Racing: McCarroll does u-turn

By MIKE DILLON

Trainer Ross McCarroll probably does not let many yelps go, but he squeezed one out when he heard it was raining in Auckland yesterday afternoon.

The Cambridge trainer had despaired of getting any easing in the ground to run Izamaman in today's $60,000 Sky City Casino Avondale Guineas.

"We've had no rain at all here in Cambridge and I was resigned to pulling him out of the Guineas and running him in the 2000m intermediate race at Te Rapa next weekend," he said.

McCarroll is getting Izamaman ready for the $500,000 Mercedes Derby at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and had not originally intended running in the Guineas.

But the promising 3-year-old had to be pulled up mid-race at Ellerslie last weekend after getting the bridle bit tangled with his tongue-tie.

"Lee [Rutherford] got him into a good position, but a horse came back on them and Lee had to sit up and that's probably where it happened."

That was to have been Izamaman's middle distance Derby lead-up, but because he did not finish the race off McCarroll is committed to running him today, provided the track is not rock-hard.

"I never intended running in this race," he said.

"If it's still very firm in the morning I'll pull him out, but on an easy or soft track he could come right into it.

"He's got a double-up of Hermes blood in his pedigree and they were swimmers.

"If this bloke lacks that touch of real class he will make up for it on an easy track by being really stout."

Rutherford again rides Izamaman.

If the track eases as the weather forecast suggests, Sierra Dane will be an even more interesting runner.

The formerly New Zealand-trained filly came back this week from a spring racing season for former South African trainer David Payne's Sydney stable.

Firm footing would suit her best, but Sierra Dane was placed at her only outing on soft footing in New Zealand and, provided the track surface is still reasonable, her greater experience than her rivals might count for a lot.

Rain-affected footing would assist back-runners such as Raspberry Ripple.

Her 1000 Guineas fourth, coming from near-last, was the run of an emerging stayer.

One who definitely will not be affected by an "off" track is Taranaki visitor Amico.

It took him 1.40.32 to run 1600m in winning at Trentham last start and he raced away to score by 5 1/2 lengths.

It is a big jump from intermediate class there to Guineas grade, but trainer John Wheeler says he has an opinion of the horse.