Rising Wanganui star chasing glory

WINNING STYLE: Carinya jumps magnificently at Te Rapa.PHOTO/TRISH DUNELL

DAN O'Leary is worried about only one factor with his rapidly rising steeplechase star Carinya - the handicapper.

Carinya has had five steeplechase starts for four wins and eventually she will pay for that consistency.

If she wins Saturday's $50,000 Warren Storm Lifebrokers Waikato Steeplechase and her following start, expected to be the McGregor Grant Steeples at Ellerslie on June 1, the handicapper will have her under his thumb in the weights. She is still just a 5-year-old, an absolute baby as 'chasers go.

Which is why the Wanganui trainer has plans to take Carinya to pursue the big money in Melbourne, but there is a risk - she is not as good over smaller fences, which Australians prefer.

"That's why I can't wait to get her to Ellerslie," says O'Leary.

"She doesn't respect smaller fences and tries to gallop at and through them, rather than jump them and there is always a risk in doing that.

"The big, live fences at Ellerslie will suit her perfectly. She will jump those beautifully."

One of Carinya's rivals on Saturday will be Sea King, who took on both Grand Nationals in Melbourne last winter. He won the National Hurdles and two weeks later finished third in the only steeplechase he has contested, the National Steeples.

This will be his first start over the bigger New Zealand fences, but being one of Kevin Myers team he is certain to have schooled extensively over them.

Sea King has not been an easy horse to train or to ride, but has won nine hurdle races and banked $364,148.

Topweight in the Waikato Steeples is Tim, winner of last winter's Manawatu Steeples and runner-up in the Wellington Steeples.

Just Got Home will carry clear topweight in the $50,000 Porritt Sand Waikato Hurdles, being three rating points ahead of last year's Great Northern Hurdles winner Wee Biskit.

The field includes up-and-coming hurdlers Venerate and Prologue, who have a combined record of five hurdle wins from 11 attempts.

The live steeplechase fences in the centre of the course will not be used. "The steeplechase will again be run solely on the course proper and we are erecting two additional fences, one in the back straight and one in the front straight to make a better spectacle," said Waikato Racing Club general manager Ken Rutherford.