KEY POINTS:
John Wheeler is not sure what to think about the prospect of a wet track for Trentham tomorrow.
Or even if it will be as wet as some think.
If it is, the Taranaki trainer knows he is out of business in the $300,000 New World Oaks with
well-fancied Castlebar.
But he fancies his chances in the $80,000 St Leger with Tedriffic.
Rain is forecast to set in during the day at Trentham tomorrow, but if that arrives late or is incorrect, Wheeler believes the surface might race surprisingly well despite the 40mm soaking the track received on Wednesday night.
"I'm at Wanganui races at the moment and the track started out 3.9 and slow and the wind is so strong that after only a couple of races it is back to dead.
"If the wind keeps up, Trentham will dry out a lot."
Castlebar won on her home track at New Plymouth then finished a strong second to Princess Coup at Trentham, but Wheeler says the Volksraad filly is no chance if the track is slow.
"But Ted [Tedriffic] won't mind it in the St Leger.
"He likes a bit of give in the track."
Tedriffic turned in a top class St Leger Trial when second at Ellerslie last Saturday.
He finished powerfully and will be a fit horse for the rugged 2500m event having raced only seven days previously.
Before Ellerslie, Tedriffic finished second in the St Leger Trial at Otaki in a race that the winner Bak De Chief was a weight certainty given the conditions of the race.
Tedriffic carried 57kg and stormed home late to be beaten three-quarters of a length.
One of the toughest for Tedriffic to beat will be Young Centaur, a real emerging classy stayer.
Little Young Centaur has done has been spectacular - he is more a tradesman than a dasher - but he tries hard and is improving.
When he won at Ellerslie last start he looked certain to run second or third until the last two strides when he lunged hard to put his head in front.
Trainer John Sargent and rider Noel Harris expect Young Centaur to be a headline stayer next preparation.
He won at the Cup meeting at Trentham and is right in this race.
The chances of the in-form trio Twopaddocks, Redwings and Kaapeon Way might depend on decent footing, but South Islander Jotilla won on a slow surface at Wingatui two starts back.
* Te Rapa course manager Neil Treweek said yesterday he expected a reasonably good surface for tomorrow's Waikato Racing Club's meeting.
"We've had a lot of rain, but the track needed it.
"The forecast is for the storm rain to have passed and for the high winds to remain.
"If that's accurate the wind will dry the track back."
On a mainly low key day at Te Rapa, veteran Floydeboy heads the handicap in the Hawkins Construction 60th Jubilee, which features the in-form My Hangover.
Floydeboy will be ridden by apprentice Salemon Saad, but because it is the feature race of the day no apprentice allowances are permitted and the jockey will carry his full 58kg.
Vinny Colgan, who rode My Hangover at Ellerslie, is suspended and Patrick Holmes has been engaged.