Racing: Trainers alert to every weather change

By MIKE DILLON

You have never seen so many high-profile trainers hanging on every word of every single weather forecast.

The prospect of even one decent shower would make big news heading into Saturday's dual group one carnival at Te Rapa.

Waikato officials are trying desperately to dry the Te Rapa racing surface for Saturday's $100,000 Whakanui Stud International Stakes and $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint after a weekend of torrential rain.

And, at the moment, they are winning.

But even half an hour of decent rain would push them back into the red zone.

The suddenly remarkable drying qualities of Te Rapa after remedial work had the surface back to mid-range soft yesterday.

Course manager Neil Treweek is confident of near-firm going - provided the rain stays away.

"We just don't want significant rain," Treweek said.

Three trainers, managing two leading group one chances, are hoping he is right.

They are Mark Walker, with compulsive dry-tracker King's Chapel, and Jim Gibbs as owner and Paul O'Sullivan as trainer of Vinaka.

On the right surface the pair will dispute favouritism for the $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint.

One more decent shower and you can probably forget King's Chapel and Vinaka would be looking for easy ground at worst.

Jim Gibbs inspected the Te Rapa track yesterday and was surprised.

"It's remarkable how it's come back after the weekend.

"I'd say with good weather from this point there's no reason why it can't come back to firm."

King's Chapel is best on a very firm surface.

Mark Walker said he would not consider running the classy colt on a track worse than 3.2

"Possibly even not worse than 3.0.

"I'd go over and walk the track on Friday afternoon."

Walker said King's Chapel galloped well with stablemate Rapid Kay in wet conditions at Matamata yesterday morning.

"But it is totally different on raceday. They had the first use of the track this morning."

The McKee stable is playing a wait-and-see game with Pay My Bail for the Waikato Draught.

"It wouldn't want to be any worse than a good easy," said Stephen McKee.

"If it's cutting out it makes it too tough on front runners.

"They have to come out to the middle of the track and it gives all the other runners a chance to have a crack at them.

"Even easy ground is marginal for her - even though she's not very big, she's a big strider."

McKee said Pay My Bail has done well since the $100,000 Telegraph Handicap, in which she was carted back through the field by the weakening Danroad in the home straight.

"Her work has been very good."

If Pay My Bail does not run on Saturday she will be aimed at the $100,000 Family Hotel WFA at Otaki on February 19.

"It'll be an either-or situation for her."

Walker said he will run King's Chapel in both races provided conditions suit.

Sedecrem and King's Chapel are current futures betting favourites for the Otaki race at $5 with Pay My Bail at $7 and Vinaka and Zvezda on $9.

Walker has 3-year-olds Maroofity and Rapid Kay engaged in the Waikato Draught and says Rapid Kay is a certain starter.

"She's got a good record fresh, a great record at 1400m and a good record when there is give in the ground."

Canterbury filly Justine Coup is already in the north for Saturday's $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa.

Justine Coup caused a sensation when she was declared a late scratching after sitting down in the barrier stalls when the start was made for the $300,000 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham, for which she was one of the favourites.

A week later the classy filly showed better manners when she broke cleanly and easily beat a more moderate field at Riccarton.

Co-trainer Peter Williams said the filly on Saturday would follow a similar procedure to Riccarton.

"She has always been a bit tricky in the gates, but it is a manageable thing.

"She has done well since Riccarton, the only thing she didn't need was another long float trip - but she is a tough little tart."

Justine Coup may stay in the north to continue racing, or may be sent to Australia.

"We'll get Saturday over with before we press the next button," said Williams.

Vinny Colgan has the ride.