Racing: Aussie raider leaves no doubt about his class

Tony Vasil made a big call at Ellerslie yesterday - he rode the $200,000 Railway Handicap favourite Not A Single Doubt himself in a gallop between races.

But that's not unusual, the Melbourne trainer rides most of the fast work himself at home.

Railway rider Lisa Cropp was sitting in the jockeys' room and the usual practice would have been to allow her a feel of the horse before the group one premier sprint at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Vasil was matter of fact in the extreme when he said: "She's never sat on his back."

It was not a smart comment, it is simply that Vasil has always believed that he learns so much more about where he is with his horses if he rides them in just about all their fast work.

"I'm not saying that in a derogatory way about Lisa, but I can draw a comparison to what I know he's like if I ride him.

"With a horse that's had a few starts in their campaign I can determine whether it worked better than just before its last win, whether it's gone forward, or whether it's on the slide backwards.

"You tend to get a handle on your horse."

That is important in this case because Not A Single Doubt has yet to start from Vasil's stable and he is being aimed at New Zealand's best sprint.

Vasil rode class act Elvstroem in all his work before winning the Victoria Derby a year ago and before Elvstroem took this year's Caulfield Cup.

"Lisa can ride him raceday," said Vasil of his class sprinter.

And she can't wait.

Cropp was wide-eyed at the brilliance Not A Single Doubt showed when Vasil finally asked him to stretch out from the 200m.

And she was not the only one.

Veteran Matamata trainer Jim Gibbs is probably not that easily impressed and he held the same opinion as Cropp.

"I couldn't believe what I saw," said Cropp. "He's just so fast.

"He only has to do that again to win."

Not A Single Doubt was not out to break records at Ellerslie yesterday.

"He trialled in Melbourne last Tuesday and did sufficient then to top him off for this. He was out there today only to do maintenance work.

"He worked quite nicely without having to test him right out."

Not A Single Doubt took off from the 1000m, running the full distance in 1.4.99, the 800m in 49.93 and the 600 in 34.77.

Even though that 600m time was very slippery, he was not anywhere near top gear until the 200m.

"He's a very serious racehorse," said Vasil.

Not A Single Doubt was trained by Graeme Rogerson for his 2-year-old racing last season, winning three times and finishing second to Dance Hero in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast track.

He has been with Vasil for the last eight weeks.

"He did his pre-training with a guy called Rick Worthington up in New South Wales. He did all his foundation work there and I've had plenty of time to fine tune him and get him fit."

Not A Single Doubt's owners, Arrowfield Stud, were keen to tackle the major Victorian sprints in the autumn and to that end it bought out Rogerson and his stable clients and sent the colt south to Vasil.

Not A Single Doubt is a typical Australian sprinter, close coupled and very strong across the back.

Vasil calls him a "thick-set horse." He is currently the $4 Railway favourite after an avalanche of money from both sides of the Tasman destroyed his opening quote of $14.

The Melbourne trainer was impressed with the condition of the Ellerslie course proper and is hoping the rain stays away for the big race.

He also wants a dry track for his $350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup runner Bondy, who had a solo gallop 30 minutes before Not A Single Doubt.

Bondy's form has essentially been in second-rate stayers' events in Melbourne, but Vasil warns not to judge him on that.

He said the races he has been in have been circumstantial and not an indication of his talent level.

"He has missed out on getting a run in the races he's been set for.

"Then he's had no luck or been badly ridden and he has had excuse after excuse."

Bondy galloped 1600m, the last 1000m in 1.2.53 and final 600 nicely for a 3200m horse in 35.54.

"He is much underrated and he will appreciate a massive drop in weight - he has carried 58kg in his last two starts."

Bondy is a half brother to former fine stayer Count Chivas, but bears little resemblance.

He is grey and compact. And athletic.

He has been coupled in a double with Not A Single Doubt to win $240,000 on a $1500 bet.