Racing: Veil primed to reveal her best form

A 4kg handicap relief on a decent winter track should be all Veil needs to kick-start her Winter Cup campaign at Matamata today.

Local trainer John Sargent is confident that his long-range $35 fixed-odds hope for the Riccarton feature next month is ready to strike.

The talented Faltaat mare ranged up to win second-up at Te Rapa on June 10 before being overhauled by Zamfir, again a rival today.

Then last-time out in listed company at Rotorua she copped a nasty check near the 800m and didn't have her heart in it from then on.

The blinkers go back on today and with Sargent's stable apprentice Michelle Carston claiming down to 54.5kg, the five-race winner is well placed on her home course.

She dusted up a stronger R92 field at Ellerslie last September carrying 2kg more on a 3.7 soft track.

"She had her excuses last time out but she's seasoned now and with Michelle on she's a good chance," said Sargent.

While she's only had two raceday rides so far, Carston is Veil's regular trackwork partner and was on board when the mare won an open 1000m trial at Cambridge on May 2.

Zamfir is the biggest threat again today, but meets Veil 3kg worse off in the weights than at Te Rapa.

Sargent also expects sharp improvement from stablemate Hatepe in the maiden chase, his first over the bigger fences. The useful flat performer simply jumped too high last time out in another costly hurdles flop at Te Rapa on June 28.

"The bigger fences should suit him better," said Sargent, who has just added Fiscal Madness and Royal Secret to his spring arsenal.

"He went two rounds on Saturday and handled them with no problems."

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike only wishes Grace was as seasoned for her return in the R92 2000 flat feature.

The promising staying mare had the look of a next-up winner with her second-up second to Art Link at Te Rapa on May 20.

But a stone bruise soon after forced a 10-day let-up and nixed a string of richer PQ assignments.

"She will benefit from the run, but as long as the track is reasonable she should still go close," said Pike.

"We'll ride her cold in the small field; there looks to be a bit of speed in there which should suit her."

Pike said Grace is over the foot problems that plagued her in earlier campaigns and is looking forward to working the dead-set stayer through to open company.