Racing: Trainer seeks confidence ahead of Auckland Cup

Chris Wood opened his 2001 Karaka Yearling sales catalogue on Monday.

The Cambridge trainer was searching for something to underpin his confidence going into tomorrow's $350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup - 3200m winning form in Garrard's pedigree.

Wood looked at the pedigree page from which he bought Garrard for $37,000 at the 2001 sale.

"I looked at the first dam and there was no 3200m form.

"Then the second dam - no, the third dam - no, then there it was, Timon was in the fourth dam. It took a bit of finding, but there it was."

Timon, with Garry Willetts in the saddle, won the 1975 Wellington Cup.

Wood has always been confident Garrard will successfully see out 3200m, but you can't have too much reassurance going into a race like the Auckland Cup.

"He's such a big, relaxed, laid-back bugger that he'll cope with the 3200m."

For Wood, the distance is nowhere near the worry that getting the right run and a change of luck for Garrard is.

Garrard has not won a race since taking a progressive class event at Hawera on October 16, but very little has gone right for the stayer since.

He looked a good thing beaten when badly blocked for racing room taking a gap inside Waitoki Dream at the 220m in the $100,000 Queen Elizabeth at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Waitoki Dream was relegated from second to third, and Garrard promoted.

Before that, Garrard had been undermined by having to drag the field up to tearaway leader St Reims in several races.

"We bustled him a couple of times to get close to St Reims and it brought him undone," says Wood.

"We've learned that he has to be allowed to relax to maximise his good sprint."

Garrard sprinted quickly from well back in the field in the Queen Elizabeth and would have won the race with a clear passage.

His sire Kaapstad has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand breeding, but he has yet to leave a 3200m winner.

The Woods' fine stayer Kaapstad Way looked the most likely, but things went wrong for him.

"He finished fourth in one Melbourne Cup and down the track in the other," said Chris Wood.

Wood hopes to put that straight with Garrard next November.

"I think he's a genuine Melbourne Cup horse for next year."

Colleen Wood rode Garrard in training at Cambridge yesterday morning, doing two laps, finishing with 800m at a gentle threequarter pace, pleasing both his trainers.

The Woods have not been alone in keeping an eye on the weather.

"Kaapstad Way couldn't handle it if you spat on the track, but at least this bloke is not too bad.

"He's won on an easy track and I'd be confident he could manage it easy in the Cup, but I wouldn't really like to see it get much worse."

Yesterday morning after the worst of the rain passed over Auckland the Ellerslie track was rated at 2.4 and firm.

The weather closer to the race will determine the footing.

Wood has already seen a horse of his go past the Ellerslie winning post in front in an Auckland Cup.

"Eleven or 12 years ago, I'm Jaded was in front at the post on the first round, but unfortunately not the second round, he was down the track. He was a great old horse, he won us 11 or 12 races, but he couldn't stay the 3200m."

$350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup

* Garrard has been promoted to clear Auckland Cup favourite.

* He has yet to attempt as far as 3200m, but co-trainer Chris Wood is confident the Cambridge stayer will manage.

* Garrard was desperately unlucky not to win the lead-up Queen Elizabeth Handicap on Boxing Day.