Racing: Small fields a strong hand

The deeds of Elsu in the last two years may have pushed aside Geoff Small's reputation as mainly a trainer of age-group horses, but tonight's group one New Zealand 2-year-old Championship shows the country's leading trainer is still peerless as a conditioner of youngsters.

With less than two months to go in the season, Small leads the trainers' premiership by 20 wins from Tim Butt and has accumulated 70 per cent more stakes than his nearest chaser.

Those gaps could well be about to increase as he lines up three runners in tonight's feature at Alexandra Park.

Remarkably, three runners isn't the most that Small has lined up in the 2yo championship. In 2002 Small's five-pronged assault on the race led to an upset win for Russian Road. Tonight it would be no surprise if Small-trained juveniles fill the first two positions.

Heading the charge will be Ambro The Thug, who is likely to start odds-on tonight despite never having started at less than $8 in any of his five starts so far.

But while punters may have been slow to appreciate Ambro The Thug's talent, his trainer has not. The only thing for Small is that the youngster's pace of improvement has been greater than expected.

"I've always thought he had some talent," said Small, "but he seemed like more of a late-maturing horse. He's more of a staying type than a speed horse."

That staying ability was abundantly obvious when Ambro The Thug went to Addington and won the $150,000 Sires Stakes Final at his last start, beating much more highly-touted horses like Pay Me Christian and Tuherbs.

"I didn't have any doubt that we could give them a good run for their money," said Small. "To come out on top was wonderful but I wasn't that surprised. He loved the trip down there too. The trip back took a bit out of him but he's picked up well and he worked really well on Wednesday morning."

Ambro The Thug was the star workout performer last Saturday at Alexandra Park, easily running his last 800 metres in a session best 57.9s.

"He worked around to the lead at the mile peg and did it very comfortably," said Small. "He needed it to top him off for Friday. He's still eligible for the Breeders Crown so if he comes through this week all right then we might look at Australia."

Ambro The Thugs main opposition could well come from his own stablemate Mr Chin. The son of Village Jasper may be a maiden but his tremendously tough run last week left no doubt he will be competitive against the stronger opposition he faces tonight.

"He did surprise me actually," said Small. "I thought he might be a bit tired but all three have worked well this week.

"Alpine Dream is a bigger horse who will get better with time. I could have tipped him out earlier on but he hit the line well last week and I expect him to do the same on Friday."

Given the sublime season Geoff Small has already had it would seem appropriate if the last group one of the season found its way to Zenola Racing Stables.