Racing: Extra weight might not stop Poetic Champion winning again, trainer Tony Pike says

Poetic Champion bolted in at Matamata last start and drops in the handicaps at Trentham tomorrow. Photo/ Kenton Wright

Trainer Tony Pike says a self-imposed 1kg extra handicap may not be enough to stop Poetic Champion winning at Trentham tomorrow.

The speed machine opened the $4.60 favourite for the $130,000 Carevets Lightning Handicap, the deepest race in a card also containing the NZ St Leger and a weakish $250,000 Wellington Guineas.

The Lightning is a beauty though, with Navigator (R8, No 1) and Platinum Attack (2) having been factors in our absolute best sprints this season, while rivals like Miss Jones have been in red-hot form, the filly winning her last four straight, albeit when well-placed by trainer Cody Cole.

For all of those horses’ talents, the flat-out fastest in the race might be Poetic Champion, who raced and beat some of our best age-group horses in the past two years.

Sparingly raced because of soundness issues, he returned with a blazing win at Matamata carrying 59kg, even with a 3kg apprentice allowance last start, and drops to 54kg tomorrow.

“He actually is carded at 53kg but we wanted Matt Cartwright to ride him and he can only do 54kg and we are comfortable with that,” says Pike.

“He has been sound as a bell since he won fresh up and this was a race we have set him for and his draw [barrier 5] really helps.

“I think he will be first to the rail, which he likes, and it will take a good horse to catch him.”

That could see Navigator, who has drawn barrier 1 and was second to First Five here in the Telegraph in January, get a tracking run not far off Poetic Champion, but whether he can concede him 5kg and run him down is the question.

Pike also has Slipper Island in the race, which is a intriguing mix of northern, Central Districts and South Island sprint form.

Pike has six reps heading to Trentham and one of the most interesting is Eliud (R9, No 6), who looked a smart three-year-old for his stable two years ago before being sold to Hong Kong.

“He really didn’t settle in up there so he has come back and we have given him a long, slow preparation,” he says.

“I think this race might be a bit short for him but he could be a horse to follow heading forward.”

Origin Of Love (R6, No 6) looks the one to beat in the Wellington Guineas, while the Life Direct St Leger has that “anything could happen” look to it.

Meanwhile, northern gallops will be at Pukekohe on Friday and Matamata on Sunday this weekend, with Pike having one of the better hopes in Maldini (R6, No 7) in today’s open 2100m.

“He won the Dunstan Final two starts ago and will be better for the run when second last start,” says Pike.

“I can see him getting the trail and being hard to beat.”


While publications will show Maldini carded with 54kg but apprentice Sam McNab claiming 2kg, he will actually carry the full 54kg, with McNab not aiming to get down to 52kg.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.