KEY POINTS:
It's a case of no news is good news for Taranaki trainer John Wheeler with his jumper Real Tonic in Japan.
Real Tonic was last of 13 finishers in the 34.6 million yen ($410,000) Pegasus Jump Stakes at Nakayama on Saturday.
The Pegasus is a lead-up race to
the world's richest jumping race, the 170.4 million yen ($2.1 million) Nakayama Grand Jump on April 14.
Wheeler was in New Zealand for Saturday's race but said yesterday he was happy to press on to the Nakayama Grand Jump with Real Tonic.
The horse is in the care of Brett Crozier and Wheeler said the fact that he had not telephoned him yesterday was a good sign.
"I told him to ring me if there were any problems - a bit jarry or anything," Wheeler said.
"So no news is good news. I'm happy with that."
Real Tonic, winner of last year's Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie, was ridden on Saturday by Jonathan Riddell.
Wheeler said Riddell told him after the race that track conditions were too firm for both Real Tonic and New Zealand's other representative No Hero who finished 12th.
"Jonathan felt really confident at the 1000m but he said when they kicked he just didn't have enough gears on the hard track, the same with No Hero," he said.
Wheeler said Riddell told him Real Tonic was handy enough in the running of the 3350m event.
"He didn't get near the rails apparently but he was in about fourth or fifth position."
Wheeler, who won the Nakayama Grand Jump with St Steven in 2002, said Real Tonic should improve with Saturday's race.
"The Pegasus should improve us 10 or 15 lengths," Wheeler said.
"You can't really get any races into them in New Zealand because there is nothing suitable.
"I was instrumental in getting the Pegasus introduced because it was unfair on the New Zealand and Australia horses."
Paul Nelson, the trainer of No Hero, said he was hopeful track conditions would be wet for the Nakayama Grand Jump.
"The track was very fast and the fences were just coming up a bit quick for him," Nelson told the Sunday Star-Times newspaper.
"He ended up getting a rough run but I'm sure he'll be better for the experience.
"And all the locals are saying it will rain soon."
Japan-trained horses finished first and second in the Pegasus.
The race was won by Merci A Time by two lengths from Agnes Hat.
Half a length away third was the Australian-trained Karasi who has won the Nakayama Grand Jump in the last two years.
- NZPA