Christmas lights at Ellerslie

Christmas lights at Ellerslie

The Christmas lights will be twinkling at Ellerslie tomorrow evening. The twilight meeting is extremely popular at this festive time of year… with a surprise element. The meeting is an invitational jockey event so it is like Secret Santa as to which jockey rides which horse.

Go Racing has two talented horses lining up.

Three-year-old filly Rip Em Up has finally got a draw to go her way securing barrier 2. “We’re pleased she will be able to settle handier and be amongst the horses. This is the first time she has had an inside draw in her career, so from there she should really be able to get an economical run,” say Syndicate Manager Albert Bosma.

Rip Em Up has had a short break after her last start, also at Ellerslie, so will run fresh up with trainer Stephen Marsh eyeing the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic for three-year-old fillies on Boxing Day second up.

Marsh has been pleased with her efforts in training. “She has been working well since coming back into the stable and her final gallop over 1200 metres on Tuesday was sharp. Cheek burrs have been added to her gear for the first time and the blinkers and nose band have been removed.” Lisa Allpress who currently sits second on the Premiership will ride.

Fast-finishing Maktoum lines up in race 5. “In his last two starts he’s had the fastest 600 metres sectional in the race,” says Albert. “He won brilliantly two starts ago despite his knack for continually drawing badly. Unfortunately tomorrow is no exception and he races from barrier 9. So he’ll get back in the field but if he gets clear running we know he’s got a devastating turn of foot to finish it off.” In form senior jockey Leith Innes will ride.

The Twilight Cup is a rating 72 race over 1500 metres worth $30,000 and is a qualifying race for the Dunstan Championship run on Boxing Day.

Says Albert, “Go Racing has history with this race winning the inaugural Dunstan Championship two years ago with Ruud Not Too. We would love history to repeat.”

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