Racing: Juveniles' last chance to shine

When Malcolm Wallace says he has a born-to-run, 2-year-old with a motor to match, it pays to listen.

Wallace was stable foreman for Australian hall-of-fame trainer Angus Armanasco, who died last month aged 92.

Armanasco's long list of top-liners included a stack of champion 2-year-olds, several of whom Wallace had the fortune to work with, such as Zeditave and True Version.

While Wallace's Kenny Starfighter has a long way to go to get to that level, the Otaki trainer's big hope in the Ryder Stakes on his home track tomorrow is showing the right early signs.

"He's got a brilliant attitude, he's nice and relaxed and doesn't seem to get over-awed by anything," said Wallace.

"The top four inches are always the most important thing."

That's why Wallace was happy to throw his debutant up against the likes of Final Reality - again a rival tomorrow - at Trentham on July 9.

The Turbulent Dancer colt was the outsider, bar one, that day, but came within a long neck of pulling off a huge upset.

Although conceding Kenny Starfighter 4kg, the more experienced Final Reality was at full stretch to get past him by just a long neck.

"I wasn't surprised by that run at all," said Wallace.

"He'd been working with open-class horses and pushing them to the limit - that's why I put him in.

"With a better barrier that day and some cover, he would have been even harder to beat."

Wallace knows that Final Reality meets Kenny Starfighter 4kg better off under the set weight conditions of the listed feature.

But countering that factor is the natural improvement Kenny Starfighter has made since his debut.

"He'd prefer a firmer track - his class and fitness are what he's running on at the moment - but I really do think he'll be right there in the Ryder."

Once safely through tomorrow's end-of-season juvenile prize, Wallace plans to keep Kenny Starfighter ticking over for all the early Guineas features.

Hypnotiq is the major threat to the colts and geldings at Otaki.

The giant Lance O'Sullivan-trained filly seems to handle most types of ground and could steal a winning break over the slow-starting Final Reality.

She looked strong winning in the Ellerslie mud on June 18, and then had the Northland Breeders' Stakes at Ruakaka won until collared by roughie Echo Maid in the last few strides.

Another northern filly, I'm Insatiable, is a trifecta must.

Forget her run in the Breeders when she did not appear to handle the tricky ground. Her win on debut at Ellerslie on June 4 suggests she is well up to this class.