Racing: Class acts await Kiwi

By MIKE DILLON

If you think Mount Street has been unlucky this season, things are about to get worse.

New Zealand's best 3-year-old will face two outstanding Australians in his bid to pick up Saturday's A$500,000 Rosehill Guineas then the A$2 million AJC Derby.

Starcraft and Lee Freedman's filly Special Harmony are as good as any 3-year-old Australia has produced in the past decade.

Queensland-trained Starcraft, bred in New Zealand by shuttle stallion Soviet Star, will face off against Mount Street in his Australian debut at Rosehill on Saturday.

Everything the chestnut Starcraft has done has been spectacular.

On Tuesday Australia's TAB Sportsbet briefly suspended betting on the AJC Derby amid rumours Starcraft had gone amiss.

His trainer Garry Newham declared the horse in perfect health, but added that the Derby is not on his agenda.

"He'll run in the Rosehill Guineas then miss the Derby and take on Lonhro in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes instead," said Newham.

Australian bookies yesterday had Starcraft as $2.75 favourite for Saturday with Mount Street at $21 and fellow New Zealander Penitentiary on $41.

At his last start, Starcraft ran away with the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.

Galloping between races at the Gold Coast meeting last Saturday, the colt produced explosive times.

He went 1800m, clocking 45.6 for the last 800m, 33.6 for the 600 and 10.5 for the final 200m.

Newham sees Starcraft as almost invincible, one of the reasons he wants to take on Lonhro to end what he sees as debate over who is Australia's best 3-year-old.

In Saturday's field, Newham Starcraft pinpoints Lonhro's little brother and Canterbury Guineas winner Niello as the main danger. He dismissed Victoria Derby winner Elvstroem and stablemate Under The Bridge as genuine threats.

And if you want a quote on how good Special Harmony is, ask Melbourne jockey Brett Prebble.

Regular rider Damien Oliver was in Hong Kong last weekend and Prebble was the pinch-hitter for the filly's untested four-length victory in the A$200,000 Moonee Valley Oaks.

"When I rode her in her first race I said she was a super filly and she's proved that. She's special.

"There is no right distance for her. If you kept her fresh she could win over 1200m down the straight at Flemington.

"She only ever does what she has to."

The opposition Special Harmony has faced so far has not been able to get even close.

One of the favourites for the Derby is Victoria Derby winner Elvstroem. Prebble has ridden Elvstroem and says Special Harmony is at least as good or better.

The saviour for Mount Street could be the path Freedman takes with Special Harmony.

It was assumed early that Special Harmony, with her superiority over the fillies, would take on the A$500,000 AJC Oaks.

Freedman then declared the male 3-year-olds as "rubbish" and said he had not ruled out a Derby start instead.

Money has been pouring in this week for Special Harmony in the Derby, but some insiders insist in the last 48 hours that the filly will take on the older horses in the A$2 million BMW at Rosehill then the Oaks.

That would be wonderful news for the Mount Street camp.

The Rosehill Guineas market: $2.75 Starcraft; $3 Niello, $8 Elvstroem; $10 Under The Bridge' $21 Mount Street, $41 Penitentiary.