Racing: Scratching hangs over favourite

One of the favourites for tomorrow's Auckland Cup could be a controversial scratching.

The question of scratching Able Master from the $500,000 Ellerslie feature will be raised with the horse's owners if rider Grant Cooksley cannot ride the horse.

Cooksley lodged an appeal yesterday against a suspension he incurred for his ride in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie last Sunday.

The appeal will be heard at Ellerslie racecourse today and the first matter to be heard will be the stay of proceedings Cooksley has applied for.

A stay of proceedings would enable Cooksley to continue riding until the appeal was concluded.

Takanini trainer Bruce Wallace thought that would be sufficient for the Sydney-based former New Zealand jockey to take the mount on Able Master in the Auckland Cup, but he said that was now up in the air.

If all failed and Cooksley was not permitted to ride on Auckland Cup day, he would speak to Able Master's Hong Kong owners about scratching.

"I would definitely be talking to them about that, because he's ridden this horse all the way through," said Wallace.

"He knows the horse and it's been a tight programme to get the horse into the race.

"I think it definitely disadvantages our chances if Cooksley can't ride."

If Able Master is scratched, at least one punter will be left feeling hard done-by. A $1000 bet was placed on the stayer yesterday at $16, with no refund if he is withdrawn. - NZPA