New Years Day at Ellerslie

The country's best days racing has predictably thrown up fields with depth and the odd potential star - shame about Mosse.

Moneytree will be very short in race 2 but Uno Five can test the favourite. He's afraid of his own shadow this guy but he is full of courage and can sit on the likely leader Little Wonder and get a break around the turn on Moneytree.

Te Akau should win another Eclipse Stakes with Catalonia. He appreciated the step to 1100m last start and on type and breeding he should be stronger again at 1200m-1400m. Fantastic Honour is another horse that is going to enjoy the step up in distance and her young trainers are going places.

This is not the strongest Dunstan Final. While the Central Districts horses often run well in this race and Casino looks a real up and comer, it is hard to see him beating Polyantha who would have started favourite in the City of Auckland Cup had connections gone that way. Grande Bellezza relaxes well and with the rail out from Boxing Day she maybe hard to peg back if left alone in front. Polyantha looks the bet of the day.

Despite sitting wide Habibi was very strong over the closing stages on Boxing Day suggesting she is only going to be better over more ground. Looking at her parade the other day you would only have wanted to be on one horse; physically she was well ahead of her contemporaries and very relaxed. So long as she has backed-up she will be too strong for an average bunch. Look for Alert to be running on.

Traditionally they crawl in the Royal Stakes and it often produces a turn-up. Soriano came home well last start and may have the drop on Fix in this. Physically the Darling One looks a progressive type and may back-up better than most; with her draw and ability to race on the pace she is good each-way value. The race pattern is not likely to suit her but look for Sultry Assassin to be running on. She looks an Oaks type of filly.

The Rich Hill is a challenging betting race. A number of the better credentialed runners are not well weighted and/or have drawn awkwardly, plus the race does not map with much pace. Depending whom you listen to there were a number of hard luck stories in Sir Lovesalot's win at Te Rapa. It looks the form race for this and while he did not necessarily get the same plaudits as Full of Spirit and Historian, Spin Doctor's run was full of merit. If he can get any sort of run he can win this. The progressive Diademe drops a lot in weight and should be able to take a reasonable position on the speed. You could do a lot worse than box Full of Spirit, Spin Doctor, Historian, Joey Massino, Diademe, and Miss Pelear.

I would love to see him win but Burgundy looks poor value. He was not convincing at Otaki and the form only looks average. Fleur De Lune comes in very well under the set weights and conditions but she has done this before when given her more favoured rain affected track, and not delivered. Durham Lad paraded poorly last start but still ran a nice race. If he has gone ahead he looks the one to beat. Jetset Lad, Demophon and Ginner Hart are value.

Annie Higgins should beat an average lot in the Cup. She races well here and if you follow horses running well at the same time each year she was an excellent second in the Royal Stakes this day two seasons ago. The quinella at Te Rapa can repeat. Tempelten is the blowout. He grows another leg here when the track is firm and his run last start had merit. Put Le Moussier and La Chaparrone in your multiples.

The promising Glad can beat an average field in the last, with her last start conqueror Casual Fling the biggest danger.

Oak Park is the best bet at Hastings.