Julius alarm rings for Bell
Big bundle of talent acceptor at Te Rapa but no guarantee to start tomorrow if it rains
Owning potentially the country’s best galloper is fine, but it’s not without its problems at this time of year. Julius is an acceptor for tomorrow’s $35,000 Allied Security at Te Rapa, but trainer John Bell is more than a touch concerned when and where he will head with his giant bundle of talent.
Or whether weather will allow him to kick off Julius’ spring and summer campaign tomorrow. Rain is forecast.
Few can put together the record Julius has compiled — 10 starts, six wins, three seconds and a third. It doesn’t get much better.
There are still a few sprinting opportunities left in New Zealand for Julius before increasing handicaps force him out, but overseas is where his fortunes lie.
There is a problem. Julius is a massive gelding with a stride to match. And it’s not a perfect stride. “It’s just him,” says Bell, “he’s such a big boy and he can nod a bit when he trots, but he’s not sore, it’s simply the way he’s travelled.”
Bell has had some anxious moments explaining through testy incidents with stipendiary stewards who have questioned the action.
“I keep telling them, he wouldn’t be here if he was sore.”
There have been approaches from Hong Kong to potentially invite the power machine for the International meeting in December, but Bell says he’ll play a waiting game. “There are people to talk to who have experience with racing horses in Hong Kong. It’s a long way to go for one race and have a vet have a moment and scratch him at the barrier.”
There is tomorrow’s race to get through and the No 1 barrier is hardly the ideal position for such a big, longstriding type.
Bell is pleased he has the brilliance of Jason Waddell in the saddle to possibly counteract that.
“There is no point in telling Jason what to do — he’s the one out there. My riding instructions will be ‘go out there and enjoy the ride’.”
But Bell will wait until tomorrow morning when track conditions will be confirmed before confirming Julius to the race.
Interestingly, Close Up will carry a hefty topweight of 63.5kg, an import rarely challenged in New Zealand.
He is a truly class act and although victory under such a weight would surprise some, he is not entirely out of this race.
Cyber Attack who was devastating in winning on this track at the last meeting, takes on a classy line-up of experienced and inexperienced horses in the early season 3-year-old races.
He faces Von Trapp, who demolished a Ruakaka 2-year-old field on debut last time and stylish barrier trial winners in Tiny Terror and Lord Arthur.
Experience could well be the key to the race though.
In the opener, Youwantmore is dropping back in terms of class of race against what she has faced lately and looks a good kick-off point.