Annie Higgins (outer) will carry some weight when defending her 2012 Gold Cup victory.Picture / Christine Cornege
A few kilos' difference can be crucial at the end of a tough 2400 metres at this level
An axiom of racing is that the longer the race the more the handicap weight becomes important.
That puts emerging mare Bellazeel in a nice position in tomorrow's 2400m $100,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup at Te Rapa.
Also on the minimum weight of 53kg are two of Bellazeel's main dangers, More Than Sacred and Atacama.
By comparison, Counties Cup winner Annie Higgins elevates to second topweight at 56.5kg and although the 3.5kg differential does not sound huge, it can be very important in a tight finish at the end of a tough 2400m at this level.
There was an awful lot to admire about the way Bellazeel finished off the last 200m of her winning run at Ellerslie two weeks ago.
"This is a very big jump in class," said trainer Roger James, "but she's more mature than at any stage of her career. It's well accepted that her form has not always been consistent, but she's striking this race at exactly the right time and the 2400m is going to be right up her alley."
Bellazeel was to have been ridden by Australian jockey Joshua Adams, but Cambridge trainer Margaret Falconer believed she had a prior engagement for Adams on her horse Boninsky and after a hearing before stewards at Ellerslie on Wednesday night, Adams has been directed to ride Boninsky. Noel Harris has been engaged for Bellazeel and from the No4 barrier he should be able to position the Zabeel mare perfectly.
Despite the rise in weight Annie Higgins will be a difficult opponent.
She is developing into a real stayer and from midfield took all of the long Pukekohe straight to wind up sufficiently to take the 2100m Counties Cup in the last stride.
The 2400m is going to suit her even better. Leith Innes, who rode her at Pukekohe, has elected to switch to More Than Sacred and the ride has gone to Opie Bosson.
Atacama, at a late stage, became part of the musical chairs scenario.
She was to have been ridden by Mark Du Plessis, who made a switch to Wisecrack and has been replaced by Matt Cameron.
More Than Sacred won last season's Oaks at Trentham and has come back an even better mare this preparation as indicated by her very easy win in lower grade at Pukekohe last start. She is a dour stayer and the 2400m is ideal for her style of racing.
Atacama finished only half a length from Annie Higgins in the Counties Cup and is threatening to win a major race.
From the inside gate Cameron has an ideal opportunity to position her where he feels comfortable.
Those who successfully get halfway through tomorrow's $500,000 terminating turbo Pick6 will be relying heavily on in-form Lady Kipling to get them through the fourth leg.
The Pick6 is Race 8 at Te Rapa, Race 9 at Wingatui then Race 8 on the Manawatu gallops card.
It then goes to Lady Kipling's Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa, Race 9, followed by Race 9 at Manawatu and Race 10 at Te Rapa. Good luck, you need plenty of that in Pick6 territory.
If you are prepared to take the risk on Zurella, who is coming back from a Melbourne campaign, you should be safe with just Lady Kipling, O'Fille and Postmans Daughter on your Pick6 ticket in the fourth leg.
Racing isn't always that clear-cut, though - last week there looked to be only Final Touch, Survived and Nashville in the group one Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham and not one of them ran 1, 2 or 3. That surely couldn't happen two weeks running.
Under the conditions of her last race Lady Kipling was fired in with just 55kg and won. This time the field is on level weights, but balancing that is that the race is mares only.
Lady Kipling has totally thrived since being put in foal and when mares hit a patch of golden form, they tend to hold it remarkably well.
O'Fille will be fitter for her two runs this preparation. She is top class and was unsuited by the rain-affected track when fourth behind Sacha at Wanganui last start.
You need to narrow this race down as close as possible because all the other legs are wide open events.
Pick6 preview in tomorrow's Weekend Herald.
$100k Waikato Gold Cup
Bellazeel, More Than Sacred and Atacama are all well placed on 53kg.
This is almost always a tough contest and weight might prove to be important.
Bellazeel will now be ridden by Noel Harris.