Racing: Domestic dispute in offing at Levin

Wairarapa couple Bruce and Anna Perry might turn the $200,000 Levin Classic (1600m) at Otaki today into a domestic dispute.

Bruce Perry is the manager of the favourite Ambitious Owner, who was bred by his father, Herrick, and Anna is a part-owner of third favourite Eloa.

"It doesn't matter which one wins," Bruce Perry said.

"But Anna will make more noise than me."

There are only three horses - Ambitious Owner, Justa Tad and Eloa - at single figure odds for the group one feature for three-year-olds, but Bruce Perry does not see the outcome as clear cut.

"It's an interesting field and more open than people might think," he said.

"Horses like Mikki Street and Magnetism are untried in this company but might be able to make the step up."

Ambitious Owner is raced by Hong Kong businessman Johnson Lam and the Levin Classic, sponsored by Courtesy Ford, is expected to be his last start in New Zealand.

Present plans are for the Towkay gelding to be sent to Hong Kong without another race.

Added Perry: "There is a chance he will race here again but it's probably only a 5 per cent chance.

"There's not really anything else for him here. The Derby (at Ellerslie on December 26) is too big an ask. He's probably six months away from being ready for a race like that."

Perry bought Ambitious Owner for Lam out of the paddock as a yearling and there was an immediate return when the horse won his debut, at Avondale, in June.

He ran third behind Keeninsky at Hastings at his three-year-old debut but was well beaten when sixth in the Hawke's Bay Guineas.

However, the addition of blinkers turned his form around. He beat Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Shastri in the Wellington Guineas (1500m) and was the runner-up to Clean Sweep in the group one Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

Ambitious Owner has come through the trip to Christchurch well but Cambridge trainer Murray Baker is concerned that the travelling could takes its toll.

"We have freshened him up as much as we can but he faces another big trip (from Cambridge) and this is the fifth time this season he has had to travel," Baker said.

"If this wasn't going to be his last race in New Zealand, we would probably have given him a break after Christchurch and missed this race.

"But he's a quiet horse with a good temperament and tries hard and I'm happy enough with him. He has gone good since we put the blinkers on him and Leith [Innes] is riding brilliantly."

In addition, Ambitious Owner would not be hampered by a rain-affected track. His two-year-old win came on soft ground.

Eloa is one who would be unsuited by a wet track. The Volksraad filly is much above average but her best form has been on firm ground.

She was a decisive winner of the Highview Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September but a deep-seated stone bruise prevented her racing at the New Zealand Cup meeting.

Her foot problems held her up for about three weeks but she resumed racing at Tauranga on November 13, running on for second over 1400m, and trainer Andrew Scott is satisfied she will be ready for today's race.

Justa Tad, an impressive winner of the One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton at her last start, won the Lowland Stakes (1400m) on a soft track at Hastings but is happier on good ground.

The Istidaad filly has yet to finish further back than second from five starts and will be the hardest to beat if she reproduces her recent Riccarton form.

- NZPA