Whanganui jumpers Wise Men Say (outer) and Mr Mor are leading chances in the rescheduled Wellington Steeplechase at Hastings today. PHOTO/Race Images
Whanganui jumpers Wise Men Say (outer) and Mr Mor are leading chances in the rescheduled Wellington Steeplechase at Hastings today. PHOTO/Race Images
The change of venue may suit one, but not the other as Whanganui trainer Raymond Connors eyes up the rescheduled Wellington jumping features at Hastings on Thursday.
After the Trentham meeting on Saturday was abandoned because of a water-logged track, the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase and the Anuka Smoker WellingtonHurdles will be now run at the Hawkes Bay meeting on Thursday.
The steeplechase will still be run over 5500-metres, while the hurdles has been shortened from 3400m to 3100m.
Connors lines up Wise Men Say in the steeplechase and up-and-comer Max in the hurdle, but would have preferred the events were held at Trentham.
While the Hastings track is rated Heavy11, it will be nowhere near the same conditions as Trentham in the winter, although a weather bomb is forecast to hit the North Island today.
"The wetter the better for both mine," Connors said.
"The change in venue might suit Wise Men Say with the race still run over 5500m, but the other horse won't be suited over the shorter trip or any improved track conditions, Hopefully, the storm hits Hastings before race time."
Connors rates two-time Hastings winner Just Ishi a main danger in the steeplechase, although fellow Whanganui-trained Mr Mor won last year's Hawkes Bay Steeple on the track.
Evan and JJ Rayner will no doubt be happy enough with the venue change given Mr Mor's enviable record at Hastings. He has two wins and two placings from 13 starts.
Connors was also glad his nearby neighbour Kevin Myers has scratched classy jumper Sea King from the hurdles.
"That will certainly help Max's cause," Connors said.
