Brian Jenkins will decide whether to run Dr Green in the $60,000 Wellington Guineas or $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes after walking the Trentham track with his Australian rider Mat Pumpa late this afternoon and talking to his Hong Kong owners.
"I'm pretty much down the middle on the issue at
the moment, there are arguments to run in both races," said Jenkins yesterday.
The classy Fusiachi Pagasus colt has been stationed at Bulls since the middle of last week in search of drier training track surfaces than have been available in the north.
Dr Green staged one of the great battles of recent seasons when he and Darci Brahma had a home-straight set-to in the Hawkes Bay Guineas last start and Jenkins says the colt has taken no hard from a very tough race.
"You don't like to say it when they've run something like 1.20 for 1400m - if you can believe that time - but he looks better and certainly his work has been a little better since Hastings."
Darci Brahma and Dr Green are likely to dominate the races they tackle, but if the track turned slow, or worse, the Wellington Guineas will take on a different complexion.
Co-trainer Royce Dowling is keeping his options open with Soliloquy Stakes winner Twinkling, an acceptor for the Wellington Guineas and the 3-year-old fillies' event.
"If the colt [Darci Brahma] isn't there and Dr Green decides to run in the Captain Cook, I'll run her in the Guineas," said Dowling.
"As a filly, the black type of the Guineas, even if she's only placed, is important."
Dowling has engaged Vanessa Johnston for the Guineas and will make use of a 3kg claim via Kelly Myers if the filly runs in the Catwalk Trust.
Captain Kurt remains in the mix despite finishing three and a quarter lengths behind Darci Brahma and Dr Green in the Hawkes Bay Guineas.
If Twinkling tackles the $20,000 Catwalk Trust 1400 she will face the likes of the improving Pulcinella, unbeaten Seachange, Hpnotiq and Triffiq.
Trainer Don Sellwood has nominated Pulcinella for Te Rapa on Monday as a back-up if Trentham becomes too wet.
That is the same scenario for Seachange.
Queensland apprentice Gavin McKeon, who recently spent a month riding in New Zealand, is making a fleeting trip to ride Seachange wherever she starts.
Brian Jenkins will decide whether to run Dr Green in the $60,000 Wellington Guineas or $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes after walking the Trentham track with his Australian rider Mat Pumpa late this afternoon and talking to his Hong Kong owners.
"I'm pretty much down the middle on the issue at
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