Racing: Age shall not weary him

A Bulginbaah victory would be popular with fans at New Plymouth tomorrow. Photo / Supplied

Catherine Wilson knows Bulginbaah is rising 11 years old, but she's sure he doesn't know.

The one thing the Wanganui trainer can't work out is why Bulginbaah is suddenly acting like a 5-year-old.

She suspects it's 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 after a two-month break, 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 bolted in.

"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 8 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 also ran third to Don't Ya Lovett and Floydeboye in 2006, as well as running fourth in 2005. 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.

This will be start number 90 for the remarkable veteran and win number 23 if he's successful.

Standing in his way is equally talented Fritzy Boy, who will carry 59kg topweight.

Fritzy Boy looked strong winning under a difficult 60kg at Hastings last start and 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 short for him.

He is much better suited to the 1400m this time and the predicted rain will be in his favour.

Mike Dillon's punting pointers

Important important: Don't forget the lead and on-pace bias from Ruakaka last week. If they weren't on the speed and close to the rail they weren't anywhere. You'll need to pay attention to this form - take note of all those who went wide and forgive them on the same track tomorrow. There's plenty of them.

Be prepared: November Rain is no 1200m horse, but fresh up and with only a handful of runners against her she's going to get a chance to achieve that at Ruakaka tomorrow. She's certainly better than most of those opposing her and the 2kg apprentice allowance is going to be handy.

Local hope: Locally-trained Jungle Juice in the last is one of those who covered ground to his detriment last week. He can be relied upon to be closer this time and any rain would be a big assist.

Class to tell: Not many beat Anabandana this season. Czechout Girl (Race 1) did, even if luckily, and that's good form for a Ruakaka juvenile event.

On song: Universal Music nearly tore one off in his first start for a new stable at Te Rapa last time. He could go one better at Ruakaka.

Due to win: Miss Curiosity has form around some very good horses and surely can't stay a maiden much longer. She doesn't deserve to.

Worth a butcher's: Butcher's Daughter is one of those who got wide at Ruakaka last week. She might surprise in the opener at New Plymouth, particularly with rain around.

Third time lucky: The Strutter and The Missing Link have run the quinella twice this winter and it could be a hat-trick in the Revital Fertilisers 2000 at New Plymouth tomorrow.