Heavy going for Ellerslie feature
The 4900m is sure to test the stamina of every runner
If Raymond Connors was ever really worried tomorrow’s $50,000 Pakuranga Hunt Cup was going to be a true staying test for Wise Men Say, which is doubtful, he can worry no more.
The Ellerslie footing was at the top of the range — heavy 11 — yesterday and executive Craig Baker said there is no possibility of an upgrade.
“To be honest, when the rain came a week or so back, the footing here got to a heavy 13 and with no wind there is little drying. It will be a genuine heavy 11.”
Which means the 4900m will test the stamina of every runner.
“He’s not fast, but he stays well,” says Connors.
Wise Men Say was sharp enough to win the 4150m McGregor Grant at Ellerslie in May, the danger this time being that there has been five weeks between racing for the Wanganui chaser.
“To be honest I’m not sure how that will play, but I will be happy if whatever he does suggests he’s in the right vein for the big one,” says Connors.
The ‘big one’ is the Great Northern Steeplechase in two weeks. You can understand Connors’ wish for Great Northern luck — last year Wise Men Say put in an uncharacteristically bad jump early and unseated rider Isaac Lupton.
The time between races is a concern, but Connors knows how to prepare horses for major races with a Great Northern treble in the locker with fine chaser Hypnotize.
Worth noting is that this race carries a maximum upgrading of three rating points (1.5kg) going forward to the Great Northern Steeple- chase. Topweight Amanood Lad, already a winner of that great race and second in it last year, showed he was back on track for new trainer Paul Nelson when he took the Wellington Steeplechase, run at Hastings.
Going up to 71kg will not assist his chances, but he is a great stayer and he will give a great sight late in the race when most are gasping.
The Oysterman is another with plenty of experience in a field that has a couple of relative newcomers to the tough coalface of a race like this. He is capable and his Wellington Steeplechase effort was sound.
Looking at the field for the $50,000 Harrison Lane Hurdle tomorrow, the Great Northern Hurdle is going to be a fine contest.
The Shackler, Just Got Home, D’Llaro and Raisafuasho do battle with a pair of upstart newcomers in Monarch Charms and El Corby. Very difficult betting contest, The Shackler should be very tough to head off after winning his last three very impressively.
The danger could be Raisafuasho, who got too far back on the turning Rotorua track last start and it made it impossible to make up the ground. He is much better suited to Ellerslie.