Racing: Southern carnival calls after win

Most trainers get a line on their runners' fast-work by the sectionals on their stopwatch and the trackside view from their binoculars.

John Mason clocks his stable star, Saturday's Taumarunui Gold Cup upsetter Danzaman, on the speedo in his car.

Danzaman, who rarely sees a running rail until raceday, usually does most of his build-up work on a straight 3.5km roadside verge with Mason's wife Andrea in the saddle and the Whakamaru owner-trainer driving alongside.

"The verges here are 80m wide and always well mown, they're as good as any racecourse," says Mason. "And I get to make sure the rider's doing her job."

After Danzaman's career-best win on Saturday, however, Mason's road-runner may not be such a regular on the country lanes around the Waikato River dam village, just west of Tokoroa.

At least not in the weeks leading up to a rich target.

Ever since Danzaman arrived in Mason's care as a maiden 6-year-old, he's been plagued by tender front feet.

Mason would get three or four runs into the now rising 10-year-old, then he would go sore.

But a recent switch to swimming in Cambridge under the care of trainers Margaret Griffin and Tim Carter has Mason excited about even bigger riches ahead.

"Now we know that swimming works, I can do my thing at home with him and then whip him up there when we need to," said Mason.

"I'm absolutely rapt that the swimming scheme worked for this race. He is the best stayer in the country if his feet are good, but because of all the problems we have had with him, we have never known how good he could be."

After Noel Harris and Danzaman cruised past favourite Mr Hefner on Saturday, Mason's first thought was to book a ticket to Christchurch for the National carnival.

Danzaman has shown a liking for Riccarton before and the obvious target on return is the $35,000 Christchurch Casino Winter Classic Stakes (2000m).

But as tempting as a winter escape sounds to Mason right now, yesterday he was leaning towards a potentially more lucrative spring break instead.

"We've never been able to have him fit for the big races in November before now, but now we know that swimming works, I'd love to have a crack at the New Zealand Cup.

"Noel Harris is adamant that he'll go forever and that he hasn't ridden too many better stayers."

Danzaman, who has had hoof problems for the past four seasons, ran an uninspiring ninth in the Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) nine days ago.

If Mason does head south for the carnival, yesterday he was more keen on taking exciting maiden Stone Wall for a $27,500 special conditions race on the last day.

"He's a pretty good horse - he had a bad virus but is over that now."

Despite all the headaches he's had getting Danzaman fit, Mason, who converts trucks into horse transporters when the stable isn't firing, said he's never been tempted to quit on the late-bloomer.

He arrived in his care as a maiden 6-year-old after Mason advertised for a paddock mate for his then stable star Real Vision, a former Winter Cup winner who was fatally injured in a paddock accident six months ago.

Danzaman was originally owned by Fred and Trisha Ramsey, but Mason said they quit after an on-air dig by Trackside presenter Steve Davis at the horse's age.

"He [Davis] was running through the field at Tauranga one day and got down to Danzaman and said he was no chance because he was too old," said Mason.

"It broke Trisha's heart - she wouldn't race him again after that so I bought him myself."

Danzaman only broke through for his maiden win as a 7-year-old. Saturday's win was his 10th at his 65th start and for more than $180,000 in stakes. Mason is confident the Danzalion gelding has a couple more seasons left in him yet.

Second on Saturday was the pacemaking Mr Hefner, who fought valiantly for record-breaking rider Lisa Cropp only to be beaten a long neck, with evergreen stayer Van Winkle a neck further back in third.

It added to the Wanganui galloper's remarkable record in the race.

He won it in 2001 and 2002, ran second in 2003 and ran fifth in 2004.

Group one Doomben Cup winner King Keitel fought gamely in his final race but could only finish seventh.

Taumarunui Cup

* Danzaman of the tender feet posts a career-best win when claiming the $50,000 Te Rapa feature.

* The victory is just reward for Whakamaru trainer John Mason who persevered when others gave up.

* He credits advice from jockey Noel Harris, as well as a swimming regime for the reversal of fortunes.

* Danzaman could head south for the winter carnival, although Mason may now consider the lucrative spring pickings.