By MIKE DILLON
Don't bet against Greg Childs retaining the Sunline Cox Plate ride.
Childs still has the High Court as a civil option if his appeal this week is unsuccessful against his one-year disqualification by the Singapore Turf Club.
A High Court appeal would allow Childs to continue to ride under a
stay of proceedings, almost certainly to the Cox Plate and beyond.
The Melbourne-based ex-Kiwi jockey will attend the appeal hearing in Singapore on Thursday, represented by a local lawyer.
"I will defend this vigorously," Childs was quoted as saying at Warwick Farm races on Saturday.
* * *
Millennium's dodgy legs may not be as capable on hard summer tracks, but he's going to get the opportunity to prove it.
The talented Takanini galloper won on the firmest track he's faced at New Plymouth on Saturday, clocking a swift 1.23.04 1400m.
"I don't think he'll handle hard tracks, but you never know, he's improved a lot," said co-trainer Trevor McKee yesterday.
"I'll aim him at some money in a race like the Captain Cook Strakes at Trentham."
* * *
If you picked up the winnings off Zaitan at Ellerslie, consider it lucky.
Had Runaway, for example, finished in the first six placings, Zaitan would almost certainly have been relegated.
None of the horses affected by Zaitan's change of direction in the home straight - for which Peter Johnson copped a two-day suspension - finished close enough to the money to justify the stipendiary stewards altering placings.
Runaway, having his first start since January last year, turned in a blinder.
He was going for the gap Zaitan beat him to and had he got through it things would be interesting for harness trainer Barry Purdon who trains the horse, and his Melbourne-based owner Terry Henderson.
Being a stayer, Runaway was not asked for anything by Opie Bosson once his momentum was bled away, but he picked himself up to be only a couple of lengths behind the winner.
Bosson quickly asked for the ride next time.
The run showed that if he stays sound, Runaway may yet realise the potential he showed before leg trouble stopped his career.
* * *
"He's back," said Mathew Williamson as he climbed off Just Call Me Sir on Saturday.
The group one winner was about to be called Just Call Me Retired.
"That was his last chance," said trainer Moira Murdoch after Just Call Me Sir failed by only a long head and a short neck to contain Okiwi Bay and Kash Is King after leading.
Murdoch knew the horse had been "thinking" too much and only a run like Saturday's averted retirement.
"He got his own way in front this time and that made his try," she said.
"He was going to bolt in on the corner, but the other two were fitter horses," said Williamson.
* * *
Okiwi Bay may be back for the Mitchelson Cup on Saturday week, but owner/trainer Bob Marshall would love the race to be a week further on.
"He loves space between his races and I like to give him three weeks, this race is only a two week gap," he said.
"I'll make up my mind when I see his he comes through this race."
Marshall will keep Okiwi Bay going until his flat feet cannot handle the firmer tracks.
"He needs give in the going."
By MIKE DILLON
Don't bet against Greg Childs retaining the Sunline Cox Plate ride.
Childs still has the High Court as a civil option if his appeal this week is unsuccessful against his one-year disqualification by the Singapore Turf Club.
A High Court appeal would allow Childs to continue to ride under a
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