Sir Patrick Hogan is nervous.
He's not at all happy the group one Thorndon Mile is being run before the Wellington Cup at Trentham on Saturday.
Sir Patrick is desperate that his dual green Irish colours be carried by Michael Walker when he rides his first group one winner.
He has no doubt his mare Smiling Like will carry Walker to victory in the group one Wellington Cup, but he is concerned the champion jockey's group one dream may be realised a couple of races earlier, aboard Country Rose in the Thorndon.
"Smiling Like will win the cup," said Sir Patrick without a sliver of doubt yesterday.
"And I really want my colours carried by Michael in that first big win."
Then the Irish glint crept into Sir Patrick's eyes.
"If Michael wins I might take him to Dubai to ride Pinctada Pearl in the Pearls Of Dubai in March.
"I repeat, might.
"Michael kept me waiting when he declared he might ride Smiling Like in the Wellington Cup and I always like to treat people as they treat me - with love and kindness.
"I might take Michael to Dubai."
* * *
Frank Ritchie let out a big breath when he read the results of a scan on Showella's dodgy leg.
The scan showed the pastern ligament strain which destroyed her Caulfield and Melbourne cup hopes has left no permanent damage.
The talented mare is now on track to resume her career in the $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint on February 10 or the 1400m weight-for-age fillies and mares race at Tauranga a week later.
"Probably it will be Tauranga because it gives me an extra week," said Ritchie yesterday.
Showella will be aimed at the three big weight-for-age races in Sydney, the Ranvet Stakes, Mercedes Classic and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, luck deserting her in the Ranvet and Mercedes last autumn.
* * *
Travellin' Man will be missing from the Waikato Draught Sprint.
The unlucky beaten favourite in Monday's $130,000 Telegraph at Trentham will be getting his passport ready for a trip to Melbourne.
Running Travellin' Man at weight-for-age and the horse's age are two factors steering trainer Tony Cole away from Te Rapa.
"Four-year-olds are not suited to weight-for-age racing and if he won that race it would slaughter his level in the handicaps forever - he'd be a weight-for-age horse for the rest of his career."
As a relative newcomer to the top grades, Travellin' Man carried only 52kg in the Telegraph and Cole reasons it is time to pick up a decent race while the horse still has that opportunity before climbing in the handicap.
"I'm just getting the programmes together at the moment to see what we'll aim at.
"Melbourne is a bit quieter and will suit him better than the hustle and bustle of Sydney racing. He's a country boy at heart and likes it a bit steady."
Travellin' Man is not a zip sprint horse who can accelerate quickly, rather he needs to keep his momentum rolling, which is what hampered him on Monday.
You can imagine Flemington being his ideal track.
* * *
Also heading to Australia are stablemates Danamite and The Pumper, the first two home on Monday's $50,000 Wellington Stakes.
"But I'm not sure what I will aim them at," said trainer Roger James.
"The Australian Guineas is a possibility, but only a slim one. They've brought it back to 1600m - had it been 2000m it would have been ideal for both of them."
James said he would like to think both horses will end up in the AJC Derby field at Easter.
Danamite showed his appreciation of the firmer Trentham track on Monday after struggling with the easy footing in the Derby at Ellerslie at his previous start.
* * *
Former jumps jockey Snooky Cowan knew he was heading north not south after winning Monday's $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude at Trentham with Coup Ray.
Cowan has won the Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie, but Monday was the first time he had produced a horse he trained to the races north of Canterbury and he is now aiming Coup Ray at the $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Classique at Te Rapa on Saturday week.
Coup Ray is one of 35 horses raced by the South Island's biggest racing benefactor, Ray Coupland, of Couplands Bakeries. Coup Ray is by Exploding Prospect.
Racing: Confident Hogan wants Walker to win with a smile
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