Racing: Awkward draw does favourite no favours

Jim Gibbs wasn't chuckling too much when he saw the barrier draws for tomorrow's Pukekohe meeting.

His high class stayer Kerry O'Reilly drew No 18 of the 19 acceptors in the $100,000 Eagle Technology Counties Cup and comeback sprinter Vinaka has drawn awkwardly at No 8 in the $30,000 Ekraar Trophy.

Kerry O'Reilly looked on track to be the prominent player in the big summer cups series when he won over 2100m at Te Rapa last start.

That was only his second start back from a winter break and his first over a middle distance this preparation and can only have improved him.

"Even though he tends to get back in his races the draw is not helpful," said Gibbs.

Kerry O'Reilly has a devastating finishing sprint, but you would prefer not to have to produce it from last if Cameron Lammas is unable to slot the horse into the body of the field early and has to resort to dropping back to avoid covering extra ground.

"I'm very happy with him," said Gibbs, who will re-apply a set of blinkers to Kerry O'Reilly tomorrow.

Kerry O'Reilly has not raced at Pukekohe, but the big, expansive track will suit him perfectly. If he is anywhere near the first half of the field as they swing into the home straight he will take a lot of keeping out.

Zabeat showed his liking for the big roomy Pukekohe track in winning at his only appearance there.

The Wellington Cup winner was impressive in resuming with a 1600m win at Ellerslie and will appreciate the step up to 2100m.

Right in his favour is the fact that the footing should be firm.

Donna Logan was thinking she would scratch topweight El Duce tomorrow morning if the track came up firm, which would allow the old timer's younger brother El Perez back into the field.

El Perez has yet to tackle an open class race, but he is extremely promising and is not without a lightweight's chance.

You can forget he went around in the Dargaville Cup last start. He drew No 13 of the 14 runners, Lee Tiley was unable to find the inside fence and he covered a lot of extra ground. The 51kg is the key to his upset prospects.

Haylee Haylee and Our Kitty are a couple of mares who should pick up a good race in the next six weeks.

Our Kitty has been brought along steadily with these cups in mind and her latest form, although it does not include a win, has been excellent.

She can really finish off her races when in form and Noel Harris has the tough job of finding her the right passage from the outside gate.

With a 211221 formline, you cannot ignore Haylee Baylee. She has yet to tackle 2100m, but the day she stormed home to push St Reims to a short neck decision over 2000m at Hastings three starts back at Hastings in August, she indicated she was capable of getting it.

Gibbs is not expecting too much from Vinaka in the sprint, although he expects to see something in the veteran's first start back following an unsuccessful term in Singapore.

"I think he'll run a cheeky race, but he's pretty burly. There is a lot of speed inside him from the gate and he won't get too many favours from No 8. I can't really see him finishing in the money, but a first-five finish would be good.

"If he's going to successfully come back then he'll produce something."