By Mike Dillon
Sheila Laxon would love to emulate husband Laurie by scoring her first group one training success in Ellerslie's Easter Handicap - but she has hit a bump in the road.
Laxon was last night struggling to secure a suitable rider for Cheerful after Tony Allan declared himself for the likely favourite Volkaire.
"I think Cheerful is a real chance to win the Easter," said Sheila Laxon last night.
Laurie Laxon scored the first of a lengthy list of group one career victories when he produced Silver Wraith to win under Peter Johnson in 1978.
Shiela Laxon was certain she had secured Allan's services when she spoke to him on Monday morning.
"I told Tony Cheerful was a certain starter unless it poured with rain and when we finished the conversation I was under the impression he was engaged."
Allan said from Te Rapa races yesterday that he had been swinging between three rides, Cheerful, Volkaire and Legal Regal.
"Cheerful wasn't going to run if it was wet, Legal Regal wasn't going to run unless it was wet and Volkaire was going to start regardless of the conditions," Allan said.
"I thought hard about it and decided Volkaire was the best ride."
There is irony in the way the situation developed. Volkaire was to have been ridden by Lance O'Sullivan, who was suspended for this weekend when finishing third, later relegated to fifth, on Cheerful at Paeroa on Sunday.
Late yesterday Sheila Laxon provided Cheerful's owner Peter Vela with a short list of who was still available to ride in the Easter Handicap.
"I'm really happy with her," said Laxon. "She's a very gross type and it's taken a few starts to get her really fit.
"Sunday's race has done her the world of good and this morning she was absolutely full of herself."
Cheerful has had four starts for three wins at Ellerslie.
Volkaire, like Cheerful, is short on experience and big on talent. He has had only 10 starts for five wins and while he is giving away battle hardness on Saturday, co-trainer Kevin Gray says the timing is pretty good.
"He's a smart horse and you have to give him a chance at a big stake like the Easter while he's got no weight in the handicaps. Next year might be too late," he said yesterday.
Volkaire and O'Sullivan were unlucky when third to Integrate in the Japan/NZ International Tauranga last night and Gray is very happy with the way the horse has trained on.
Last night the TAB early odds had Integrate favourite at $5, Volkaire following on $6 with last year's winner Aimee Jay at $7.50 and Trounced on $9.
Horse Racing: Cheerful has late change of rider
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