Champions Day Tips & Preview (Ellerslie) | Saturday 7 March

Young Jackson (#13) caught the eye finishing strongly into 3rd in the Karapiro Classic at Te Rapa behind subsequent Avondale Guineas winner That’s Gold. That was just his third career start and he should still have improvement to come. George Rooke aboard here and he comes in nicely down in the weights. From the middle draw he should settle back before finishing off strongly late.

General Menari (#1) didn’t look entirely comfortable in the conditions at Matamata last start but still managed to close off well into 3rd. Matt Cartwright takes the ride here and from the middle draw he should settle back of midfield in what shapes as a genuinely run 1500m contest. With the rise in trip and better footing here, happy to give him one more chance at the price.

Chica Mojito (#8) is a Sydney-based (ex Kiwi) mare returning to New Zealand for the Chris Waller stable. She was last seen winning at Wyong in January where she comfortably accounted for stablemate and race rival Mare Of Mt Buller that day. She has trialled well since that win and from a low draw with Ben Thompson aboard should enjoy every opportunity to win again here.

Alabama Lass (#8) was disappointing in the Gr.1 Railway Stakes on Karaka Millions night where she led before weakening sharply. The tongue tie is removed again ahead of this and her recent trial win suggested she may be back to something close to her norm. Samantha Collett takes the ride and should be able to control proceedings in front. We know what she’s capable of, and she should get every chance to show her true colours here.

Lara Antipova (#5) arrives here as the benchmark 2yo in the country and comes into this unbeaten in three starts. Her latest victory at Matamata on a testing surface was outstanding, running ~10L faster than the Matamata Slipper on the same day. The effort stacked up very well on the day, as she also produced the fastest closing 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the entire meeting off the front. From a low draw she should again settle on speed, possibly outside likely leader Justin Case, and looks extremely hard to beat again.

Kingswood (#1) was brave when runner-up to Legarto in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes last start and now comes here having his third run on New Zealand soil. The wide draw presents two likely map scenarios, either rolling forward to sit outside Pier in a slowly run race, or settling back in a slowly run race and making a mid-race move – similar to his effort when winning the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic. If either scenario unfolds, he should be thereabouts at the finish. 

Age Of Sail (#6) is a NSW-trained stayer making the trip across for Kris Lees. He comes here off somewhat of a maintenance run over 1400m behind ex Kiwi Lord Penman, but he still finished the race off sharply given it’s a trip well short of his best. From the low draw, Ben Thompson should be able to give him the economical run he requires to be running out the 3200m strongly. He looks a genuine each-way chance in an open edition of the Auckland Cup. 

Autumn Glory (#15) heads into the New Zealand Derby as the early favourite at just her fifth career start. Her last-start 2nd to Ohope Wins over this course and distance in the New Zealand Oaks was excellent, where she finished off strongly between runners. The wide draw presents an obvious concern, as she could end up settling a long way off them in this capacity field. The positive is that she has two stablemates drawn inside, which look to be two of the better horses she could be tagging into the race. Even accounting for the unfavourable map, she still looks the one to beat. 

Well Written (#3) arrives here following her brilliant Karaka Millions 3yo win, which extended her unbeaten record to 5/5 in emphatic fashion. Regular pilot Matt Cartwright remains aboard and from the low draw she should once again enjoy an ideal run in transit. She has looked a class above throughout her career and only bad luck appears capable of stopping her from making it six straight. 

Fosse (#6) returns here fresh after finishing 8th over 1600m at this track last start. She has since trialled nicely, finding the line under her own steam, and 1400m appeals in a fresh state. From the wide draw, she is likely to settle back off what should be a genuinely run race and if she can latch onto the right back turning for home she could run a cheeky race at odds.