Racing: Trainers eye up payday

Mai Guru has a serious shot at winning the Karaka Million. Photo / Thinkstock

Pukekohe co-trainer Dean Wiles is keeping a close eye on the result of the juvenile event at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The $550,500 winner's cheque in the Karaka Million on the course at the end of the month could depend on it.

Wills and training partner Kevin Hughes now have a serious shot at winning New Zealand's richest race with their effortless second-up Woodville winner Mai Guru.

The Ishiguru 2-year-old came out of nowhere at the weekend to be 10th in entry order for the Karaka Million's 14-horse line-up with one of the most impressive juvenile wins of the summer.

Wiles, however, is wary of a reshuffle in the qualifying list for the January 29 dash after Saturday's stake earnings at Ellerslie are taken into account.

"He's still not guaranteed a run [in the Karaka Million] so a lot depends on Saturday's race at Ellerslie and how that impacts on the entry order," said Wiles.

"I don't want to run him again but if I have to there's a small chance he'll run at Counties Saturday week."

Wiles didn't select the $60,000 Ready-to-Run buy last November with the Karaka Million in mind as an early return for the horse's new Singapore owners.

But the race has become an unexpected bonus for the Jim Campin-bred gelding before he transfers to the care of Singapore trainer David Kok later this season.

Wiles has scouted for Kok and his clients for the past few years with Smart General and Wonder General two recent success stories.

"We didn't actually think of the Karaka Million until we went back through the horses we'd bought and realised he was an entry still," says Wiles.

"I told him [David] it's a short-time preparation so I wasn't going to overtax the horse to get there if he wasn't going to take it.

"But he seems a very tough horse and he's taken everything I've given to him so far and is only getting better."

Wiles had hoped to qualify Mai Guru, who is aiming to become the first Ready to Run graduate to race in the Karaka Million, by winning the Boxing Day juvenile event at Ellerslie on debut.

But Mai Guru had to settle for second that day, beaten just a long head by likely Karaka Million rival Freedom, after ducking out sharply near the line.

"He beat himself at Ellerslie when he veered out a bit in the last 200m and we were initially disappointed we didn't get the winning stakemoney," says Wiles.

"But in hindsight the extra run at Woodville is probably now a good thing. Because of his greenness, the experience has done him a world of good."

The leading qualifier for the Karaka Millions is the Victorian Starcraft filly Sell In May who won A$42,700 for scampering over 1000m at Flemington in 58 seconds on December 12.

Trainer John Sadler was not surprised by the filly's debut performance, and indicated that a trip to New Zealand was an option. "It'll be either that or the Blue Diamond Preview. But we would try and measure up how the form looked for the Karaka Millions as to whether it was worthwhile."