Racing: Hillis confident Izonit can display his credentials for Derby

BRISBANE: A walk of the Doomben track yesterday restored Waikato trainer Wayne Hillis' confidence in Izonit stamping his Queensland Derby credentials today.

The big wet in southern Queensland threw today's Doomben 10,000 meeting into doubt on Wednesday but dry weather in recent days had the track manager forecasting an improved slow rating last night.

That was music to Hillis' ears ahead of today's A$125,000 ($158,000) Rough Habit Plate, with Izonit having run 12th on wet tracks in both the Championship Stakes and New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.

"I just walked the track and it's going to be a lot better than we expected," Hillis said.

"It looks like it will be close to slow and there's a good sole of grass. He definitely doesn't like a heavy New Zealand track and it certainly won't be that bad."

Izonit was yesterday an A$7 third favourite for the group three Rough Habit Plate (2020m), with the Guy Walter-trained, Terry Jarvis-owned Orca at A$4.40 and Melbourne-trained Kiwi-bred Larry's Never Late at A$5.50 on Australia's TAB Sportsbet. The John Wheeler-trained Court Ruler was an A$35 chance which several form analysts regard as over the odds.

With concerns allayed about a very heavy track, the barrier draw of 19 was Hillis' main concern last night.

But a big plus was the booking of champion Australian rider Damien Oliver, one of several top hoops to chase the mount after James McDonald opted to pursue the national premiership back in New Zealand.

"We'll probably look to go forward from the draw but I'll mainly leave it up to Damien."

Hillis was still irked that Izonit was balloted out of last Saturday's Doomben Cup after his slashing second to Fulmonti at weight-for-age in the group two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at his first Australian run.

The full brother to Hillis' well-performed sprinter Dezigna was made fourth emergency due to insufficient prizemoney, which was not helped by the exchange rate.

"I was very disappointed not to get a start last week and he would have been a very good show going on the result. After all, he beat the winner [Scenic Shot] and the third horse [Sir Slick] the week before."

Hillis said the Derby at Eagle Farm on June 6 was the colt's main aim and he was confident he would be a force over 2400m.

"He's definitely a Derby horse. We didn't really get a line on him in the NZ Derby [won by Australian Coniston Bluebird]. It was a wet track and he was posted three-wide the whole way."

Hillis will be seeking to recoup more expenses for the Queensland trip when Izonit's talented stablemate Lauaki chases a soft kill in a class two 1400m race at the Gold Coast today.

Meanwhile, the Te Aroha warhorse Sir Slick will drop back in distance for his fourth race in as many weeks in the weight-for-age Doomben 10,000 (1350m) as an A$51 chance.

He has run courageous thirds in all three Queensland starts to date, the latest a narrow defeat behind Scenic Shot and Racing To Win in the Doomben Cup.

"A lot of people won't agree with me but bugger them," trainer Graeme Nicholson told AAP after paying the A$34,125 late entry fee for the group one sprint.

"It might be his fourth run in as many weeks but this is only a sprint, and he can keep up with them."

Nicholson said the likely wet track scared him off running in the Premier's Cup (2200m) and he would consider the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) or Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 6.

- NZPA