Bulginbaah perks up

Catherine Wilson knows Bulginbaah is rising 11 years old - but she's sure he doesn't know.
The one thing the Wanganui trainer cannot work out is why Bulginbaah is suddenly acting like a 5-year-old.
She suspects it is because the old bloke might only now be starting to adjust to the change of environment that was necessary last November on the death of part owner and co-trainer Ken Cropp.
"He's a horse who just loves routine," says Wilson. "After we moved him to a different property he continued to work well, but something wasn't quite right and his form was below his best."
But following a two-month break from racing, Bulginbaah recently started to blossom.
"His eye became bright, his coat is suddenly extra shiny and we even changed his diet to try and spark him up.
"It's all worked, because he's a different horse."
Bulginbaah showed that was no illusion when he returned to racing at Manawatu on July 9 and blew the opposition off the track.
"I told Mereana [Hudson] not to lead on him, but he flew the gates and was never going to do anything but lead."
Bulginbaah won untested by eight and a quarter lengths.
Wilson wants to see that same level of form in a fifth time lucky $65,000 Waikato Stud Opunake Cup victory tomorrow.
Bulginbaah finished sixth behind Pindy in the 2009 version of the Opunake Cup after losing a shoe mid-race and last year was a close third to Eric The Viking and Samurai.
He carried 60kg two years ago and 59kg last year, both times on a 52kg minimum. This time he has 58.5kg on a 53kg minimum, 1.5kg better off.
Ken Cropp died after Bulginbaah won last August's Foxbridge Plate and the Awapuni win was his first since.
"I'd just love to win this stakes race with him," said Wilson.
This will be start No90 for the remarkable veteran and win No23 if he is successful.
He will be ridden by Opie Bosson, who was aboard in both his previous attempts on the race.
Standing in his way is equally talented Fritzy Boy, who will carry 59kg topweight.
Fritzy Boy looked very strong winning under a difficult 60kg at Hastings last start. Although this is tougher, he rates highly at his favourite distance.
I Am Sam failed by just half a head to pick up Fritzy Boy last start, the 1200m proving just too sort for him.
He is much better suited to the 1400m this time and the predicted rain will play right in his favour.