A little more sunshine

He knew she was better than average, but even Mark Smolenski couldn’t help but be surprised by the debut effort of Miss Ethel Sunshine last week.

And the filly, who credited Auckland Reactor with his first New Zealand success as a stallion, will get the chance to show her trainer again when she steps out in the time-honoured Leonard Memorial this afternoon at Addington.

It will be another step up for the rangy filly, but everything she did on debut would suggest she is more than capable of handling the challenge from the inside of the second row.

“She probably doesn’t show that much at home,” Smolenski said.

“But we did draw a bit of confidence from a trial run at Ashburton where she ran a bit of time and you always know you are going ok when Dexter is happy with things.”

Dexter is, of course, Dexter Dunn and Smolenski has long given up on being surprised when the champion reinsman gets on one of his horses and says they are in with a show.

“He’s done it a couple of times on my horses before, he’s jumped in the sulky and said that he thinks we can win this when I have been thinking we didn’t have much hope.

“And he’s usually pretty right too.”

Dunn will have to call on all his skills with Miss Ethel Sunshine from the barrier draw especially with her apparent strongest rival, Liberty Rose, drawn up well on the front line.

The Mark Jones trained filly made up stacks of ground behind Miss Ethel Sunshine to finish second and with a little more luck this week, she’s expected to be quite hard to beat.

 The Geoff Dunn trained, Rohza, who was third in the same race has the advantage of the inside barrier draw which will see her come right into contention although a lead all the way approach would leave Miss Ethel Sunshine most likely sitting on her back.

Today’s other feature, the Cheviot Cup will see Locharburn back in action.

The big pacer, who has been plagued by injuries all season, will reunite with Dexter Dunn for the race, starting off 35 metres. Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have a strong hand in the race with Motu Premier and Alta Ronaldo both in action while Maverick and the Robert Dunn pair of Alta Orlando and Letspendanitetogetha have all got chances as well.

Super Selector – By Matt Markham

Race 1: BD Khaosan, Izmok, Bonnie Highlander, Spurred By Success

Race 2: Debnita Rose, Little Bad John, Sharknado, Scotlyn Harry

Race 3: The Foot Tapper, Agatha Tyron, Sugar Cane, Daiquiri

Race 4: Rena Bay, Algranco Albyone, Patanjali, Honour The Bet

Race 5: Redwood Invasion, Brad’s Kenny, Missandei, Idle Monkey

Race 6: Trailer Park Girl, RR Sand Dollar, Port Delight, Ollayntambo

Race 7: Quite A Moment, Eyre I Come, Everybody Knows, Belle’s Son

Race 8: Locharburn, Motu Premier, Alta Ronaldo, Alta Orlando

Race 9: Miss Ethel Sunshine, Liberty Rose, Rozha, Sheeza Sport

Race 10: Cable Beach, Gotta Go Ya Hu, Celestial Arden, The Honey Badger

Race 11: Articulight, She’s A Flyin, Hard Day’s Night, Booming Jet

Best Bet: Cable Beach (Race 10)

Value: Redwood Invasion (Race 5)