KEY POINTS:
Karaka trainer Leanne Bertling had good and bad news for Cadillac fans yesterday.
The bad news you probably already know - that she's scratched him from the First Sovereign Trust 1600 at Pukekohe today.
Even with 59kg, it was a race the exciting miler looked to have at
his mercy.
But Bertling says he was only in there as insurance against missing a run in his main spring mission, the $65,000 Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
By nominations' deadline yesterday, the 90-rated Cadillac was 14th on entry order and assured of a start in the listed feature.
"I think he'll be a nice lightweight chance in the Matamata Cup, I really do," said Bertling, who is delighted to nab Mark Sweeney for the ride.
"I just hope the weather holds out for us through the week."
Bertling says the four-race winner has come back a lot stronger in his five-year-old campaign.
After ending a breakthrough 2005-06 season with a close-up fourth as favourite in the group three Thompson Handicap at Trentham, Cadillac turned in two huge runs over trips short of his best at the Hastings spring carnival.
He ran a fast-finishing third over 1200m to the exciting Richard Beymer and then flashed home equally as quick next time out from a hopeless position.
Cadillac was last with 200m to run in the R90 1400 on Stoney Bridge Stakes day, and charged home wide for fourth, two lengths from the winner Bonaichi.
"It's just a bit unfortunate that he didn't get out in time," said Bertling. "He could have easily won if he had."
Over a mile on Saturday, Bertling expects Sweeney to have Cadillac positioned a little handier than he raced for Patrick Bell at Hastings.
"As long as he gets out into some fresh air he should be getting home - I'm very happy with the horse," said Bertling.
"The Rich Hill mile at Christmas is our main goal if he shows us he's up to that grade now he's matured."
Meanwhile, Bertling is looking forward to the debut of stablemate Makesmewonder at Pukekohe today.
Bertling predicts the Grass Wonder filly will eventually need more distance than the 1200m of race seven, the fourth leg of Pick Six.
But she may be a rough each-way chance fresh-up for rider Kate Hercock.
She looked promising winning a trial at Paeroa over 1000m in June.