By Mike Dillon
Punters betting pre-raceday rate Surface a good thing for tomorrow's $100,000 Classic Hits Challenge at Hastings, but Noel Eales is being even more cautious than usual.
Eales knows Surface's job of picking up electric leader Hero is probably tougher than the $2.60 price punters had him at with the TAB last night.
If Hero strips in the same condition which saw him tear around the Hastings 1400m in a sizzling 1.21.47 when he met Surface three weeks ago, there is no guarantee he won't be able to sustain the effort for another 200m this time Trainer Jim Campin said even before Hero's fresh-up win he believed the horse would stretch his form this season to 1600m from his pet trip of 1400m.
Hero will lead. Surface will probably be giving him five lengths start on the corner. Last start Surface ran his final 600m half a second faster than Hero and still finished three lengths behind.
That's the problem facing Surface again. The 1600m will help him, but he's still going to need to be closer to Hero than last time.
With a big Australian campaign ahead starting Tuesday, Noel Eales does not want to bustle Surface by riding him for speed and turning his usual pattern upside down.
"The 1600m at Hastings depends more on luck than on tactics. You have to wait and see what happens to your luck in the first 200m before you can plan," said Eales.
"He's better when balanced up for a sprint home so we can't change that much."
The tactics will be as fascinating as the result.
While his effort was lost in the excitement up front, Oregon Power turned in a good finish from well back behind Hero when resuming from a spell.
Like Surface, he is much better at 1600m and he will be running home strongly.
Kasman is likely to be an even shorter favourite to keep his unbeaten record intact in the $40,000 Hawkes Bay Guineas.
The half brother to group one-winning Australian sprinter Dantelah looks exceptional and should have the edge.
Having landed the No 1 barrier draw Paul O'Sullivan is in with a top chance of taking both 3-year-old features by adding the $40,000 Highview Stakes with Tristachine.
The Sir Tristram filly showed a lot of class as a juvenile last season, but was probably not at her best all the way through. She could be in for a huge second season.
But it won't be easy for her. Party Queen is unbeaten in three attempts and has superior fitness to the fresh-up runners, although the No 11 barrier will not be easy to overcome in what will be a speed race.
Superjet is classy and will run well fresh, but also has a wide draw to contend with.
Horse Racing: Surface will need some luck
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