Racing: Cropp sought for Eileen Dubh

Controversial rider Lisa Cropp is hoping to partner lightweight Eileen Dubh in the $1 million Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on January 22.

The mare's Woodville trainer Francis Finnegan said yesterday he assumed that Cropp required only a doctor's clearance to confirm the booking for the last-start winner.

After a successful comeback in Victoria late last year from a nine-month disqualification for a methamphetamine (P) charge, Cropp suffered a hairline fracture behind her left ear in a freak fall off her daughter's pony in Cambridge on December 7.

She did not answer Herald calls yesterday, but she was quoted in Australian media recently saying that the injury was minor and she expected to gain a medical clearance to return to the saddle early this year.

"I was hoping to speak to Lisa this evening [Monday] to confirm she would have the clearance to ride the horse," said Finnegan yesterday.

"I'd really love to have her on; she's a front-running rider on a mare that races best up on the pace and she can do the weight [52kg]."

Finnegan's impressive last-start Woodville winner was rated a $31 Telegraph chance by the TAB bookies yesterday.

Ranked 16th in the order of entries, last season's Levin Classic winner is also guaranteed a start, unless there are a slew of late higher-rated entries in the 18-horse field.

Chief stipendiary steward Cameron George had not received a licence application yesterday from Cropp to ride on the first day of the summer carnival.

But he said it was likely to be a fast-turnaround formality once the paperwork arrived.

"Lisa Cropp was charged and issued with a penalty and now she's done that penalty.

"She's also already licensed in a major racing jurisdiction [Victoria]. I suspect any licence application here would be considered on its merits.

"My only concern is that they ride within the rules of New Zealand racing."

Finnegan is adamant Eileen Dubh gives Cropp an outstanding chance of a successful return to group one racing in New Zealand.

The 4-year-old tuned up for Trentham's glamour sprint with an effortless win over 1400m on her home course on Saturday - her third win there from as many starts - and is in career-best shape. "You can't be over-confident in a $1 million race, but she is under-rated," said Finnegan, a 25-year-old former Irish amateur rider who has been training here for the past five years.

"She gets in with a luxury weight and if there's any cut in the track, they'll know she's there.

"She's beaten most of them before and is absolutely flying at the moment."

Although Eileen Dubh ran a brave sixth in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) last year on a skeleton preparation, Finnegan admits he would have preferred to aim the filly for the Telegraph instead.

Finnegan, one of the youngest trainers in the world to win a group one at just 24, always felt she was a better sprinter-miler.

The bonus this time in is that Eileen Dubh is an "awfully lot stronger" horse.

"She's put on 20 to 30kg in weight and has a lovely big crested neck on her now."

Finnegan says Eileen Dubh's form this season would read even better if she hadn't been badly galloped on during the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe in November.

Consequently, she had missed a ton of work before the Captain Cook Stakes the following month and her 13th that day is best forgotten.

Her next-up run, in the group two Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), was more like it, her brave second to November Rain in a slick time sealing plans for a Telegraph-Thorndon Mile assault at Trentham this month.

TAB bookies ranked her a $21 chance yesterday for the $200,000 group one Thorndon (1600m).

"That was the second-fastest time in the Cal Isuzu for the past 40 years and is a good form race for the Telegraph," said Finnegan.

Ruud Van Slaats won the 2008 Te Rapa event before running third to Mufhasa and Atapi in the 2009 Telegraph.

Both Mufhasa and Atapi are likely rivals for Eileen Dubh this year.

With luck, Finnegan could have a shot at two million dollar prizes in the space of eight days.

He also has 2-year-old Smoke 'N' Mirrors aimed at his first Karaka Million dash at Ellerslie on January 30.

With just $4250 in stake money so far, however, the $21,000 Fast 'N' Famous filly may need an 11th-hour run to force her way into the field.

Finnegan's plans came unstuck when she could finish only third on her home track on Saturday, behind Karaka Million hopeful Dollario, trained by John Sargent.

"I was very disappointed with the ride; that may have cost us qualifying for the Karaka Million," said Finnegan.

"Hopefully, we can just wing it from here and make the field, but we may have to run her again."

Meanwhile, blinkers will go back on Monton in an attempt to get him back in the winners' circle in the Telegraph.

The Sydneysider started favourite in the first of New Zealand's big sprints, the Railway on New Year's Day, but he could manage only eighth in the Ellerslie feature.

Trainer Tim Martin is confident the 4-year-old can show his best at Trentham and come away with a win.

"He's had a good week and the blinkers will go back on," said Martin. "He needs to be ridden quieter."

- Additional reporting: AAP