By MIKE DILLON
Chris Wood is more worried about the Melbourne weather than risking a fine by the city's racing stewards.
Wood was last night seemingly unconcerned about possibly missing today's 9 am deadline for declaring a rider for Kaapstad Way for Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
The rider quest was necessary after Wood released Damien Oliver from Kaapstad Way on Sunday to ride the favourite, Fairway.
"I've done absolutely nothing about it - why rush into it?" said Wood.
"We know who is available."
Wood found himself in a similar situation with Des's Dream for the Doncaster Handicap in Sydney a couple of years ago and left it until race eve in the hope of snagging a rider from a horse who was withdrawn late.
He was fined by the stewards, but ended up getting Shane Dye.
"I certainly won't be doing anything about it until the morning when something could go wrong for a runner having its final gallop.
"Bad news travels pretty fast around this town."
Wood has had plenty of offers to ride Kaapstad Way.
"Neville Wilson is available, so is Jason Patton and Michael Pelling and Gary Grylls is coming over to ride for Graeme Sanders on Saturday, so he's a possibility.
"But to be honest, I'm in more of a panic about the track conditions. It's raining in some areas of Melbourne today, although it looks like it's missing the city."
Wood is serious about not running Kaapstad Way if the Caulfield track becomes rain-affected.
The alternatives are the Geelong Cup on Wednesday and the Grosby Cup at Moonee Valley on Thursday night, even though the stakemoney is not much more than 5 per cent of the Caulfield stake.
Wood has taken his eyes from the sky long enough to declare he is happy with the condition of Kaapstad Way.
Racing: Wood being patient but weather a worry
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