By MIKE DILLON
Chase Alida is up for a change-of-plans win in the $35,000 Taumarunui New World Cup at Te Rapa tomorrow.
The dogged little winter stayer was spelled after a couple of very testing runs in May and June with the idea of waiting for a couple of major targets next month, but freshened quicker than expected.
"We planned on giving him three weeks in the paddock with the idea of having a crack at either the Foxbridge Plate or the Winter Cup at Riccarton," said co-owner John Oatham.
"But he had only two weeks out and started working like a horse who had had no time off at all."
Chase Alida was second to Blown Away at Tauranga on June 24.
Many of his best efforts have been when he has been a shade on the fresh side.
"A little time off seems to help him as much mentally as anything else," said Oatham.
Peter Johnson, who knows Chase Alida well, is in the saddle.
While Auckland had no rain on Wednesday, 24mm fell at Te Rapa and with rain expected overnight, the footing will be very testing. Chase Alida has shown he can handle the worst of winter tracks and will be hard to beat if his fitness is up to the mark, which Oatham believes it is.
It may not be the greatest Taumarunui Cup field on record, but there are plenty of winning chances.
Velodium loves the wettest, deepest winter tracks and is going to love what he finds tomorrow. His last-start close second to Hangover Harry in the Te Awamutu Cup was the run of an improver and he should now be fully fit after four races this campaign.
Born again St Petrus could not hold out Secret Devil at Ruakaka last start, but the other horse came at him too quickly to give him the chance to fight back effectively.
He is in the best form of his career and is better placed on this track than at Ruakaka, even though the opposition is tougher.
Master Pom is the big improver and you had to like the way he fought back to win at Ellerslie last week when he looked to be under pressure halfway down the straight.
The very testing track may not completely suit his front running style, but he will fight for a long way.
Patronage is the enigma. At his best he would win this from 52kg and you have to decide whether his last-start second in an ordinary field at Trentham has ended his shocking run of form, or whether the lack of class there was responsible.
Being a course winner is not the only recommendation My Willie Montague has for the second leg of the TAB double, the Kevey's Transport 2100.
He looked unlucky under 58kg when second at Avondale last start and is dropping back in class for this race.
The 56kg looks more comfortable and he will have no problems with the footing.
Racing: Chase cuts short time out
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