Favourite one to beat
Ellerslie, G1 Sistema Railway, NZ$200,000, 1200m
Levante (NZ) (Proisir) will start a short-priced favourite and rightly so as the winner of five of her six starts and a stunning last-start display to land the Listed Counties Bowl. She has since also won a trial and will prove a handful.
Avantage (Fastnet Rock) is an outstanding mare who hasn’t raced since finishing second in the G1 Livamol Classic. She too is a recent trial winner and has been successful in five of her eight fresh appearances.
Spring Heat (More Than Ready {USA}) was a tidy winner at the start of the month and performs best with her races spaced while stablemate Summer Passage (Snitzel) is also racing well and likes this course.
Its Destinys Child (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) is a gifted sprinter who drops 6kg on her latest run for fourth while Pretty To Sea (NZ) (Ocean park {NZ}) was runner-up to Spring Heat last time out and a place prospect again.
Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) is the defending champion, but will need to improve on his most recent effort when unplaced in the G3 J Swap Sprint, in which he looked to have his chance.
Pointed prospect
Ellerslie, G2 Barneswood Farm Eclipse S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Sword Of State (Snitzel) was an outstanding debut winner at Te Rapa where he coasted home by 6.5l and from an inside gate he looks sure to take all sorts of beating.
The covers will come of Khufu (American Pharoah {USA}) here and trainer Tony Pike rates the trial winner highly. He has drawn a handy gate and will make his bid here for a R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO Classic berth while stablemate Stormy (NZ) (Telperion) is unbeaten in two starts so has to rate highly.
Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) overcame a slow start to win at Otaki and has the benefit of an inside gate and Avonallo (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) landed the Listed Welcome S. at his third run and race day experience will stand him in good stead.
Fleet of foot
Ellerslie, G2 Valachi Downs Royal S., NZ$100,000, 2000m
Fleetwood Maca (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) finished runner-up in the G2 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day to continue the bright start she has made to her career. The step up in distance seems unlikely to bother her.
Needle And Thread (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) was a solid fourth in that race and is another who looks well-suited to stepping out over 2000 metres.
Il Affare (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) won two on the bounce before the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial, in which she finished sixth after she was denied clear air in the straight. With a better passage, she looms as a major threat.
Sweet Anna (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was tardily away in the Eight Carat and with a clean break can show improvement while Beaune (Kermadec {NZ}) is already a winner at this trip and against older opposition.
Canuhandlethejandal (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) won her maiden well enough to rate an outside place chance and there is a lengthy tail to this field with Zendora (NZ) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) possibly the best of the rest.
Tellall no secret hope
Ellerslie, G2 Skycity Auckland Guineas, NZ$100,000, 1600m
Tellall (Spill The Beans) is unbeaten this preparation and capped off by his decisive victory in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial. He’s also twice successful on the course and will be a worthy favourite.
Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) finished powerfully to run second in the G3 Bonecrusher S. and moving up to a mile looks sure to be in the colt’s best interests.
Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) is another talented colt who hasn’t been seen since he was fifth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas. He should have finished closer after being hemmed in for much of the straight and rates highly.
Dragon Queen (NZ) (Sweynesse) is the only filly in the line-up and she won well enough at Pukekohe to deserve a spot. Three starts back she was seventh in the G3 Soliloquy, but a decent effort after being caught three wide without cover.
Topweight deserves respect
Ellerslie, G2 Rich Hill Mile, NZ$100,000, 1600m
Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) won’t have it easy with 60kg, but he’s a talented galloper and capable of overcoming the impost. He finished powerfully for second in the G3 J Swap Sprint and will be more of a force at this trip.
Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) won that race so is in top form, although she has yet to race beyond 1400 metres and that looks the only negative about the mare.
Demonetization (All Too Hard) is more than capable and any easing of the track would boost his chances while Sacred Eklixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) is a talent and turned in an eye-catching run for fifth in his first start since returning from Hong Kong.
Pierina (NZ) (Savabeel) looms as a serious lightweight chance following her course and distance victory earlier this month and Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and Sultan Of Swing (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}) are another pair of contenders higher up the handicap.
Handicap suits
Ellerslie, G3 Skycity City of Auckland Cup, NZ$200,000, 2400m
In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) acquitted himself well at weight-for-age when third in the G1 Zabeel Classic and, back to handicap conditions, that looks a super form guide.
Charles Road (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is a well-performed stayer who was sixth in the Zabeel and the 2400 metres will be strongly in his favour. He is a Group 1 placegetter at the trip and deserves serious respect.
In A Twinkling’s stablemate Savvy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel) is a progressive staying mare and her run for second in the G3 Hamilton Cup was a sound performance and meets the winner Ocean Billy (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) better off at the weights, as does third placegetter Sherrif (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Swords Drawn (Camelot {GB}) has always promised to win a decent staying race and his win on Boxing Day again suggested he can make an impact at this level.
Yatima (NZ) (Savabeel) was unplaced in the Waikato Cup, but had a genuine excuse after a chequered run and might offer some value while Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking) hasn’t raced since he won the G3 New Zealand Cup, but residual fitness should stand him good stead.
