Big wet rains over draws
In any normal year, the barrier draws for the Group I Auckland Cup would carry plenty of interest, but 2017 is shaping up as anything but standard.
An imposing weather system, dubbed the Tasman Tempest, has trainers more concerned with what their ran radars are saying than which gate their runners will jump from in Saturday’s Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie.
Wednesday’s barrier draws are largely irrelevant at this stage of the week, because nobody really knows where the best ground on the Ellerslie track will be come 5.28pm on Saturday.
The track was rated a dead 6 at 8am on Wednesday morning following a mammoth 72mm of rain falling in the previous 24 hours.
Further rain has fallen since that penetrometer reading was taken and rain is predicted to fall in Auckland for the remainder of the week, meaning the $500,000 Cup could become a lottery.
Awapuni trainer Gary Vile is more relaxed than most.
His runner, Jacksstar, will be suited by a rain affected track, but like everyone else, Vile is unsure what to expect by Saturday.
‘‘It’s going to hinder a lot of horses, but hopefully it won’t hinder him as much,’’ Vile said.
But despite being by Zed and having a reputation as one of the few who would handle a heavy track, Vile would rather see Ellerslie in the slow range on Saturday.
‘‘He won on a heavy track going up through the grades, but as he’s got older his preference has definitely been for a better track.
‘‘A slow track will be fine, but if it gets to heavy, that’s getting into the nervous stuff,’’ Vile said.
Jacksstar, who has drawn barrier six, sits on the second line of betting at $6.80 behind Five To Midnight and Megablast (both $6.20).
Vile said it was hard to know what to make of the draw given the conditions.
He was encouraged by Jacksstar’s last start sixth in the Avondale Cup (2400m) - his first run left handed.
Jacksstar was squeezed up and pushed back to near last on the rail, but stormed home down the outside to hit the line strongly.
‘‘I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s going to strip a very fit horse. His work this morning was very good.’’
Vile believes Jacksstar was unlucky when running second to Savaria in the Wellington Cup.
He has previously been a winner over 3200m in rating 85 company.
Meanwhile, the two Australian runners, Lord Van Percy and Pop ‘N’ Scotch have been confirmed as non-starters, leaving 17 runners in the field.