Racing: Cedar Manor ready for Avondale Guineas

Cedar Manor has had more racing this season than any three-year-old in New Zealand.

But that hasn't dented the confidence of trainer Stephen Autridge leading into the $70,000 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie today.

While most New Zealand-trained three-year-olds were competing in short distance events, Cedar Manor was extremely busy in Australia.

Cedar Manor last raced in the Victoria Derby over 2500 metres at Flemington Racecourse when unplaced.

Since returning to New Zealand, he has had a 10 day break and a barrier trial to bring him back to full fitness for the Avondale Guineas. Autridge is tipping a big performance in the 2000 metre event at Ellerslie.

"Some people would think that it's a strange type of preparation for a New Zealand Derby tilt racing in Sydney and Melbourne but he's handled everything thrown at him," said Autridge.

"Leith [Innes, jockey] was impressed with the way he performed at a recent trial at Cambridge and having an extra week to prepare for this race has helped.

"I expect him to go very well in the Avondale Guineas and he's very forward for this race.

"It's important that he has a hit out before the (NZ) Derby and with a horse like Able Standard in the field I expect the pace to be very genuine.

"It'll also be interesting to get a line on all the other three-year-olds that are racing at Ellerslie.

"There's a lot of competition this year to qualify horses for the Derby."

The Avondale Guineas was to have been held at Avondale last Saturday but the meeting was cancelled.

The Auckland RC and Avondale JC then agreed to run it today.

It fits nicely with the feature event today - the $60,000 Mercedes Bonecrusher Stakes.

Both events give trainers, owners and punters an ideal opportunity to assess the form of the majority of leading three-year-olds heading into the $500,000 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Autridge will also start Cheshire, Ubettabelieveit and Zagata in the Bonecrusher Stakes.

"Cheshire is a very good staying type of three-year-old but he may lack that brilliance of some horses over 2100 metres.

"He'll run out 2400 metres better than most of the three-year-olds and he's won two races in a row against older horses. I think he'll surprise a few people in the Derby.

"Ubettabelieveit slipped at the start of his last-start at Te Rapa and that unsettled him and he dropped out quickly.

"From a handy draw in the Bonecrusher Stakes he could upset.

"Zagata needs a scratching to get a start and he's still a maiden but he's shown enough promise to warrant a shot at a race like this."