Racing: Eel Win to net Winter Cup

The odds will be sweet should Eel Win salute in the Winter Cup at Riccarton tomorrow. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Sabin Kirkland is a bold front-foot player. The Southlander has made himself a great living from his paua fishing licences and the $369,300 Eel Win has earned him hasn't done any harm, either.

Kirkland is confident another $59,375 can jump into the bin tomorrow, when Eel Win contests the $100,000 Aussie Browne's Pharmacies Winter Cup at Riccarton.

So much so that yesterday he was playing a waiting game with the TAB bookmakers, hoping they'd extend Eel Win's price from $21 to $26.

That's extremely unlikely. In fact, if you do the form on the race the mystery is why Eel Win isn't at shorter odds than $21.

He's won 18 races - the closest to him are Yanna Marie and Don't Say Clang with nine each - and his stakemoney total is $100,000 more than any of his rivals.

It's unlikely he'll be at anything like $21 when the field heads to the starting gates tomorrow.

On paper, if there is a disincentive it's that Eel Win was having his first race start in three months when he won at Oamaru a week ago.

The Riccarton track was yesterday officially heavy (11) with rain forecast for Christchurch tomorrow.

One start in three months seems a light preparation for such testing conditions, but Kirkland says he doesn't rate that a consideration.

"I've got him very fit.

"Apart from his trackwork he walks for one hour every night and it makes a difference having to carry me around."

Kirkland says he has no problem with Eel Win's 57.5kg, given that the majority of the horse's wins have been against strong company.

"He's a lot better horse now than last season when Pitty [Michael Pitman] had him because he's free of foot problems.

"He has no issues at the moment."

Kirkland walked the Riccarton track on Wednesday and says he rates the surface better than probably most people imagine.

"I know they've forecast rain for raceday but, at the moment, the track isn't bottomless."

Cambridge jockey David Walsh has the mount and knows Eel Win well.

He has been the regular recent rider of Elblitzem, who might be one of the biggest dangers.

The problem may become the 58kg topweight on a testing, wet track.

Elblitzem's past two runs at Te Awamutu and New Plymouth were both good efforts and better than the third and sixth placings appear on paper.

Yanna Marie has a great record in races such as these.

She can get home strongly and the long Riccarton home straight suits her perfectly, but the 57.5kg is a tough ask for a mare in these conditions.

However, the Kevin Myers-trained grey will have been improved by her recent Oamaru race and has a good record on heavy tracks.

Eric The Viking has been the headline grabber this winter, winning handicaps at Riccarton and New Plymouth.

This is a rise in class again, though, and although he'll be well fancied in many quarters to pull this one off as well, he is rising from 53kg to 55.5kg in a tougher field.

Halls is tough and that quality alone may be enough to decide this race.

Tomorrow's Koral Steeples and Sydenham Hurdles are not always the greatest guide to next week's Grand Nationals in both spheres.

But it's important to acknowledge there is no re-handicap for either race going forward to the big Grand National Hurdles on Wednesday and the Steeplechase next Saturday.

Which means Hastings stablemates Solid Steal and Ho Down can win the Sydenham without fear of wrecking their Wednesday chances.

The conditions are going to suit both horses. The difference may perhaps be the 2.5kg weight swing Solid Steal will enjoy.

Where Paul Nelson has a big hold on that race, Awapuni horseman Mark Oulaghan has a huge hand in the Koral Steeplechase with Yourtheman and Counter Punch.

It's a handy pair to be sending into the race - Yourtheman is two from three in steeplechases and Counter Punch is unbeaten in two attempts.