By MIKE DILLON
If you're worried about Coup Ray not having raced since April, don't be, because trainer Snooky Cowan isn't.
Coup Ray tackles the $40,000 Lindauer Stewards Stakes at Riccarton tomorrow and Cowan feels he has his smart galloper ready.
"He's actually not that difficult to get ready to race first-up," said Cowan. "He gets a bit excitable in the early stages of his preparations.
"He's had only one 900m trial, but I've taken him to the races twice with other horses lately without racing and he's tightened up a lot with those. He stands there and runs his own race without going phut on the track."
Some of Coup Ray's best form has been at 1600m, but Cowan expects a big 1200m this time.
"I can see him sitting there just off the speed. The riding instructions to Lance O'Sullivan will be to put him in the race without using him terribly and that's Lance's riding style.
"I expect him to be there ready to unleash his explosive burst."
Life Of Riley won this race last year and he rates a chance again after a close fresh-up fourth last Saturday when he looked to run out of condition only in the last 150m.
His biggest problem may be the 57kg, which sees him giving Coup Ray 4kg.
* Michael Walker will be able to ride in the New Zealand Cup after all.
New Zealand's top apprentice was suspended on a careless riding charge at Otaki on Tuesday, ruling him out of tomorrow's New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton.
However Walker and his employer, Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock, lodged an appeal against the suspension and a stay of proceedings was granted yesterday.
The appeal will be heard in Auckland on Monday, which means Walker will be able to ride at Riccarton tomorrow and the Waipa meeting on Sunday.
Suspended jockeys are normally able to continue riding at any meetings where the deadline for declarations of riders has passed at the time of suspension.
The deadline for the New Zealand Cup meeting was not until yesterday but part of his appeal will be based on the fact the TAB was operating fixed-odds betting on the cup.
Walker said he was engaged last Monday for the ride on Oliverdance and some bets would have been placed on the horse because of that.
Racing: Coup Ray ready despite no racing
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