Racing: Bary hopes Recite on song

John Bary will keep a close eye on Survived as he launches his 4-year-old career with an exhibition workout at Taupo today. Photo / APN

Stablemate Survived will show his readiness for Makfi Stakes with a gallop between races.

He's not saying as much, but John Bary would love to keep Recite's unbeaten record intact at Taupo this afternoon.

Like everyone, the Hawkes Bay trainer is guessing who will strip the fitter between Recite and another of last season's outstanding juveniles, Bounding, when they face off today.

"We're all in the same boat in that there will be a fair bit of natural improvement in both fillies, so only the race itself will tell that.

"That said, I've always been keen to have her as fit as possible for this first run," said Bary yesterday.

"She put on more than 50kg during a spell and we've been gradually working that off her. She's still a bit woolly in the coat, but she's very well.

"Understandably, she's a fair way from being cranked right up."

Bary will be guided by today's effort to decide whether to start Recite in the fillies' race at Wanganui in a couple of weeks or take her straight to Melbourne where his early options lie between the 1000 Guineas against the fillies and the Caulfield Guineas for all-comers.

Bary yesterday confirmed that his Hawkes Bay Cup winner, Survived, is a definite starter in the $200,000 Makfi Challenge on August 31

"I'll be in a position to declare who will ride him after he gallops between races at Taupo tomorrow."

Co-trainer Ken Kelso, who rarely displays any confidence he might or might not feel, reflected Bary's thoughts on his runner Bounding.

"She's very well and I liked the way she worked up with Xanadu between races at the Te Aroha meeting.

"She's ready for a forward showing, but she's well short of her full fitness."

This race will determine an awful lot of where a couple of New Zealand's stars are placed for spring racing.

Saturday's Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa is meant to lead into the $200,000 Makfi Challenge at Hastings on August 31 and it let no one down.

We learned a lot - like Final Touch is one of the massive improvers out of the race.

Xanadu is going to be big at Hastings, provided the pattern of the Makfi is not against back runners, and you can completely forget Saturday's effort by Fleur De Lune.

Xanadu's run to come from last at the 700m looked a tough first-up run, but co-trainer Ken Kelso doesn't believe it was.

"She got a track up and Mickey [Coleman] didn't punish her [with the whip], so she's come home and eaten up and is as bright as anything today," he said yesterday.

Absolutely nothing went right for Fleur De Lune.

"She did a couple of rear-ups in the gates, which she doesn't usually do, and as a result she completely missed the start," said trainer Lee Somervell.

"For an on-pace runner to get back in a race like that it makes all the difference.

"Everywhere Jason [Jago] went in the second half of the race she got squeezed up. It was a disaster."

The good result looking forward is that Fleur De Lune did not have a gut-buster heading to Hastings.

"She was right on her game in the parade ring, which is why she was on her toes in the barriers."

North Canterbury visitor Final Touch probably did what co-trainer Karen Parsons predicted - loomed up to win and felt the fitness pinch in the final 100m.

Although to be fair to the high-class mare, she was on the inside in the wrong part of the track.

She is the big improver.