Racing: Four-year wait finally pays off

Ken Kelso is not getting carried away.

On Saturday he got what he has waited on for four years - a group-rated cup's event with Envoy.

Along with the $100,000 Hawkes Bay Gold Cup came a free trip to the A$400,000 Adelaide Cup, but yesterday Kelso declared he was not prepared to pack his bags just yet.

He and his partners have had to wait this long to realise their dreams and they will wait just a little longer to take the dream to the next level by monitoring Envoy's physical condition.

"He's been up a long time, this horse. He had his first race this campaign at Te Rapa on November 6.

"It would be silly to turn down a free trip to a race like the Adelaide Cup, but I have to be happy with my horse."

A further two requirements are listed: a firm track, which is crucial to Envoy doing his best, and a suitable rider.

Saturday's successful jockey, Hayden Tinsley, will almost certainly be out of the picture when weights are declared in the immediate future. Tinsley had to befriend lettuce leaves all week to get down to Saturday's weight of 54kg and it will surprise if Envoy receives more than 53kg in South Australia.

"I won't do anything about a rider until I see the weights," said Kelso.

If Envoy copped 54kg you would almost certainly say the horse is over-handicapped, but the plus would be that you would have the jockey you wanted. Tinsley rode a picture-perfect race on Saturday, the result of which is that Envoy had the easiest possible race he could have.

Kelso admits he has a hobby horse in opinions on the condition of racetrack surfaces and for his trouble he was fined $300 for late-scratching Envoy from a recent Ellerslie meeting when he considered the course was racing way below the official track rating.

Saturday's result somewhat vindicated him and yet again suggested that there needs to be a serious look at penetrometers.

"That track at Hastings on Saturday had an official rating of 2.5 and presented a perfect racing strip. The surface I late scratched from at Ellerslie was the same rating and look what it was like.

"I'm critical of some of the surfaces we have in the north. Here at Matamata there are close to 500 horses trained and lately we've had a fair crack at using the course proper and we can produce a good racing surface.

"Some of these northern tracks have few and even no horses trained on them, yet they're not as good."

Kelso shares the ownership of Envoy with his wife Bev and Bob and Jane White. White spent five years working as a farrier in Japan and is currently on a six-month contract with Shaddai Farm.

Kelso cannot win a race with Envoy without mentioning the name Mike Wratten.

"We wouldn't be where we are with this horse if it wasn't for Mike. This horse pulls really hard in his races and Mike does a magnificent job with him."

Oddly, Envoy is exactly the opposite on raceday, he relaxes beautifully.

It is that relaxation that gives Kelso confidence that Envoy will successfully manage 3200m.

Noel Harris, on runner-up Etoile Du Nord, felt the mare would have won the Cup if she had enjoyed the perfect trip Envoy had. It was a good trial for the Adelaide Cup.

Alls Well and Bodie had their proposed trips to Adelaide canned. Bodie, who finished sixth, will tackle the Rotorua Cup, a race he has already won, and Alls Well will be aimed at races such as the Taumarunui Cup.

"I suspected he might just be one gallop short and while I'm happy overall with the horse, I've decided to stay around home meantime," said trainer Davina Waddell of Alls Well.

Hawkes Bay Cup

* Envoy was beautifully ridden by Hayden Tinsley and easily won the race.

* Envoy is almost certain to be handicapped at a weight unsuitable to Tinsley in the A$400,000 Adelaide Cup.

* Bodie and Alls Well had their proposed plans to travel to Adelaide scrapped.