Racing: Topliner in line to win again

It really is a case of All's Well with trainer Davina Waddell.

And it's not just the $20,000 Cole-N-Co Mile looking a given for her topliner All's Well at Ellerslie tomorrow.

"Everyone in racing has to be delighted about the massive concessions to racing that the National Party has pledged if elected," said Waddell.

"If that happens we might be competing for $40,000 in this race next year."

But immediate plans are important. In net terms All's Well is 1.5kg worse off against the trio that chased him home in an identical race at Ellerslie two weeks ago.

But such was the contempt the talented galloper showed for the opposition, he will be a short-priced favourite to repeat the performance.

The main winter mission for All's Well is the $50,000 Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga next Saturday.

A normal horse being trained for 2170m would find 1600m a shade sharp only seven days earlier, but Waddell says there is no chance of that affecting All's Well.

"I know this sounds like a trainer that doesn't know what they're doing, but for him the training is no different for 2170m as it is for 1600m.

"This race was never in the game plan, but he's doing so well I felt it was asking a bit much to go straight into a tough 2170m race without a race this week."

Waddell says All's Well has never thrived to the extent he has between his last race and now.

"Usually he just mooches around the paddock in a very laid-back and quiet way.

"In the last week, when he thinks you're not looking, he's been a lot more animated. He's really doing a treat."

The Kiwifruit Cup will see All's Well in the spelling paddock until August 1 when his preparation for December's group one Avondale Cup will begin.

"That's the programme we mapped out for him last year and it worked."

Bad luck prevented All's Well from going close to winning that Avondale Cup, a fact worth keeping in mind when summing up this race.

Underrated mare Something Majic could finish only fifth behind All's Well at Ellerslie two weeks ago, but owner and trainer Ron Baker was not dismayed.

He declared the mare might need one more run and he's convinced he was right.

"She did pretty much what I thought she would - she got herself in to the race, but couldn't finish it off.

"She looks right this time and I'm looking for a good effort."

Baker would like to see rain.

"The track at the moment is almost certainly a bit puggy. That's not her sort of ground and if it rained and loosened the track, I'd be much happier."

Comeback jockey Patrick Holmes has kept the ride. A big plus is the fact Something Majic drops 3kg on All's Well from last start.

The interesting new runner in the field is Danzaman, who dashed back into winning form at Foxton two weeks ago.

Danzaman is versatile and he's going to need to be because the Foxton win was at 2200m and he's dropping back to 1600m.