Danielle Johnson’s Weekend Best Bets

1 Embezzler gets a good set up here at his right distance, and at a track he enjoys racing on. The 3kg claim is the big key and this looks a very winnable race for him. Just hope it’s not another walk and sprint home race that has been happening lately at Ellerslie in these distance races.  

5 Ardalio is a multiple stakes winner who comes in very well here on the minimum weight. Tidy effort fresh on ground that was too wet for her. Beat favourite Celestial Wonder by nearly four lengths when they last met so the $3.40 on offer looks acceptable. 

8 Jaffa did well at Ashburton after being slow away and then working forward to sit wide in the open throughout. Horses that finished behind him finished first and second at Ashburton last week, so the form is string. Maps to get a much kinder run here and each way value at $5.50 and $2.20.  

4 Toronto didn’t look all that comfortable right handed when finishing fourth in a strong field last time. Has trialled very well since and looks to have found the right race here. 

5 Notabadspillane has been very good to us and I can’t see any reason to jump off the wagon now. Looks very well placed again at his favourite track with the light weight. 

15 Renovations put in a huge run fresh up, smashing the clock. Loves it at Te Rapa and if the forecasted rain arrives, even better. No odds out yet but should be respectable in this good even field.