Ellerslie Boxing Day Bumper

The Informant studies the Ellerslie Boxing Day form ...

Race 1: Best bet SEVENTEEN SEVENTY has had the one show of form this season when 3^rd two starts back, all her runs have been in Open company this term and 4^th up she will appreciate coming back a rating band, will push forward and the 3KG claim will come in handy. AUGUST EDITION put in a much better effort last start when making up plenty of ground late, drops to 52KGs here and that puts her right among the winning chances. DIVINE DUKE has measured up in this grade and his chances improve quickly if there is any rain around.

Race 2: Best bet WHISKEY NEAT did everything right when winning as expected on debut, looks the winner again. PATCH PRINCE has been to the fore at his local trials, drawn well and looking to make an impression, watch closely. O'CHARM is likely to push forward and if experience counts for anything then she should be thereabouts again.

Race 3: Best bet CAPRIKOSA, connections opted for the WFA assignment last start where she led up then knocked up the last part, she is better suited to handicap conditions and the 1400 metres, expect a form reversal. SOMETHINGVAIN couldn't find the front last start at Ellerslie over the 1200 metres, expect her to find the front today and she will take all sorts of catching at nice each way odds. VERRY FLASH quality galloper that might need one, he had a quiet recent trial and will be steaming home late, chances improve on a wet track. HOWBOWDAT very consistent this season and steps out to a suitable 1400 metres here and 4^thup must be very hard to beat.

Race 4: Best bet DAWN PATROL has that Group 1 form from Riccarton and it took a good one to beat him, freshened for this and the 1400 metres looks ideal, leading hope from the ace draw. LINCOLN FALLS is the talk horse from the CD, he put away a lesser field at Trentham and he still had plenty left in the tank, untapped potential, a great clash here. TIGER SILK since the blinkers have been added this filly has gone to another level, likely to get back from the wide draw and if the pace is on watch for her late, each way. SHE'S A GODDESS it took a handy type to beat her two starts back and then made amends by winning easily last start, big test here but she can improve further, should be thereabouts.

Race 5: Best bet METEORIC LASS started off her career with two easy wins, her efforts since have been encouraging in this grade, from the good draw she can settle handy and should take all sorts of beating. TOY KINGDOM with over two months between runs she found it too tough 3 wide the whole way last start, backing up quickly for her which is a good sign and can turn her form around, watch closely. BORN DRAGON form since returning from Hong Kong has been very good, he nearly stole it last start after doing a power of early work, a much better draw here and he should get the perfect run, 3KG claim gives him a real winning chance. PRINCESS AMELIE has been freshened and her only miss has been from the wide draw in a hot stakes field at Hastings two starts back, she has been to the fore at a recent trial, will be thereabouts.

Race 6: Best bet MEDIA SENSATION too strong when winning the 1000 Guineas, freshened but trainers won't have her short here, the good draw tilts the race in her favour. QUEEN OF DIAMONDS took a couple of runs to learn what the racing game was all about, then had a confidence boosting win followed by a devastating victory last start against some smart types, untapped ability. RIP EM UP just got held up on two occasions in the straight at Ellerslie and that was her first run in over a month, much better for it and will be shedding her ‘best maiden' tag shortly. ESPRESSO MARTINI thought she was a handy horse but her last win says she is much better than that, loses nothing with Opie Bosson taking over the reins, each way.

Race 7: A Dunstan Final to start the quaddie, best bet LINCOLN RAIDER a CD visitor that has gone to a new level this season, he was an emphatic winner at Trentham for Opie Bosson, who has retained the ride which is a good pointer in itself, has form right handed and drawn perfectly. LE CASTILE beat the above horse as a 3 year old, connections made no mistake last start by putting her on the pace, she delivered in style, from the wide draw they will have to go back, this horse has some finish on her when saved up, good enough to win, include in all multiples. SAVETTE resumed on a high note when winning at Rotorua she confirmed her ability with a fast finishing 2^nd to the above mare last start and is improving all the time, hard to beat again. ON THEROCKS contested and won some of our better 3 year old races last season, he showed that he has come back in fine fettle with a good 3^rd fresh up after working hard on this track, senior hoop back on and will be charging home late, one to follow. THE MITIGATOR if he starts here is backing up from a 2^nd on Saturday at Te Rapa, drawn wide but will be all that much sharper with that effort under his belt, watch closely. MAKTOUM made up for her unlucky run 2 starts back by scoring with authority last start and the runner up has since gone on to win, another strong each way chance in a field full of good formlines. MONRECOUR will wearing punters patience thin, that last start 2^nd was more like her best form and seems to be peaking at the right time.

Race 8: Best bet SWORD OF OSMAN trapped wide in the 2000 Guineas and probably doesn't get the mile at this stage of his career, freshened and back to a sprint looks ideal, more importantly Opie Bosson takes the ride at 55KGs! SPRING HEAT wasn't disgraced in some hot 3 year old fillies races last season, she was put aside to mature and has been given two quiet trials leading into this, has the ace draw and blinkers added, goes close. SANTA MONICA heavily supported at her last start on this track and didn't get all favours, she will still need luck as she is a horse that is best when saved for the last run at them, she does look well placed on the minimum, each way. JOY ANNA worked hard when resuming and still had the audacity to hit the front halfway down the straight, only for her condition to give way late, bad draw but strips fitter and is classy at best, do not dismiss. YEARN forget her last start at WFA on a track too wet for her, back to the handicap conditions she looks well placed to return to her prior top form, include in all multiples.

SWORD OF OSMAN finishing 7th in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. Stewards last start report for SWORD OF OSMAN: Rider advised had been unable to quicken in track conditions (slow 9)

Race 9: Best bet DANZDANZDANCE just too good for them at Trentham capping off her consistent form, the further they go the better she gets, can't see them turning the tables around. BELLE DU NORD showed what she is capable of when beating a good field at Te Rapa, she is just as effective right handed and that was only her 2^nd run for the season, can only get better, include in all multiples. JON SNOW was well supported at Trentham off the back of an impressive trial win, he looked in need of the run and only battled late, he will be much better for that run and gets out to a more suitable distance, cannot leave out of calculations. LIZZIE L'AMOUR was making up good ground at Te Rapa she was a month between runs and connections probably had this race in the back of their minds, goes close here. SAINT EMILLION will do what he does best and go to the front and try and run them into the ground, his win last start showed he was back to his best and he has a similar lead up into this. AUTHENTIC PADDY won this last year and appears to be getting back to that form, handles any conditions and will give you a sight, include.

Race 10: Best bet MASU looked likely last start until being bombed late, his form is building nicely and he certainly deserves another winning turn, Opie Bosson sticks with him. CAMPOBASSO resumed with a solid effort for 2^nd, he has yet to disappoint connections in his career and looks to have come back in fine fettle, gets a senior hoop on this time and the extra 200 metres looks ideal, handles any track conditions, each way. SPANCILHILL really appreciated getting out to the mile when winning his maiden on this course in style, he is drawn to receive a nice trip in behind the speed and it would be no surprise to see him win again. APELLIDO improved quickly from his debut run to score impressively at his next start, he has a lot of scope for a young horse and should make his way through the grades giving trainers a strong hand in the race, one to follow.PAINT THE TOWN ran home well at the midweek twilight on this course to finish 3^rd, she was 2^nd up after a break and gets out to a more suitable distance for this race, look for her to be running on, each way chance in a very even affair.