Racing: Baldessarini is burning hot

Tuhikaramea co-trainer Stephen Autridge loves this kind of pressure.

Ten months of waiting and planning for just 68 of the season's most nerve-wracking seconds.

Not even the presence of raging Telegraph Handicap favourite Baldessarini is stressing Autridge too much as he puts the shine on a three-pronged attack on the group one feature at Trentham.

"I can't just stand here and say we'll beat Baldessarini, but at [Keeninsky's] best and with the right run I believe we can," said Autridge, who also saddles stablemates Pin Up Boy and Manten tomorrow.

On paper Keeninsky, a multiple group one winner and defending champ, must be the only one who has a serious shot at snuffing out the Baldessarini blast.

Anne Herbert's star was simply too good for most of the same rivals in the Railway - and he and Lisa Cropp did it from a seemingly impossible draw.

The only query for value-hungry punters - and for Autridge for that matter - is whether a fresh-up Keeninsky still has the rocket-burners on overdrive after so long in the wings.

After tailing the field home in the Newmarket at Flemington last March - his camp found a few easily remedied anatomical excuses - Keeninsky boasts just two Cambridge trials as serious comeback tune-ups.

Muscled up in front during the long break, the 4-year-old colt won the first by six lengths, before being humbled in the second by a soft track, though he was still just a head adrift of Telegraph rival Gee I Jane at the line.

"He's as fit as I can get him without a race," confirmed Autridge on Wednesday night.

"For the last six weeks I've been very happy with the horse. Raceday fitness is a hard thing to get at home, but each time we've asked him to perform fresh he has delivered."

Despite the fitness question marks, Autridge said he'd never been tempted to give Keeninsky a raceday warm-up for the Telegraph.

"The Telegraph is the only left-hand 1200m race for him, that's just the way it is," he said.

"And it's the only race that's going to make his stud career look better if he wins it again."

Autridge said Keeninsky, who jumps from the leader-friendly five barrier, doesn't have to dictate the pace for regular rider Allan Peard tomorrow.

Perennial leader Royal Entertainer will make the early pattern interesting, especially as Lee Tiley has little option but to push forward from their 10 gate.

But Autridge wants to see Keeninsky and Peard no worse than one back, preferably on the paint, or at worst flushed one off with some cover.

If there is a chink in Keeninsky's comeback, Autridge's Railway placegetter Pin Up Boy should be somewhere in the mix to capitalise.

While he has right-hand wins on the board, since a knee operation Autridge is convinced he's even sharper the Trentham way round.

"He's improved a bit since Ellerslie as well," said Autridge.

"He's a lovely little horse who tries his hardest and he's going better than ever right now."

With Keeninsky in the field, however, Autridge won't be looking for rider Michael Coleman to repeat the horse's front-running role at Trentham.

Stable third-string Manten willget even further off the speed from his outside alley for Darryl Bradley.

But Autridge isn't bothered by the visitor's marble.

After his impressive win-from-the-rear at Woodville a fortnight back, the classy chestnut was always going to be ridden well off the pace.

Manten and Bradley found another gear using those tactics at Woodville, blasting past Telegraph rival Mi Jubilee to easily seal a start tomorrow.

Gee I Jane also has the kind of finish to win a race like the Telegraph.

An unlucky Telegraph loser last year when favourite, Gee I Jane again had no luck in a couple of Australian campaigns since.

Her Railway second to Baldessarini suggests she's back to her best; Australian star Scott Seamer was impressed enough to return tomorrow for another ride.