Racing: Change is positive for Lilakyn

You would have thought Lilakyn's trainer Guy Lowry would have welcomed yesterday's news that in-form northerner Pretorius was not running in tomorrow's $80,000 Manawatu Cup.

He didn't. "I was hoping Pretorius would run because we wanted some speed in the race," said Lowry.

Lilakyn faces a tough task with 57kg topweight, but has earned her position in the handicap - her 2400m win in the $45,000 Wanganui Cup last start was as easy a victory as we've seen this year.

Lowry could not be happier with the Danehill daughter of the Derby-winning mare Popsy.

"You're never confident in races like this, but everything has fallen into place.

"Traditionally she has never been a good doer, but six or seven weeks ago she changed tune and away we've gone. She's a different mare now. Even mentally she's different."

Lilakyn has changed her working style too. "She still had a bit of sharpness about her before Wanganui, but she's lost that now - she's working more like a 3200m horse."

The Manawatu Cup will be a dour contest well suited to Lilakyn's new demeanour.

The pace that Pretorius may have contributed to should be set up by Kajema, who made a good job of leading the Avondale Cup field for the last two-thirds of the race.

Kajema looked likely to win at the 200m and may have been more difficult to get past had Creil not swamped him late, giving him no opportunity to fight back.

Lilakyn is heading to the Wellington Cup. "The biggest problem now is the weight she will have to carry."

Lowry said the fact that Lilakyn has not been seen in the north is not indicative of trying to avoid the better class horses.

"She's simply not able to gallop right-handed.

"The year she had off was because she broke down in a ligament when we worked her right-handed.

"This year I nominated her for the Counties Cup on the way to the Avondale Cup, but when we gave her one gallop right-handed she hung off the track so badly we had to abandon the plans. It's a shame, but we are resigned to the fact that she'll have to be kept to left-handed racing."

Even without Pretorious there is plenty of talent to test Lilakyn.

Northern mares Sideto Emdeca and Mistrale are both very capable and Madam Shinko has been brought along with this race specifically in mind.

Madam Shinko has been toughened by racing and travel - trainer Jim Wallace travelled her to an Avondale meeting from Opaki on December 3.

Mistrale finished at the back of the field in the Avondale Cup, but was one of those who was flushed out very wide on the home bend when the field fanned.

Her fourth behind Kerry O'Reilly in the Counties Cup at Te Rapa at her previous start was a better indication of her chances here.