Racing: Change will do Viennetta good

SYDNEY - Manawatu trainer Peter Hurdle hopes to get Viennetta's spring programme back on track in the Sofitel Stakes at Flemington today.

Hurdle brought the talented mare to Melbourne with a planned three-race campaign, starting with the group three Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on August 19.

That was to be followed by today's group one Let's Elope Stakes and culminating with the group one Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 23.

But the mare took a while to settle in after her flight from New Zealand and in the circumstances was a creditable fifth in the Cockram.

That meant she couldn't qualify for the Let's Elope Stakes because of her lack of prizemoney, so Hurdle has opted to run her in the A$100,000 ($119,000) Sofitel over 1400m instead.

"If we had opted out of the Cockram and waited for a race at Moonee Valley last weekend, it probably would have been a lot better," Hurdle said.

"Then she might have got into the Let's Elope.

"But our feeling at the time was that she had come for black type (a stakes races), so we started in that race."

Hurdle feels Viennetta will have to win the Sofitel to qualify for the Sir Rupert Clarke and was pleased to get the barrier draw of two for today.

"The 1400m is more her go. She should run well," he said.

"She is still on the way up and not at her peak yet but she is getting there."

Scott Seamer rides her today.

Hurdle said she had improved since the Cockram, in which she was caught three wide and battled on well in the straight.

Hurdle wouldn't have the prizemoney worries had Viennetta kept the group one $100,000 Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha in April, but she was relegated to third in a controversial judicial decision.

"If she kept that group one race she would have been all right," he said.

Hurdle says there were a lot of stayers starting their campaigns in the Sofitel, so he rates her a solid chance.

"She should get a good run from that barrier draw."

One of Viennetta's opponents is Atapi, one of two horses New Zealand trainer Richard Otto has based in Seymour, Victoria, for the spring.

Atapi doesn't have a flash fresh-up record and has a awkward barrier draw of 13, but he is smart on his day. Otto is aiming him at the group one Emirates Stakes on the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, on November 11.

Otto's other Melbourne runner, Penitentiary, lines up in the group three Bobbie Lewis (1200m). He will be an outsider, but does have a good record while fresh.

Sphenophyta, who was formerly with Otto, makes his debut for the Lee Freedman stable in the group one Craiglee Stakes.

The highly promising stayer impressed the stable with a win at the Cranbourne trials last week and it was reported that he worked strongly for race rider Jim Byrne at Freedman's Markdell property this week.

The Mike Moroney-trained The One has his second Melbourne start in the Danehill Stakes (1200m), after a creditable sixth in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield three weeks ago.

The One will be better over more ground, but the "straight six" course at Flemington may suit him at this stage of his preparation.

- NZPA