By Mike Dillon
One of the world's great gallopers, Silver Charm, is one rival Kiwi mare Champagne probably will not have to cope with if she gets an invite for the $US5 million Dubai Cup.
Doubts are starting to surface that Silver Charm will be on hand to defend his Dubai Cup victory of last March despite making a winning return to racing in California two weeks ago.
Silver Charm's owner Bob Lewis says Dubai is a "question mark."
"If he went and was fortunate enough to win two years in a row, that's a feat that would go down in thoroughbred history.
"But I've learned as an owner not to set plans in concrete because too often they can go astray."
Interesting to note is trainer Bob Baffert's opinion on what makes Silver Charm so great.
"That grey gene... Spectacular Bid, Holy Bull, Skip Away. I think it gives horses superpowers.
"Humans too," he added, patting his greying hair.
Coleman back to ride
Michael Coleman will have no trouble slotting back in here when he returns later this week after spending the past 12 months riding in Singapore.
For the past year we have been through the weakest top-end jockeys ranks in New Zealand in memory and suddenly things have got stronger.
Lance O'Sullivan is back as if he had never been away, Jim Collett is through his physical problems and Michael Coleman will definitely add further strength.
Now we need Chris Johnson to put his hand up again.
Johnson is back home from an extended overseas jaunt away from racing, but there is no hint yet of a return to the saddle.
Let's hope it comes soon.
Rolls' and rickshaws
A lovely analogy by God's ex-jockey Darren Beadman in his racing column in Sydney at the weekend.
Beadman was commenting on the debut of Cox Plate winner Dane Ripper's little brother Dane Bridge at Randwick on Saturday.
Noting that racing is full of brothers and sisters with vastly differing abilities, Beadman said his experience has been that while champions felt like Rolls Royces, their younger brothers and sisters, more often than not, feel like rickshaws.
For the record, Dane Bridge made a winning debut.
And the favourite is…
No clear favourite for Saturday's $300,000 Fosters Wellington Cup emerged from the results of the weekend's racing.
Auckland Cup winner Irish Chance tops the TAB's early odds at $6, but only just from the $6.50 on offer on Shan's Beau and Beechwood Road, with Dannevegas, Ed and Denholm right in the market at $8.
Next come Honourable ($10), Emerald and Random Thoughts on $14 and Believer on $16.
Not surprisingly, Surface is favourite at $4.75 for the Thorndon Mile after his Anniversary Handicap victory, but only just from Oregon Power ($5) with Surface's stable-mate Egoli Lass at $7.
The value is the $10 for Fatal, who was desperately unlucky in the Anniversary Handicap, being locked away behind the leaders on the rail for the entire length of the home straight.
Had Fatal received the gap when rider Peter Johnson wanted it at the 350m, he porbably would have burst through and had two and a half lengths on Surface, which the favourite would have been hard pressed to make up.
Fatal drops to a comfortable 53.5kg in the Thorndon.
Horse Racing: Dubai defense doubtful
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