Racing: It's gotta get better for jockey

We Can Say It Now (Sheryl Weller, outer) prepares for the $300,000 1000 Guineas. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Come tomorrow night rider Mark Du Plessis will probably be reflecting on what a difference a week makes in horse racing.

The former South African arrived at Riccarton last Saturday full of hope for his two main rides, We Can Say It Now and Roi d'jeu.

We Can Say It Now was hot favourite to take the $1 million 2000 Guineas and Roi d'jeu was strongly fancied to win the Metropolitan as a lead-up to tomorrow's $225,000 Christchurch Casino NZ Cup.

We Can Say It Now was a late scratching and Roi d'jeu copped probably the worst run of any horse racing on the day.

Du Plessis knows he was not entirely blameless when Roi d'jeu finished fourth behind Blood Brother in what was a grand trial for the NZ Cup.

But Roi d'jeu didn't help his chances when he pulled hard in the early stages then ran into brick walls in the second half of the race.

Trainer Shaune Ritchie has removed the blinkers from Roi d'jeu, which he hopes will help the horse settle better over the 3200m.

Ritchie also has Nightime Jockey, who will start favourite in the big race. Yesterday the TAB had Nightime Jockey favourite at $3.50 and Roi d'jeu second favourite at $5.

Nightime Jockey looked ready for this race when getting home strongly to win at Ellerslie last start under 58kg.

He drops to 52.5kg for this and although the widish draw will not make it easy for him, he deserves to rate highly.

"He's been set for this race right from the start of this preparation, where Roi d'jeu has become a hope in the race through his form," said Ritchie.

"He's [Nightime Jockey] a dour horse who will run the trip right out, I'm sure of that even though he hasn't tried it.

"The key is the weight. He picked up Showcause last start with 58kg on his back and drops right back to the minimum."

Blood Brotha, the third favourite with the TAB at $7, was hugely impressive winning last week's Metrop because trainer Raymond Connors was strongly of the opinion he would not handle the heavy track.

Blood Brotha not only managed the conditions, he got to the finish like a horse that is even keener to get to 3200m. On a decent surface this time he is going to take plenty of beating.

Showcause looked good taking third in the Metrop. He wasn't handling the conditions, but stuck to his task bravely through the final 200m.

He had been disappointing a couple of times this preparation and perhaps he has simply needed the racing. He looked an extremely talented stayer a season or so back.

The next best fancied is Backup. The Baker stable has been in great form and he has clearly been aimed at this race.

If you are looking for a massive longshot place chance, you could do worse than Wotabuzz. On paper he has a lot against him - yet to even race in open company and yet to win on a good surface - but Mark Oulaghan is a master at setting horses for what can look like mission impossible.

If Wotabuzz finishes in the first five it will be a master stroke by Oulaghan because the horse has had only one start since winning at Ellerslie on September 4. He made a big impression that day and Oulaghan has clearly been keen to get him into this race on as light a weight as possible.

$225,000 NZ CUP

* Mark Du Plessis is looking to recover from a nightmare day at Riccarton last Saturday.

* Du Plessis has strong chances in the NZ Cup (Roi d'jeu) and with We Can Say It Now in the $300,000 1000 Guineas.

* Trainer Shaune Ritchie holds a strong Cup hand with the two favourites Roi d'jeu and Nightime Jockey.