Racing: Bookies fight for survival

Nashville (right) will be one of the top chances for the Spring Classic at Hastings on Saturday. Photo / APN

Punters confident local favourite will more than match his rivals in final-day feature.

Survived's short $2.90 quote for the Turks $250,000 Spring Classic on Saturday is the result of a combination of the TAB's historic liability and the agency's opinion of the star's chances.

TAB bookies admit but for a $5000 bet on Survived at $8 before the start of the Hastings spring treble, the local stayer would be closer to $3.20-$3.40 when the final field book was released yesterday.

"That's a fairly large liability on a futures market and it has definitely influenced our price to open this final field market," said head TAB bookie Thad Taylor.

Presenter Bevan Sweeney and Taylor said on Trackside Television yesterday they believed not enough had been made of Survived's failure in the 1600m Windsor Park Plate where he got back in running and failed to make much ground, finishing ninth, 5.3 lengths behind winner Xanadu.

Trainer John Bary does not agree: "I think I told everyone the horse proved hopeless in the wet footing.

"Opie Bosson said he slipped twice and was badly affected."

Nashville finished a good third in the Windsor Park after being not entirely suited by drawing the rails at the tricky 1600m starting point.

He has been opened up at $3.60 second favourite for Saturday's group one feature.

Joint third favourites at $7.50 are Zennista and Pimms Time.

"Survived is clearly our worst result," said the TAB's Taylor.

"Punters have been solid around him the whole way through because he's a John Bary horse and punters love his horses.

"And John said from the start that Survived would definitely be in all three races and that the Spring Classic was his main aim.

"Conversely, you didn't know where Silent Achiever and Sangster were going to be: here or in Melbourne. As it turned out, they're in Australia."

Hawkes Bay Racing has been desperately unlucky with track conditions for the first two days - the footing was bottomless on the first day and heavy rain before the Windsor Park turned a near-perfect track to a very wet surface.

The likelihood of third-time lucky looks a major possibility.

Hastings track manager Richard Fenwick came up with a dead (5) rating for yesterday morning and everyone is excited that the forecast through to Saturday night is favourable.

It was a warm day in Hawkes Bay yesterday which is expected to continue.

"It is predicted to be 22 degrees and fine tomorrow and Friday," said Fenwick yesterday.

"It means the track should come back to a rating of 3 or 4 by race morning."

The rail will be out 2m. "We had planned to have it back in the true position, but the inside 2m were cut up by that rain on the middle day.

"It's not good enough to run a group one meeting on, but the footing outside that 2m is wonderful."

R9 5.12pm Spring Classic, $250,000, 2040m. - Nashville (2), Ransomed (12), Capone (6), Pero (3), Storming The Tower (1), Back In Black (13) 59; Survived (10), Deane Martin (8) 57.5; Postmans Daughter (4), Zennista (5), Pimms Time (9), Ormond Road (11), Thrive (14) 57; Soriano (7) 55.5.