KEY POINTS:
The $100,000 for tomorrow's Waikato Stud Opunake Cup would suit Bulginbaah owners and trainers Catherine Wilson and Ken Cropp just fine, but it's not the ultimate goal.
It might be three races away, but Wilson revealed the Mudgway Stakes is the feature she really wants.
The $250,000 Mudgway
Partsworld at Hastings on August 30 will see one of the strongest fields gathered in recent years and victory would be the ultimate for the Bulginbaah team.
There is a special edge about the race which forms the first leg of the Hastings sprint triple crown.
"Three years ago we were told we shouldn't be there," said Wilson.
Bulginbaah didn't do a great deal to disprove that point - finishing down the track - but came back two years ago and finished fifth.
The camp had high hopes last year, but traffic problems in the final quarter of the race proved disastrous.
"He didn't take an inside gap and ran the fastest last 600m of the race in 33."
Horses don't generally improve at their fourth attempt at any race, but there is clear proof that even as a rising 8-year-old, Bulginbaah is a better horse than in any of his previous seasons.
He's won his three starts since a break without too much effort, the last of them under a crushing 60kg at Hastings. He has the same weight tomorrow.
The weight may not be an issue - he's regularly carried topweights - but the burden coupled with the very heavy conditions will be the potential hurdle.
Bulginbaah's record in heavy footing tells a story - eight starts for four wins and two placings - but having to lump 60kg through deep footing late in the day when the track is at its worst will test the winner of 17 races.
Catherine Wilson said she and Ken Cropp are happy with Bulginbaah's condition, but they can get little indication of that from trackwork.
"He makes his own rules when he works," says Wilson, who rides the horse practically every morning.
"If you want him to go a bit faster than he's prepared you have to carry a whip."
Bulginbaah was ridden two starts ago to a win at Wanganui by Chris Johnson and is reunited with Johnson tomorrow after being handled by apprentice Sam Fieldes at Hastings.
"We weren't sure he was going to Hastings and anyway we thought it was a claiming race that Sam could get some weight off his back. When we discovered it wasn't a claiming race we felt Sam needed a boost so we left him on."
In Bulginbaah's favour is the outside gate but one. The inside part of the track is likely to be the place to be late in the programme.
Outside Bulginbaah, Pindy is almost certainly the horse to beat.
Pindy's stats are remarkable. He's two from three on heavy tracks and is unbeaten in three starts in slow footing and won on his only previous visit to New Plymouth.
As if any further pointers were needed, Pindy has four wins and two placings from tomorrow's 1400m distance and goes his best races when on the fresh side as he is here. He has won his last two races by 4.75 lengths and 3.5 lengths and although this is a step up in class, he has always looked capable of matching the best around.
When you get very heavy, testing conditions much comes down to what horses handle the footing on the day.
Mega Belt has excellent course, distance and wet track form. His worst race this preparation was last start when a weakening fifth (4.25 lengths) behind Bulginbaah at Hastings. He is better than that and a little help should come from the additional 1kg he gets from Bulginbaah this time.
Baltaine, the veteran of 51 races, has turned in two nice efforts since a lengthy spell and has clearly been set for this race. He has made ground late in those two 1200m races and he will be much better suited by 1400m.
In a very open race, Jonbalena, Waikeepadacash, Old Belvedere and Point Guard are all chances.
The TAB is unable to decide on a favourite, yesterday posting Bulginbaah and Pindy equal $5 favourites.
The remainder of the market is: $10 Baltaine, Waikeepadacash, $11 The Fred Factor, Megabelt, $13 Woodbury Belle, Elblitzem, $14 Woodbury Lane, $15 Jonbalena, $16 Point Guard, $17 Old Belvedere, $18 True Power, $26 Rabkalajo, Artique, Kovak, Mick Curtis, $31 Wakefield, Mickey.
$100,000 OPUNAKE CUP
* Bulginbaah is topweight with 60kg, but he's used to lumping topweights.
* There is little doubt the veteran is in the best form of his career.
* The outside draw should work in his favour.
* Remarkably consistent Pindy is the obvious threat.