Racing: Jenkins predicts Flemington tilt for Cup heroine

Exactly a year ago Melbourne accountant Maxine Glennan stood in the Ellerslie grandstand and did not want to take in what trainer Paul Jenkins had just told her.

Glennan had watched a desperately unlucky effort by Bazelle in the Dunstan Stayers Final and Jenkins said in a soft voice: "Don't worry, we'll win a cup next year, possibly the Auckland Cup."

After Bazelle turned those words prophetic by running away with Saturday's $350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup, Jenkins was at it again.

Only this time the stakes were raised.

This time it's the Melbourne Cup, which just might be announced as a A$5 million race.

"I don't even want to think about it - I can't let myself dream about it," said Glennan over a champagne as she stared at the Ellerslie track from the chairman's room at the top of the grandstand.

Glennan can't remember missing a Melbourne Cup in 20 years.

It's the race everyone wants to win and when you've been involved in thoroughbreds in Melbourne for decades, you would kill to win it.

Glennan works closely with the racing museum in Melbourne.

"Winning a race anywhere is simply wonderful - the Manangatang cup would be lovely - but the Melbourne Cup ... "

A couple of wins in town, maybe a dozen overall, is how Glannan describes her previous success before linking up with Bazelle's fellow owner Lorna Moore, the only other syndicate member at Ellerslie.

Bazelle has always shown top class potential, but luck has so often deserted her.

Jenkins took her to the Queensland winter carnival and Glennan says it was disheartening that the mare won only a minor event at Caloundra.

But no one was deserting.

"What's the saying? 'Give-up' never won a race."

Bazelle's luck turned just in time. She squeaked into the Auckland Cup field only via her last-ditch Nathans Memorial win at Ellerslie last Tuesday, came through that race like the tough mare she is and paraded back 100 per cent on Saturday.

"Last Monday we had no idea we would be standing here today," said Glennan.

"Then when we got into the field I haven't been able to let myself think of winning the Cup."

No one could begrudge Paul Jenkins the win.

He is one of the most patient trainers in the business and was lucky enough to strike a bunch of owners who do not believe in racing horses too early.

Jenkins admits he's been doing it tough since he took on the responsibility two years ago of a 40-horse barn on the Matamata track.

He prefers to take it quietly with a handful of his own horses, developing them up and then trading them. Keeping a 40-horse barn full has taken its toll.

"I've had to hustle my arse off to make it work and financially, mentally and physically it's been hard."

A drop-off in the trading of horses to overseas markets has not helped.

"That happened almost to the day I took over the barn," said Jenkins.

Bazelle provided her sire Zabeel with his 30th group one success.

She also becomes an extremely valuable broodmare for her owners.

Her dam Show Games was bought by Melbourne-based Lorna Moore from the Blandford Lodge dispersal sale for $50,000 and is a sister to outstanding filly Toy Show.

Bazelle will now have three months in the spelling paddock before beginning a long, slow build-up towards the Melbourne Cup in November.