Racing: Birchley has cigars ready

Liam Birchley sees a big difference between Sister Havana and last year's runnerup in the $1 million Karaka Million, Sarge In Charge.

But the Queensland trainer says more in terms of the way they race than in ability levels.

"Sarge in Charge was a get-back horse, whereas this filly can jump and run.

"She has the speed to take advantage of her inside barrier."

There is a warning of a massive performance by Sister Havana when you analyse her three-start Australian form.

Birchley thought enough of her to take her down to Sydney for the A$100,000 Gimcrack Stakes.

"She was very unlucky in that," says Birchley.

"She couldn't find racing room and went to the line hard held."

Sister Havana won by nearly four lengths at her second start at Doomben on January 2 and was once again denied racing room when beaten into fourth, less than half a length from the winner at Eagle Farm on January 16.

Had she won all three of those races she would be opening at $1.30 at Ellerslie on Sunday.

The TAB's market for the race was not on the website yesterday.

Liam Birchley brought his trackwork rider, former topline Queensland jockey Allan Russell, to Auckland to ride Sister Havana in a light workout on Wednesday.

"I've never come across a better judge of trackwork than Allan in my time in racing," said Birchley.

Russell gave up riding around six years ago and has worked for Birchley for 10 years. Birchley did not give up what Russell told him of the workout, but you get the impression it wasn't discouraging.

The ever-changing weather forecast for the weekend, which yesterday suggested rain for Sunday, does not concern Birchley.

"I walked the track on Wednesday morning and it's pretty firm. It'll take significant rain to make a big difference.

"The track was close enough to slow when she ran in the Gimcrack and she's out of a Canny Lad mare and he leaves wet-track horses. I'm not at all worried."