By MIKE DILLON
Whatever wins the $270,000 Wellington Cup will sleep well on Saturday night.
The 3200m marathon has been turned into a speed race with the inclusion of freegoers Green Street and The Rock.
The stamina requirements will be unbelievable, but someone not worried about that is Stephen McKee, co-trainer of Auckland Cup runner-up Ebony Honor.
"The pace being on should actually help him," says McKee.
"At Ellerslie the leaders collapsed and he got left in front a long way out and that made it a bit easier for Our Unicorn to pick him up.
"With The Rock and Green Street setting up the pace they should carry him into the race a lot further."
McKee rates Our Unicorn again, but believes there are at least four or five chances at the same level.
"Our Unicorn came from last and went round the entire field at win at Ellerslie. You probably can't do that and win at Trentham, but he's got to be a chance.
"The left-handed track should assist the likes of Paddy Maloney and Armstrong. Smiling Like is another you have to consider."
The prospect of a firm track delights McKee.
Tony Allan had his first ride back at Rotorua yesterday and before he had thrown a leg over a horse he was confirmed as the rider of No Alimony in the Cup.
No Alimony is owned by Rick Williams, manager of The Oaks Stud where Allan has worked since being disqualified for a year for not riding a horse on its merits in Malaysia.
The sleeper in the Cup is Takanini mare Starina.
She flopped badly on the last day of the Auckland carnival, almost certainly because of the dead footing which stopped so many horses sprinting, then finished strongly into fourth in the Marton Cup.
"Her Marton Cup run was a cracker - she got back and nothing was finishing faster," says trainer Kerry Verner.
Verner has been agonising over the fact that the race has come up a bit too early in Starina's career, but is only too aware the injury index could see her not around next year.
"It's a year early, but she's in form and thriving so we've decided to go ahead.
"For a mare like her, black type is important and if you can achieve it in group one so much the better."
You can never be sure a horse will see out a gruelling 3200m until he or she tries the distance, but Starina's style of racing suggests she is a good bet to manage the trip.
"I remember just after Good Lord won his first Wellington Cup someone asked dad [trainer Ray Verner] when he thought the horse would run the 3200m and he said: 'Five minutes ago'." says Verner.
"You never know until they do it."
A good back-up for Starina is her pedigree.
"She's by Sir Tristram from a Zamazaan mare from a mare by Le Filou. With that sort of breeding she'll get the distance. In fact, she should be looking to run over the hill at Ellerslie. It will be a stayers' race and the 50kg will be a big help."
Lance O'Sullivan will ride her.
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