AUCKLAND CUP 08 MARCH InFORM Racing BEST BETS MICHAEL GUERIN TIGHTLIGN ELLERSLIE R5 Super fast last 600m last start and drawn to sit closer in race where main rival has huge weight. AIDAN RODLEY YOURDEEL ELLERSLIE R7 Dazzling winner of Matamata Slipper last start and had placed in the Karaka Million prior, awkward draw but yardstick here. GEORGE SIMON SPINDLE ELLERSLIE R1 Desperately unlucky last week, drawn to get a soft trip and should be in it. which so often wildly favour the 53kgs minimum horses who have dominated our major staying races TURF WAR in recent years. Multiple Group 1 winning mares Melody Belle (left) and Danzdanzdance (right) will clash in a quality Bonecrusher Stakes field at Ellerslie. While Avondale Cup winner Glory Days has that luxury tomorrow MICHAEL GUERIN for tomorrow’s $200,000 weight- weight-for-age races at Ellerslie, she felt great, very smooth. Her (53.5kgs) she gets only 2.5kgs off for-age thriller. then Melody Belle might have the work was really good so it should Five To Midnight as opposed to the hampion jockey Opie Bosson But he admits he would be happy advantage. be a great race.” 6.5kgs difference in their weights doesn’t want to chose one to be on either. “But I don’t have any concerns with While Bosson knows both Melody three weeks ago. of his equine loves over the C “They are very different mares but the 2000m for Melody Belle because Belle and Danzdanzdance, who will While Bosson is happy to be on the other for tomorrow’s Bonecrusher she relaxed beautifully three wide be ridden by Craig Grylls, inside favourite Yourdeel in the $200,000 Stakes at Ellerslie. both very, very good,” explains Bosson. without over over a mile last start.” out he admits to knowing next to Sistema Stakes on Saturday he admits Because while Bosson his hoping “Danzdanzdance is at her best when While Bosson wants to win nothing about his Auckland Cup the outside draw and some trackwork he adds another group one with she can settle and then maintain with Melody Belle he hopes ride Vengeur Masque, a situation he on Tuesday worries him. Melody Belle in what has become a long run whereas Melody Belle Danzdanzdance performs well was going to remedy with a video Not Yourdeel’s trackwork, which the surprising highlight of Cup day, should settle handier and she is because he will be on her when she session last night. was spot on, but that of stablemate he is also hoping his other occasional all class. makes her Sydney autumn carnival “I saw him on the TV in the and race rival Equinox who Bosson dance partner Danzdanzdance goes “I wouldn’t like to say who was debut in the Ravnet Stakes in two Melbourne Cup (15th) and that is also worked. a great race too. better because I honestly don’t know. weeks. about it but I’ll watch all his videos “I couldn’t be happier with Yourdeel “Melody Belle beating It might come down to the way the Both mares would handle any easing and he looks a good ride.” and both he and Aotea Lad are going Danzdanzdance by a nose would race is run. of the track but Danzdanzdance The set weights and penalties to be hard to beat but I also worked suit me,” smiles Bosson. “If the speed is on and the horses would probably appreciate it more conditions of he Cup aid the likes Equinox in the blinkers on Tuesday Bosson has ridden both to win back in the field can get into the yet Bosson says she felt super in her of Vengeur Masque, Charles Road and he felt like a different horse. group ones this summer but as the race late then that would suit work between races at Ellerslie last and Five To Midnight who all “He has a good draw on Saturday main man in the saddle for Te Akau Danzdanzdance but if they go a Saturday on a Good3. come in carrying fair weights rather and he could be the surprise horse he is committed to Melody Belle bit slower, which they can do in “It was firm there last week and than the crazy 60kgs topweights in the race.” Money back offer PLACE A WIN BET THROUGH YOUR ACCOUNT ON RACE 1 OR 2 on the meetings below. IF YOUR HORSE FINISHES 2ND, 3RD OR 4TH you’ll get YOUR MONEY BACK UP TO $20 * FRIDAY 8 MARCH - ALEXANDRA PARK SATURDAY 9 MARCH - ELLERSLIE & TRENTHAM *Account customers only. First win bet on each race only. T&Cs apply. See tab.co.nz/marchmadness. R18. Please gamble responsibly. FORMGUIDE WATCH LIVE INSIDE SKY TV CHANNEL 62 & 63 WWW.TAB.CO.NZ ALL RACES LIVE ON APP to