Ellerslie plays host to its new and improved Champions Day.
It is a blockbuster 10-race card, with four Gr.1’s, The Gr.2 Auckland Cup and the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi.
There is plenty of trans-Tasman battles across the card, with some top Australian horses making the trek over to compete for the unbelievable prizemoney on offer this Saturday.
Track: Soft5 at publish, expected Good4 on Saturday
Rail: True position (out 5m at last race meeting two weeks ago)
See below for our complete Champions Day & Ellerslie preview and tips for every race!
She’s Untouchable (8) broke her maiden back in November and since then has been racing against some of the best 3YOs NZ has to offer.
She looks well suited dropping back into R72 F&M grade and while she has drawn wide, she maps to get a nice cart across the field in the early stages.
She looks to have more ability than most in this field and she looks hard to beat in the first for mine.
1 Unit – She’s Untouchable (8)
Island Life (2) was just a pass-mark at Pukekohe, where she was seven weeks between runs and possibly just found the 1500m a touch too sharp that day.
She will have derived plenty of natural improvement from the effort at Pukekohe and looks suited stepping back up to 2100m.
She shapes as the horse to beat in what is a very even bunch of fillies.
1 Unit – Island Life (2)
Alabama Lass (5) kept on fighting resolutely when grabbed late in the piece by Crocetti in the Gr.1 Railway last start.
The switch to an inside draw here is extremely valuable, as she will almost certainly be leading on the fence in this.
She’s a very speed and highly talented filly who will prove awfully hard to catch if she can find the fence in front.
Best bet.
3 Units – Alabama Lass (5)
Return To Conquer (1) is looking to maintain his unbeaten record, having won all three career starts to date.
The Snitzel colt is looking to secure his future as a stallion and a Gr.1 2yo win would go a long way in doing that.
Despite being unbeaten, they’ve got the blinkers and tongue tie now going on for this, whilst Blake Shinn now takes the reins.
He looks the one to beat for mine.
1 Unit – Return To Conquer (1)
Legarto (1) was nearly a year between runs heading into Matamata and that didn’t stop her blowing her rivals away.
She now comes into the Gr.1 Thoroughbred Breeders’ second-up, where she will only be further suited getting out over a mile under WFA conditions.
She maps to settle midfield off what looks to be a strong early tempo.
She’ll have taken natural improvement from her resuming effort and this simply looks her race to lose.
2 Units – Legarto (1)
El Vencedor (1) has gone to another level of late, winning WFA Gr.1’s by 3L and 3.3L respectively at his last two starts.
He maps to find the front in this small field, which should see him dictating as he likes under Wiremu Pinn.
If he doesn’t regress from his past two wins, it looks extremely hard to see how they’ll run him down in this.
2 Units – El Vencedor (1)
Tajanis (11) is an Australian raider out of the Waller camp for Go Racing.
He looks well placed coming into this on the minimum with Michael McNab riding from the low gate.
He looks to have improved significantly of late and has looked very strong over the 2400m at his past two starts.
If he holds that form here over 3200m, he will prove very hard to beat.
2 Units – Tajanis (11)
Evaporate (1) is an Australian 3yo trained by Lindsay Park who is the early favourite for the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi.
He brings top Australian WFA form behind Mr Brightside, who is favourite in Melbourne’s All-Star Mile field on Saturday, through the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes last start and looks suited getting back against his own age group here.
The wide barrier draw looks worse on paper than it really is, given the long run into the first bend from the 1500m start point.
Hopefully Mick Dee can find a back to follow without dragging right back, if he can, he’ll be hard to toss.
2 Units – Evaporate (1)
Tuxedo (2) comes into the Gr.1 NZ Derby on the back of an impressive win in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas.
He put 3.5L on his opposition despite coming from near last over 2100m that day, suggesting 2400m shouldn’t be an issue.
The wide draw doesn’t look great on paper, however, there is a very long run into the first bend from the 2400m start point at Ellerslie.
He maps to land in the second half of the field and could well be following Willydoit in the run.
Happy to side with Tuxedo on an each way basis at the price.
1 Unit – Tuxedo (2)
Tardelli (1) looks the horse to beat to close proceedings of what is a massive day of racing at Ellerslie.
His recent for around the likes of Sethito and Dealt With reads very well for this.
The wide draw will possibly see him settle well back in the field, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michael McNab try slot in a touch closer given he has a long run into the first bend to find a spot.
He shapes as the horse to beat for mine.
1 Unit – Tardelli (1)