Racing: Big guns holding firepower

Interesting that the trainers of the two standout horses, Zvezda and Leica Guv, in the big race at Te Awamutu tomorrow are not falling over with confidence.

Emma-Lee Browne is hopeful rather than confident Leica Guv can reproduce his runaway victory at Ellerslie last start and Kay Lane has concerns over track conditions for Zvezda.

Lane is reasonably confident Zvezda will cope with the footing, but she feels a very testing track will take the 1600m race out to beyond the horse's distance capabilities.

Zvezda is a group one winner at 1600m, but Lane feels a combination of the 58kg and heavy conditions might see her stable star struggle late in the race.

"He was able to claim down to 55kg when he won at Te Rapa last start, but it will be a different story this time."

Leica Guv won by 6.25 lengths over this distance at Ellerslie last start.

Although Leica Guv is a 2400m Derby winner and a joint winner of a Counties Cup, she does not consider him a true stayer.

"He's a good 2000m horse, but beyond that perhaps not."

The theory of keeping him fresh to run a zippy 1600m seems to be working and Browne says the horse feels as though he will cope well again.

"He's freshened up again really well.

"This is a bit tougher field than he beat last time, but we're hoping he runs well."

On paper the Opunake Cup at Hawera in two weeks looks ideal for Leica Guv, but Browne says the rising 8-year-old would have to win very impressively to be there.

"He's just not as good racing left-handed, so we'll try to find him another 1600m going this same way around."

Leica Guv shared the lead when he won at Ellerslie, but Browne does not expect the same tactics.

"If he could lead easily on his own he'd be fine, but if Opie [Bosson] pushes him to lead he won't be.

"I'd be happy to see him just behind the speed."

Lane is a little concerned Zvezda's Te Rapa race was a month ago.

"He had a 1200m jump-out at Levin, which he won easily, but it's not the same as a race."

Art Link is coming off a very good second - albeit beaten 11 lengths - to Miles in the Rotorua Cup.

Normally it would be difficult dropping back from 2200m to 1600m, but this race is likely to be so testing that some of the down side of that has been removed.

Noel Harris now knows Art Link well and has said for some time he believes the horse will win a decent handicap this winter.

If the two favourites flounder, this could be it.

Beau Casual impressed beating a 3-year-old field at Rotorua last start, but this is a lot harder.

There are no apprentice allowances here and even though on the bottom weight of 53kg, the 3-year-old Beau Casual does not look that well off against the older experienced horses further up in the handicap.

* Latest betting: Te Awamutu Cup, $30,000, opn hcp, 1600m (run at Te Awamutu tomorrow):

$3.50 Zvezda; $4 Leica Guv; $6.50 Dead Common, Art Link; $7.50 Luckshan; $11 Something Majic; $14 Beau Casual; $15 Catalina Lady; $22 Caballos; $28 Catchmeifyoucan.