beat.” Ultimate Sniper has looked a touch AUCKLAND freakish this season and as good as stablemate Jesse Duke is it is hard to CUP DAY see him beating him again. Another stablemate Another Masterpiece was QUADDIE scratched yesterday with an elevated temperature. PREVIEW Those looking for place and ELLERSLIE M2 multis value should check out Bettorstartdreaming, who has the LEG 1 gate speed to find the markers early RACE 7 and follow close to the favourite YOURDEEL was a dominant winner which is the golden pathway to last start at Matamata, he has a nasty placing in major Alexandra Park draw but has to be included. BAVELLA saying events. can’t be dropped off the average run, she had no luck last start and should Purdon has every reason to expect have finished closer, follow your his heroics of last Saturday to be money. ARETHA surprised just about everyone except her connections repeated tonight, with Smooth NO REASON TO BE when winning last start, she can only Deal looking a little too strong for improve from that. AOTEA LAD though his rivals in the $100,000 Breckon beaten last start by his stablemate he GUN-SHY IN DERBY Farms Young Guns Final although was still making ground at the finish, blinkers go on for this, he is capable Sweet On Me is going to have to Star 3yo Ultimate Sniper should have no handicaps in tonight’s Derby at Alexandra Park. of turning the tables. AALAALUNE overcome a tricky draw in the fillies was the run of the race last start, if You can expect neither of those races in his absence including two MICHAEL GUERIN final but she oozes class. she can just settle closer then she is things — trailing or pacing roughly last Friday, but Purdon is still Purdon a winning chance, don’t risk her. But he has lost his big gun out of he boss is back and that — to happen again tonight. and he picks up the smallest details usually only means one the City Of Auckland Free-For-All LEG 2 Champion trainer Mark Purdon others might miss. thing: you can confidently with Ultimate Machete’s huge frame RACE 8 T wasn’t in Auckland last week, he “I think he has a slight issue hanging take the short odds for Ultimate finally giving up on him, with the was busy putting the winning polish last week which we can fix for this MELODY BELLE has been the Sniper in tonight’s $250,000 multiple group one winner suffering benchmark all season, hard to go past Woodlands Derby at Alexandra Park. on his Miracle Mile night team in week,” says Purdon. suspensory damage which threatens her. DANZDANZDANCE deserves Sydney but he has been back this “I have put a Murphy Blind on him another chance, C Grylls is in form The star three-year-old pacer lost his his career. week and hands on with the Derby and will give her every chance. Last unbeaten record in the Derby prelude with a small hole in it to make him With him out of the race speedsters years Derby winner VIN DE DANCE is last Friday when, after trailing, he favourite. concentrate better. Star Galleria and Jack’s Legend back to his best, he will be even better It is not that Purdon’s staff don’t do “I am confident he will be better this time. ON THE ROCKS has gone hung in and paced roughly on the become the two to beat, with the to another level lately, WFA makes life final bend, losing two lengths on a great job when the boss is absent, and from that draw he will probably draw suggesting the former is the tough against the good mares, but he eventual winner Jesse Duke. after all they have won plenty of be in front. So he is clearly the one better bet. can’t be totally overlooked. LEG 3 Double-take Jake can’t argue with the clock RACE 9 GUNDOWN was ultra impressive when winning the traditional lead up DENNIS RYAN “I got a surprise too when I looked last week, he will be making his move at my clock, so I can understand early and the 2 miles will be no issue. ake Bayliss did a double take Jake’s reaction, but he’s got a long CHARLES ROAD is peaking at the stride and can be very deceptive right time, he put the writing on the when he was told the 600-metre wall when an unlucky 4th last start, Jtime reeled off by On The when he lets down. hard to beat. VENGEUR MASQUE Rocks in his final Bonecrusher Stakes “The intention since the Herbie is an Aussie raider with form at the Dyke has always been to give him distance, he races close to the pace hitout on the Matamata course and isn’t here for a holiday.