Racing: Change of rides hard to fathom

For Lisa Cropp's sake, Takanini trainer Mike Lawlor hopes the record-chasing rider is a better judge than he is.

Cropp stunned Lawlor by switching from his stable star Expectalite to last-start progressive grade winner Mr Hefner for the Taumarunui Cup at Te Rapa tomorrow.

Lawlor has no hard feelings toward Cropp - he's drafted in early premiership leader Leith Innes as a replacement - but is confident the season's champion rider has pulled the wrong rein.

"It's worth five lengths having Lisa on but I think she's made the wrong decision this time,' said Lawlor.

"He worked brilliantly on Tuesday and has never been better. They might beat him on ability, but I know they won't get near him on fitness."

Expectalite's Foley Memorial win at Avondale on July 2 with Cropp was one of the most impressive winter handicap staying efforts of the season.

They had more than three lengths over a handy field that day and still hadn't found top gear.

Lawlor originally hadn't planned to trek to Ruakaka with Expectalite next-up.

But after the abandonment of Tauranga's Kiwifruit Cup meeting - the feature has now been rescheduled for September 3 - Lawlor was forced into a rethink.

"I didn't think the track would suit him at Ruakaka and didn't want to run him, but if we hadn't gone he would have had a month between races," said Lawlor.

"Lisa said he hated the track. He got squeezed a bit at the 300m and when he copped some sand in the eye, he came to the end of it."

Under the circumstances, Expectalite did well to finish third to tomorrow's rivals Northern Beau and King Keitel.

If there is a concern for Lawlor at Te Rapa it's that Expectalite may not strike the deep winter stuff in which he thrives.

Since the track upgrades at Te Rapa, the course is one of the best- draining winter surfaces in the country.

Even allowing for Expectalite's firm track win last November, Lawlor fears there may be one or two who will go a bit quick for his Exploding Prospect 5-year-old.

Foxton trainer Mike Donoghue is in the same boat with lightweight hope Pay To Play if there isn't a significant deluge between now and post time.

Late yesterday the track was still soft, although rain was forecast overnight.

"The wetter the better for my horse," says Donoghue, father of Mark Donoghue, who trains in partnership with Grahame Richardson at Matamata.

Pay To Play was Pick6 punters' worst nightmare when a longshot, last-start winner at Hawera last Saturday.

But if the Te Rapa track turns heavy, he could quickly become their best friend in the race for tomorrow's $500,000 pot.

Donoghue says Pay To Play has continued to thrive since ditching the virus that ruined his form-line before his impressive comeback against a strong 2-6 win field at Hawera.

"This race wasn't originally on his programme, but he's done so well we have to strike while the iron's still hot," said Donoghue.

"It says a lot for this horse that he was still beating half the field home when he was crook.

"I just want to see what he's capable of now he's fully fit."

Donoghue was confident Pay To Play would win at Hawera and wasn't shy about backing his faith in the $50 shot at the tote window either.

"All the family got on as well," said Donoghue. "Even the aunties that don't ever bet had $2 each way."

If Pay To Play wins again tomorrow, or runs up to Donoghue's big opinion of his stable star, he could head to Australia while there's still decent money around for winter handicaps.

Of the stack of veterans above Pay To Play in the handicap, King Keitel is the one wrinkly who won't mind a drier than normal track tomorrow.

The Doomben Cup winner won at Te Rapa three starts back on a soft surface, and those who have beaten him since are now much closer to him in the handicap.