Racing: Trainer eyes cup for three from three

Davina Waddell is desperately hoping she has not used up all her luck.

Waddell can't think of a race she'd rather win than Wednesday's $150,000 Avondale Cup, but two wins from two runners at Ellerslie on Saturday has her worried.

The stable produces All's Well and Shinko Prince into Wednesday's group one feature and, although All's Well will be by far the best-backed runner, she warns punters not to ignore Shinko Prince.

All's Well almost certainly should have won last year's Avondale Cup.

He had an interrupted preparation going into the race and finished it close to the placegetters carrying a twisted plate on a front foot.

Waddell is completely happy with both her runners.

"Any easing of the track would obviously aid All's Well more than most of the runners, but I'm honestly not worried either way.

"I'm not saying he could race right through the summer on firm tracks and go on to a race like the Auckland Cup, but a single race like this, it doesn't worry him at all what conditions are like."

Neither of Waddell's Ellerslie winners surprised her. SusieQ was well fancied by her trainer in the Dunstan Feeds Qualifier, but Waddell had particular confidence in Single Sun in the Singapore Turf Club Trophy.

"On the way to the races I thought apprentice allowance and a wet, slushy track would see him lead and win.

"What I hadn't foreseen was no rain and a drying wind."

Apprentice Ryan Allwood was having his first ride on the fierce-racing front runner Single Sun.

Waddell told him that under no circumstances was he to take hold of the horse's mouth regardless of how fierce he charged into the first bend.

As usual Single Sun relaxed after only 350m, but that wasn't the end of Allwood's frustrations.

"He doesn't concentrate," said the Karaka apprentice. "Down the back straight he was gazing around and hitting the running rail.

"Even in the home straight he was looking at the starting stalls over to the side rather than taking notice of what he was supposed to be doing."

Waddell has had her frustrations with Single Sun, but she admires his ability.

"Don't worry, if this horse would settle he'd win another eight races."

A decision will be made this morning on whether Magnetism takes his place in the Avondale Cup.

The horse's manager, Rick Williams, was a touch doubtful about pressing on, but believed there was a chance the horse may not be getting on with rider Jim Collett.

"I've discussed it with Jim [Collett] and it is accepted that if he runs he will have a change of jockey.

"I'm not convinced it is a jockey thing, but it's something we have to rule out of the equation.

"If you watch him he's pulling up very quickly in his races, which he didn't do as a 3-year-old. Either we overrated his 3-year-old form or there is something not quite right with him."