Racing: Sprint fancies to be derailed

Matamata horseman Ken Kelso says he has no idea how his classy filly Bounding will react if the track downgrades for the $200,000 Sistema Railway Stakes.

Which, if it happens as predicted, puts both the Railway favourites in doubt.

Tony Pike has already expressed serious doubt about hot favourite Waterford.

A number of horses by Lonhro in Australia have performed reasonably well on rain-affected tracks, but Kelso says Bounding has never really been tried. "She won a trial on a slow 7 track, but that was only a trial and she was too good for them.

"She's galloped on an off track here at Matamata a couple of times and looked to handle it reasonably. How she'd go in a race like the Railway I have no idea."

Bounding has class to burn and if she can obtain reasonable purchase on the footing then from the No 1 gate and with just 52kg on her back she will be difficult to pull back in the home straight.

Southerner Natuzzi is no freak in the wet, but he has a record of two wins from as many starts on slow surfaces, so he's not hopeless.

He was badly affected early in his lead-up race here, but caught the eye late by flashing home for a close fifth to Shezhardtocatch. He has drawn wide, but that will cease to be such a disadvantage if the rain arrives.

Natuzzi flashed at Durham Town late in the Stewards at Riccarton but missed, and Durham Town meets him 3.5kg better off in the weights under the conditions of this race.

The track is likely to have a big bearing on Durham Town, though. He has won a race in the slow, but he is unquestionably a summer sprinter.

Jetset Lad could be the upsetter. He has drawn the outside gate and hasn't raced since the Queensland Winter Carnival. He races well when fresh and is a talented horse on his day, even if that's not every day.

•Trainer Stephen Marsh is getting used to taking deep breaths.

He took one when Lucia Valentina flipped in the Guineas on Boxing Day and has taken a bigger one praying for fine weather for the filly for today's $100,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes.

"It would be a long way from ideal if it rained," said a tense Marsh yesterday. "She's trialled on a wet track and was below par, in fact she was pretty ordinary.

"She has a big turn of foot and they are always affected."

One who should handle a bit of rain, if it arrives, is Nigelissima, who greatly impressed coming from last to win the Championship Stakes Prelude.

That was just her fourth raceday appearance and if she can learn to race a touch more professionally - she was a bit wayward - she is in for a real future.

Rising Romance, like Nigelissima, was still also in the Championship Stakes last night. She is by Ekraar from a mare by Postponed, breeding that would suggest some talent in handling "off" tracks.

Rising Romance got home strongly into third in the 1600m Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day and is going to appreciate the 2000m this time.