Racing: In brief

Trentham too taxing for all
Talk about hard work. Right from the opening leg, the Pick6 at Trentham on Saturday proved just as taxing to punters as to what the track was for the horses. With most of us out of business after Hula Queen won the first leg, attention focused on the Quaddie. However, again it was a first-ball yorker at the punters' graveyard after Brompton scored, setting up a dividend of $14,033.20. Only five winners were needed after Hula Sister (10), Mr Align (4), Brompton (7), Wai Not (7), Matost (4) and Rising Tide (5) paid $27,964.20 for 50c. There were 8.94 winning units.

McInerney bounds clear
Severe road flooding on the rural roads around the Lisa Ahern Manawatu-based kennels denied her the opportunity of closing the gap on John McInerney in the national Trainers' Premiership during the week. The southern trainer completed the last racing week with 579 winners, as opposed to Ahern's 566. Ahern had some strong winning chances accepted for Thursday's Cambridge meeting, however road closures prevented her from leaving home base. "We had to be towed home by a tractor through the flooded roads when we were returning from the Wanganui races on Wednesday evening. The authorities told us then that they were closing the roads, with flooding over a metre deep on roads around us, plus bridges which were submerged by flood water," said Ahern, who has virtually conceded the premiership to McInerney.

Another win for Collett
Imported stayer Wazn snatched what looked like an impossible victory at Rosehill to again spotlight the talents of apprentice Jason Collett and trainer Chris Waller. Collett brought the $2 favourite from four lengths off Winning Glory ($5) at the 200m mark to gather his rival up and win by three-quarters of a length in Saturday's Woolworths Hcp (2000m). Wazn is one of the contingent of European imports who have bolstered Waller's stable and helped him become Sydney's leading trainer. South Aucklander Collett has been on loan to Waller and returns home at the end of the month with the trainer keen to get him back to Sydney. "I'm hoping he can come back later in the year."

Valdhez returns to best
Sydney trainer Kim Waugh predicted a big future for Valdhez who rewarded her faith after his last-start failure with victory at Rosehill on Saturday. Valdhez signalled his ability with a debut win at Canterbury last month but circumstances were against him when he ran sixth to Testarhythm at Rosehill two weeks ago. Punters steered away from Valdhez in the De Bortoli Wines (1400m) sending him out at $8 with Nextanix the $3.10 favourite. Things went right for Valdhez with Brenton Avdulla positioning him on the outside of leader Testarhythm ($4.60). He took the lead inside the 200m and strode to a 3- length win over Testarhythm with Altius ($5) a short half-head away third. Valdhez is by High Chaparral out of Kaapstad mare Caserio and Waugh believes he will be suited at 2000m and beyond.

-Agencies