Racing: D'Cash Man faces test of mettle at Ruakaka

Local speedster D'Cash Man faces his big acid test at Ruakaka tomorrow.

The Kenny and Lisa Rae trained three-year-old tackles some quality opposition in the Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes but despite the sharp rise in class his trainers are confident their charge will more than measure up.

"He's 110 per cent," said Kenny Rae. "If it was a normal run of the mill race I'd be super confident. I think I left him a gallop short last time but he's a lot sharper this time."

Even if D'Cash Man was a run short last start he was still good enough to lead and win, holding off the challengers who came out wide in the better going.

"I really can't fault him. If he's good enough he'll win."

The Raes also have a strong hand in the LJ Hooker Whangarei Spring Plate with smart sprinter Flash Hapi. He kicks off a new campaign on Saturday and will strip a fitter horse for a recent Avondale trial.

"He was quite lazy in that trial but his jockey said he felt good and will be a lot better on Saturday," said Rae.

"Interestingly he's never won fresh up yet but he's well and I think he will be very competitive in a race like this."

While D'Cash Man is the number one local contender, King Zeus gives Northland a useful hand in the Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes.

The race wasn't originally on the agenda for the colt but after his last start win, his connections weighed up options and decided this was the best way to progress.

"We believe he will develop into a stayer, hence we nominated him for the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 6," said co-trainer Donna Logan.

"Whilst he won the other day the race perhaps didn't pan out as we would have liked, in that he raced very keenly on the pace. The Australian race is going to come up a bit soon unfortunately."

With the speed expected to be right on from the outset King Zeus is likely to get off the pace this time but Logan believes the horse will be hitting the line hard.

"He's done very well since the Ruakaka race and is very bright."

Sandblaster is the Logans' runner in the LJ Hooker Whangarei Spring Plate. He was disappointing at Tauranga but Logan reckons a couple of factors counted against him: "He wasn't entirely happy in the track conditions and also raced a little dour. We have freshened him up for this week and from his draw on a good track should be thereabouts."