Horse Racing: Tall Poppy to miss Mile

WELLINGTON - Exciting mare Tall Poppy will concentrate on an Australian campaign and will be a notable absentee from the $150,000 Thorndon Mile at Trentham on January 30.

Trainer Noel Eales has confirmed that Tall Poppy - the $5 favourite for the Thorndon on the TAB futures betting market - would be set for the $A1 million Doncaster at Randwick in Sydney on April 3.

She is unlikely to race again until the weights for that race are announced on February 15.

Eales was concerned that Tall Poppy was already well up in the weights - she has 54.5kg in the Thorndon - and he did not want to risk another win before the Doncaster weights were declared.

"She's a small horse and she couldn't afford to win another race," Eales said.

He has still to decide her lead-up plans to the Doncaster but she is likely to have one or two races in New Zealand before heading to Sydney. A possible option is the $80,000 Auto Auction weight-for-age at Otaki on February 25.

Eales will also look to give her a lead-up run in Sydney, with the $A500,000 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on March 13 a likely mission.

That race is restricted to fillies and mares but it is a handicap and her weight will dictate whether she lines up.

Despite her withdrawal from the Thorndon, Eales should still be well represented in the race, with Egoli Lass, Surface and Port Side all possible runners.

Port Side will contest the $150,000 Telegraph Handicap on January 23 and his performance in that will dictate whether he tackles the Thorndon.

Surface may have a lead-up run in the $25,000 Anniversary on January 23. The exciting Surface could be borderline to make the Thorndon field but the first three placegetters in the Anniversary are guaranteed a start.

Talented mare Fauve, who was trapped wide and unsuited by the shifty track at Woodville on Saturday, will also contest the Anniversary.

Eales should have a strong entry at Awapuni on Saturday, though Crossfire will be missing from the Marton Cup.

He has suffered a pulled muscle and is being given a break.

But the promising Greene Street may tackle the $16,000 open 1400 and Paraiso, Kaitohe Hall, Collette and Brother Joe are all likely runners in the lower grade races.

Collette, who made a winning debut at New Plymouth recently, is one of three first-up winners Eales has produced for Hastings owners Gary and Lynda Harding in recent weeks.

The others have been the two-year-old Galleon, and Grimmer.

The Hardings have six horses with Eales and have also won races this season with Crossfire, Dashing and Limerick, who will probably race next in the $20,000 Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on February 6.

Dashing has now been retired after suffering persistent foot problems. - NZPA