KEY POINTS:
All of racing's a gamble and Keith Opie believes he is taking a bigger risk than usual by producing Sandblaster in tomorrow's $65,000 NZ Bloodstock Leasing & Finance 3YO at New Plymouth.
The Te Aroha trainer has no doubt that at his absolute best Sandblaster is good enough
to win this race.
But he's worried Sandblaster has missed a vital lead-up race.
"This was always going to be the target race because apart from the good stake, the horse is eligible for the $35,000 bonus, which makes it a $100,000 race for him.
"I took him to Palmerston North to get him tough for this race and they called the races off.
"I'm hoping the trip down there and back will work as well as a race and only time will tell if that's the case."
Sandblaster has always shown a touch of class.
He did particularly well during a mid-term spell and he badly needed his first run back at Ellerslie before scoring a soft runaway victory against moderate opposition at Te Awamutu.
The Palmerston North meeting was meant to take him closer to rock hard fitness.
"The going will be very testing so it's really up to whether he's ready for it [such a slog]," said Opie yesterday.
One rival who will be ready is the local runner Just Once.
He has displayed above average ability and was impressive 'bombing' the leaders to win running away at Hawera last start.
As a three-race winner he is required to carry 58kg - which will be an ask in very testing conditions late in the programme - but he is simply too good to risk leaving out.
Another northerner, Zlato, has impressed recently. He was brought down at Tauranga two starts back after back-to-back victories and last start he fought very hard to go under by half a head to Our Showboat after getting back to last early. He will be fit and harder than many of these.
A couple of tomorrow's runners might be capable of stepping up from easy races and Harkhuf could be one of them.
There was authority in his recent wins on this track and at Hawera and there is no question on his ability in very heavy conditions.
Last night's TAB market: $5 Just Once, $7.50 Zlato, $8 Agavero, $9 Sandblaster, Coolross, $10 Harkhuf, $13 Maid In Berlin, $15 Nun Better, $16 Five Sails, Capistrano Angel, $17 Lawsuit, $18 Beijing Boy, $21 Belfast Lad, Gotta Govern, Slah, Mostly, Alabama Joah, $31 Centaj, Rahi Tahi.