Draw may curb Rebels Ransom

Talented Opaki trained galloper Rebels Ransom is due to step out at Trentham tomorrow after two months away from the action and although owner-trainer Polly Macdonald would have preferred a kinder draw, she will be hoping the gelding can add to his impressive record over 1600m.

Rebels Ransom will line up in the Pacific Jewellers Premier, one of the lesser races on the card that heralds the start of the Wellington Racing Club's summer carnival, but nevertheless it carries a stake of $25,000.

The gelding has drawn 14, usually regarded as far from an ideal position over the distance, but jockey Rosie Myers will try to overcome that handicap quickly and get the gelding into the race.

Rebels Ransom has won three of seven over this journey and, before going off the boil late last year, showed he had speed as a swooper to clean out his opposition at the business end of races.

Another interesting locally trained runner at Trentham is Lill, from Alby MacGregor's stable, in race 2, a maiden 1400m.

This 5-year-old mare went a slasher at Tauherenikau at New Year to finish runner-up to Popsycat over 1300m.

Lill is jointly owned by MacGregor and Masterton farrier Gavin Semmens.

In the same race, Tauherenikau trainer James Phillips has The Contender, a gelding who showed a good turn of foot at his first attempt at Waipukurau on December 4 for fourth after suffering a late check, but turned in an ordinary performance at Awapuni on Boxing Day.

On that occasion, he raced unkindly for jockey David Walker and the start could not be taken as any yardstick of his ability.

If Phillips starts him despite a horror draw, punters would be ill-advised not to include him in their multiples.

Gerald Innes has Ura Nancy entered in the same race, as first emergency, and the filly has the ace draw but remains a bit of an unknown quantity, having had only one raceday start, beating two home at Tauherenikau.

Two other runners of special interest to Wairarapa punters are Vosne Romanee in the Group 3 Trentham Stakes and Nuits St Georges in race 8. Both are owned by Martinborough vineyard owners Ian and Alana Smart and prepared at Awapuni by Jeff Lynds.

Vosne Romanee is a big-race winner although at 9 is getting on, while Nuits St Georges - from the same dam, Madison Avenue - is stepping out for the first time since late October but has had one trial to prepare.