Cambridge stable’s stayers prepare for challenging day at Ellerslie

The Precursor was outstanding in the Remutaka Classic and steps up in grade tomorrow. Photo / Peter Rubery

The attitude of one of the country’s most powerful stables sums up how hard it is going to be to win the black-type races at Ellerslie tomorrow.

Roger James and Robert Wellwood are taking a powerful team, including two last-start major race winners, to headquarters but even they aren't confident about success.

The addition of the NZ Oaks and second running of the Ōtaki-Māori Classic in Auckland means tomorrow’s meeting is the third strongest of the year at Ellerslie, behind only Champions Day and Karaka Millions.

This is great fun for purists and provides value for punters but talk to the trainers heading there and they know even one win will equate to a decent day at the office.

For James and Wellwood, they have a stunning last-start Waikato Guineas winner in Autumn Glory in the NZ Oaks and yet she is an $11 chance, while The Precursor may be the most promising stayer in the country but faces a huge task in the Avondale Cup.

“It is going to be really hard all day, simple as that,” Wellwood said.

“Autumn Glory is flying and you would think because she has only had three starts she will come on after that Guineas win.

“But this is a deep Oaks. We have another filly we love in the race called Ariadne and she opened $34 and we think there isn’t much between our two.”

Autumn Glory has secured barrier 1 and Wellwood said traffic concerns shouldn’t be an issue as a moderate early tempo would allow her to settle no worse than midfield.

“She can win but there are a few others in there who can too and that includes Ariadne.”

The Precursor has come from seemingly nowhere a few months ago to win the Remutaka Classic last start and now finds himself among the favourites for tomorrow’s Avondale Cup and the Auckland Cup in two weeks.

“We are really happy with him and he is one horse whose barrier doesn’t overly bother us,” Wellwood said.

“It is a long run to the first bend and we see him going forward and still getting his chance. But yes, barrier five or something like that would have been better.”

The Cambridge trainers have a great record in our major staying races and Road To Paris can extend that in tomorrow’s Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas, the next stepping stone to the NZ Derby.

He came from last to dive through late for second to key rival Aksil at Ellerslie last start and Wellwood said he is spot on for tomorrow and the Derby.

“He is a really legitimate chance in both but again it is the story of the day, he is a good horse in a really tough race.”

The stable also has December in tomorrow’s open 1200m and rate his chances in what is an even bunch lacking a lot of recent winning form.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.