By MIKE DILLON
"I don't want to be smart," said Colin Jillings, and he didn't.
"But we set this mare for the Auckland Cup a fair while back."
Classic Babe had finally confirmed she was a serious contender for Monday's $350,000 Westbury Stud Auckland Cup by winning the $21,000 Nathans Memorial Handicap at Ellerslie yesterday.
If timing is critical in winning a race like the Auckland Cup, this was precision.
A few weeks back Classic Babe was a handy performer in useful class.
Yesterday she proved she was a serious Auckland Cup hope in coming from what looked an impossible position at the home turn to win the race that guaranteed her an Auckland Cup start.
Lance O'Sullivan admitted that when he was second last on the home turn he was a bit worried about co-trainer Colin Jillings' words when he legged him aboard Classic Babe.
"My last instructions were: "She has to win to get in the cup."
Colin Jillings could not wait to have O'Sullivan on in the jockeys' room.
"You did the same thing to me when you rode Tycoon Lil at Tauranga one day," he said with a laugh. "You wanted to try her out and you did the same with this mare."
O'Sullivan had had a few Auckland Cup options leading into yesterday's race, but wasted no time confirming Classic Babe as his ride.
"She relaxed beautifully for me today. I could have gone more forward in the race, but I thought the Auckland Cup is only five days away and it's better to let her relax and find her own way."
O'Sullivan sees the relaxation factor as very important.
"She's not going to pull or anything in the cup.
"I can drop her back and she will totally go to sleep."
O'Sullivan has respect in the cup for Armacup Queen Elizabeth winner Nikisha, Ebony Honor and No Alimony, the latter his Queen Elizabeth mount and the horse he put behind him to ride Classic Babe.
"Like Classic Babe, Nikisha has no weight and with Noel Harris riding her she rates, while Ebony Honor was just beaten in the Avondale Cup and here the other day."
There is not a lot of Classic Babe and a key to her Auckland Cup chances lie in the fact she drops from 56kg yesterday to 52kg.
"She doesn't have a lot of size, but she's tough," said co-trainer Richard Yuill.
AUCKLAND CUP, $350,000, 3200m. - Our Unicorn (22) 56.5; Kaapeon (12), Magic Winner (19) 55.5; Faiross (9), Reign Supreme (17) 55; Desert Rain (15), No Alimony (6), Rijeka (4) 54.5; Count Cristo (20), Edberg (3), Smiling Like (1) 54; Classic Spirit (5), Paddy Maloney (13) 53.5; Armstrong (7), Blazing (14), Nikisha (2) 53; Classic Babe (11), Ebony Honor (18) 52; Millenium Star (10) 52.5; Kickit (21), Mr Brook (8), Sellabrate (16) 52. Ems: Millenium Star, Kickit, Mr Brook, Sellabrate.
Racing: Babe arrives just in time for cup
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