Ellerslie Tips & Preview | Saturday 6 June

Astoria Brooke (#7) heads here third-up after a very good effort for 4th behind Yaldi here last start, where she was forced to duck and weave through traffic whilst finishing off strongly late. She should be nearing peak fitness now and the prospect of a rain-affected surface looks a positive for her chances. The outside draw and a potentially slowly run race are slight concerns, but she still looks hard to beat regardless. 

Intan (#9) is a 2yo Shamexpress filly making her debut for Tony Pike. She has had just the one public trial but was very impressive, winning comfortably under minimal pressure. She showed good gate speed on that occasion and appears capable of taking up a handy position from her middle draw here. Happy to side with this filly at the price. 

Iridescent (#8) comes into this third-up following a last-start 5th at Te Rapa where she was finding the line strongly despite encountering significant congestion in the home straight. She should derive further improvement from her first two runs back and remaining at 1200m looks ideal. Drawn wide, she is likely to settle back in a race that maps to be run at a genuine tempo, and with clearer running she looks capable of featuring in the finish. 

Prominere (#8) resumes for Simon and Katrina Alexander after being last seen finishing 3rd on debut at Te Aroha in January, where the Heavy10 conditions looked to be her undoing. She has trialled up impressively ahead of her return, leading throughout and kicking clear under Michael McNab. McNab retains the ride for raceday and from a favourable draw she should be able to settle prominently. A bold showing in a fresh state wouldn’t surprise. 

Ivy’s Dancer (#13) comes here off a game 2nd at Matamata where she got well back from a wide barrier before putting in some good late strides. She looks very well placed here with Craig Grylls taking over the ride and a much kinder draw to work with. The likelihood of rain-affected footing is another positive, which should favour her over others at the pointy end of the market. With even luck in running, she looks set to be right in the finish here. 

Diamond Jak (#1) was doing his best work late when resuming over a mile here and should strip much fitter for that outing. The rise in distance looks ideal and Joe Nishizuka’s claim helps offset the sizeable impost. If the anticipated rain arrives and the track becomes more testing as the day progresses, he could be well over the odds in this.  

Cosmic Dream (#6) has been brave in both runs this campaign, finishing 3rd on each occasion despite racing wide without cover throughout. She gets a much kinder draw this time and should enjoy a significantly softer run in transit under George Rooke. The rise to 1400m on a potentially rain-affected track presents a slight query, but she should get the run she needs to see out the trip. Looks hard to beat.  

Orson Stone (#3) produced a better run than it appeared to the eye when 4th here last start, making up ground along what proved to be inferior going near the rail. He drops back to 1500m and again draws favourably, with Elen Nicholas jumping back in the saddle. Expect him to settle back before building through his gears late. Nearing another win and looks to get his chance again here.