A very busy start to 2013

Ballymore's New Year is a busy one with 13 runners due to take their place at Ellerslie, Hastings and Tauranga over the next couple of days.

Ellerslie hosts the feature New Year's Day meeting and we have six nice horses heading there - kicking off with Miz Sinatra in the opening event, the New Zealand Herald 2100m.

Not disgraced over the same trip at her most recent outing, the daughter of Duelled, says Chad Ormsby, has improved since.

"She has done well since that last run - her work has got better. She has drawn an outside gate but that shouldn't worry her."

Lining up in the following race, the Stella Artois 1400m, Spitting Image has also been working nicely.

"He rises in class a bit," said Ormsby, "but we think he is up to it. His work has been very good and he should prove competitive."

The first of the day's major races is the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes over 1200m and we are hoping that Bonappetit can go one better after an encouraging debut performance.

"He has drawn a good gate (one) and he had a good look around Ellerslie at his first start - and that is a big bonus."

"He should get a good run and prove hard to beat."

The Group 2 Royal Stakes is another feature race in which we saddle up a nice chance - Kidwelly having run well at the same level at her most recent outing at the same track.

"She ran really well last start and she just looked like she wanted more ground so the 2000m will suit. It's a strong field but she is a chance."

Hopefully we will be cheering on two runners in the Group 2 Auckland Cup - Savvy Dancer (pictured) as no.2 assured a run whilst we need a scratching to sneak in first emergency Xalted.

Drawn nicely in barrier seven for Noel Harris, Savvy Dancer can improve on his latest performance.

"He looked a bit disappointing," Ormsby admitted, "but he had excuses and his work since has been very strong."

Being a son of Pentire, Xalted will thrive over the 2400m - "he has been looking for this distance for some time so we hope he gets in as he is a lightweight chance."

Domestic Goddess is the first of our Hastings runners on Tuesday, the lightly raced daughter of Strada due to contest the NZ Bloodstock 1200m.

Having her first run since two encouraging winter runs, she has matured and we are hopeful of a bold showing.

"She has been training well for her first up run - she looks the part and the field does not look an overly strong one."

Kaptain Kirkup also looks a chance, the six-year-old topweight in the City Of Hastings Cup - having finished a close up fourth when resuming.

"His first up run was very good and he has only improved since then. Topweight shouldn't worry him and he gets his chance."

Ghostinthemachine contests the following race, the Russell Livestock 1400m and he has not been far away of late.

"He is ultra-consistent and everytime he goes to the races he gets a bit closer to winning."

On Wednesday we head to the Tauranga meeting with three runners, the first of those being Mrs Neat who takes her place Mills Reef 2100m.

Showing encouraging improvement when third over 2000m at her most recent outing, the daughter of Refuse To Bend "looks well placed."

"She was good at her first run over a trip for us," Ormsby said.

A game second on Boxing Day, Heat Blast is on the back-up but the Stewart Browne Group 1300m looks a nice race for him.

"There are limited options around for him and he did pull up well. It does not look a strong race and he is a winning chance."

The Gartshore Construction 1600m is the final race of the day and we have Just Bolting looking a good chance afte ran encouraging debut fourth over 1300m a couple of weeks ago.

"That was a good run, he just looked like he wanted more ground."

"The step up to the mile at the same track suits and he should be there at the end."