issue for him will be weight differential.

He might have won four of his eight starts and four from five on the heavy stuff, but he has to give Belle De Jeu 5.5kg in this. Even as a male V female, that would be a massive win if he can pull it off. In his favour is that he's fit.

Mathias (No2, R4) has had that one run back after a short break and should now be ready for a strong 1600m in the wet. He wilted late when fourth to Headsup at Ellerslie last start and will be fitter for this. He likes heavy ground and makes a fair bit of appeal for this.

If you saw Mr Rosina (No3) win at Foxton last start you'd want to back up on him here. He scored very easily and even though this is tougher, he loves bad ground and is on the improve.

How tough is Strapped for Cash (No1, R7)? The hugely under-rated winter galloper has won five of his six races on heavy ground and can make that six in the Kiwifruit Cup.

The 58.5kg is daunting, for sure, but he won the Mitchelson Cup at Ellerslie late last winter under similar circumstances. He also really likes Tauranga.

You can make a big case for him.

Kiri (No2) goes up to 56.5kg, which she won't find as comfortable as the 54.5kg she won the Cornwall Handicap with at Ellerslie last start, but she still rates a big chance as horse who has won here in these conditions.

Montjee (No8) is a must-include. He is on the verge of a winning turn and don't be surprised if it comes here.

Rain is forecast today in Tauranga and if that's correct it shouldn't be a problem for the Ralph Manning-trained Peace Lilly (No14, R10).

She loves heavy ground as she showed in her sole win and looked good running on strongly into second after a slow start at Te Teko last time.