Racing: No chance taken with red-hot favourite

A security guard will join Xcellent from the moment he leaves Matamata tomorrow morning for his date with Saturday's $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings.
"We don't want to be seen as being too dramatic," said the managing syndicate member, Paul Moroney, yesterday.

"It's more for our own peace of mind than anything - it will help us sleep better."

Security guards for top racehorses are common in Australia.

Almost every time Sunline raced across the Tasman co-owner and trainer Trevor McKee parked his car outside the champion mare's box on race eve and slept in the front seat.

"We're not suggesting there's anything sinister in New Zealand racing, but he's been hot favourite for this race for a long time. He's carrying a lot of money and you'd kick yourself if anything did go wrong."

Xcellent delighted his camp with a strong workout at Matamata on Tuesday morning.

Moroney said the fact that this time stablemate Cut The Cake had to be ridden along late in the gallop was evidence of the improvement in Xcellent.

"When Xcellent went up to eyeball him at the 600m, Cut The Cake had to be really ridden along.

"Michael [race jockey Coleman] gave Xcellent a squeeze at about the 100m and he drew a couple of lengths clear."

Yesterday's Kelt barrier draw did little to change either the volume of betting on the race or dramatically alter the TAB's odds for each runner.

Xcellent drew wide at No 13, but that only increased the confidence of his camp.

"We were hoping for a draw in the second half of the field," said Moroney.

"An inside draw allowed the potential for him to be bottled up on the rail and dictated to. His draw will allow him to be placed where he needs to be."

The probable leader St Reims drew barrier No 15 of the 16 runners.

Last year's Kelt winner Balmuse appeared to be ideally positioned with barrier No 8.

At No 2 Magnetism is perhaps slightly closer to the inside running rail than his connections would like, but from there he will have better options than from the outside six gates.

The Hastings track should be in perfect condition on Saturday.

Last night the surface was 2.5 with overnight showers predicted followed by fine weather through the weekend.

"It would be lovely if we get the showers," said club general manager John McGifford.

"If you had a wish you'd probably like it to be 2.7 right now so it would firm up to be absolutely perfect on Saturday, but we'll do everything we can to hold it where we want it to be."

No big Kelt bets were placed when the TAB Final Field betting opened yesterday afternoon.

"It's been a bit of an even spread, but probably the best backed have been Magnetism and Xcellent and The Jewel has had her share of support despite her horrible barrier draw," said bookie Paul Lally.

"And old Irish Rover at $28 has had some support."

* Latest markets for the feature races at Hastings on Saturday:

Kelt Capital Stakes, $1,000,000, w-f-a, group one, 2040m:

$1.85 Xcellent; $6.50 Balmuse; $12 Magnetism; $13 St Reims; $14 The Jewel; $18 Cedar Manor; $20 Mandela; $25 Lilakyn; $28 Envoy, Irish Rover; $30 Shinzig, $35 Waitoki Dream; $40 Silky Red Boxer; $50 Distinctly Secret, Maroofity; $60 Ben Sparta.

Windsor Park Golan Hawkes Bay Guineas, $100,000, 3yo, group two, 1400m:

$2.35 Darci Brahma; $2.50 Dr Green; $6 Captain Kurt; $8.50 D'Lanach; $12 Final Reality; $20 Kenny Starfighter; $22 Pinmdown.

GR Kelt Memorial, $40,000, open hcp, listed, 1400m:

$3.50 Clifton Prince; $3.75 Cog Hill; $6 Jury's Out; $7 Figurinit; $8 Clean Sweep; $9 Rosina Lad; $16 Coup Ray; $25 Al Jameel, I Rock My World, Millennium.

On guard

* Security guards are a fact of life for top horses in other parts of the world.

* New Zealand's richest race, the Kelt Capital Stakes, is run at Hastings on Saturday.

* The hot favourite Xcellent will be under guard from when he leaves Matamata tomorrow.