Racing: Kiwi quinella running hot

MELBOURNE - It's one the best quinellas of the Melbourne spring carnival - Zabeel and Greg Childs.

Though a freelance rider, Childs has been in lethal form over the spring - and his big money wins have come on horses sired by champion New Zealand stallion Zabeel.

He rode Railings (by Zabeel) to win the Caulfield Cup and earlier in the spring piloted Lad Of The Manor (by Zabeel) to win the Liston and Feehan Stakes races, gaining the ride when regular jockey Brian Johns was injured.

Johns returned for the ride on Lad Of The Manor in the Cox Plate, but was cast aside in favour of Childs for Saturday's A$500,000 ($541,000) Mackinnon Stakes.

Childs rode him to perfection, chalking up his 66th group one win.

For Zabeel, it was his 34th individual group one winner. He has sired 95 stakes winners.

Lad Of The Manor was bred to northern hemisphere time. He has won 12 of 21 starts for stakes of A$1.265 million.

Childs said he had never been as confident going out to ride a horse - not even Sunline.

"I was so mindful of that fact, I just had to check myself, tell myself to be careful and be ready for the unexpected.," he said afterwards.

He didn't need to be so careful - it was a trouble-free win.

Lad Of The Manor beat Our Smoking Joe comfortably with Melbourne Cup hope Lachlan River third. Vouvray, another Melbourne Cup runner, was a disappointing eighth.

It didn't look as though Childs would have many big rides this spring, but he has been able to take advantage of suspensions and injuries to other riders to land some big wins.

Another victory of his was on Pendragon in the group two Norman Robinson Stakes when Glen Boss was suspended.

He wasn't going to complain about not being able to ride Lad Of The Manor in the Cox Plate.

"I've had a good year being freelance this year, I've picked up some nice wins and I hope that continues."

Childs sported a cap advertising his brother's business at the presentation for the Mackinnnon.

"It's the cap for Mike Childs, master builder from the small country town of Stratford, New Zealand. I said I would wear it if I won the race," he said.

Childs rides Railings in the Melbourne Cup. He thinks Railings is a good chance, though he has history against him. No horse has won the Metropolitan Handicap, the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in the same season. Railings has won the first two legs.

Railings is one of six horses sired by Zabeel in the Melbourne Cup.

The others are Greys Inn, Vouvray, Bazelle, Dizelle and Rizon.

- NZPA