Mid Term Report: Promise in Certain Areas

As is common this time of the year, the good horses start to show their class. Mosse looks one of the most exciting horses seen in these parts for a good while with his Mr Tiz like sprint performances. His clash with Burgundy in the Railway looks the highlight of the Ellerslie Xmas Carnival, and if Future King can remain sound, he could test them both in the Telegraph. Throw in the likes of Xanadu, who is set to resume in the race and the Telegraph shapes as the race of the season.

The juvenile division looks as strong as it has been in a number of years and lets hope we see a return clash between Bounding and Ruud Awakening. Unfortunately Doubtless, who won his only start so impressively back in September at Ruakaka has been sold to Hong Kong, but Recite and Catalonia look talented.

Once again the three-year-old filly ranks look strong. Although Roll Out The Carpet was a deserving winner of the 1000 Guineas, the very slow mid race sectionals made it next to impossible for anything back in the field to make ground, so look for some of the beaten brigade to make amends in races like the Eight Carat and Desert Gold.

With Sacred Falls taking a break and Southern Lord departing for Singapore, the lightly raced pair of Touch Win, who was slightly disappointing at Otaki, and Le Choix, a brave second in the Classic despite over racing slightly, look black type winners in the making up to a mile at least.

Two $10 equal favourites for the Derby reflect a Classic crop devoid of any genuine staying prospects at this stage. The result of Championship Stakes Prelude at Ellerslie on Sunday did nothing to change that.

The older staying ranks look thin and sadly this has been a developing trend for two or three seasons. Counties Cup winner Jeu De Cartes has risen very quickly in the weights, and may find the extra 200m beyond her range, and while the Waikato Cup quinella of Annie Higgins and Better Together will have their supporters, their must be question marks about the depth of the Te Rapa race. Punters maybe more inclined to look to some of the emerging but untested talent, such as Polyantha, Storming the Tower and Thunderbird One.