Racing: Culminate put to test

A big showing from Culminate in tomorrow's $100,000 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa is VERY important to the classy mare's connections.

Culminate returned from a recent Sydney campaign specifically for this race.

The stakemoney is good but that's not the reason for Culminate taking on this race instead of the A$150,000 Emancipation Stakes at Randwick.

It's the 2000m at Te Rapa.

"Richard [Moore] has been keen to give her a run at 2000m before we turn her out to see what our options are for next season," says trainer Stephen McKee.

The second, but lesser, reason for Culminate returning home early is the risk of her training off in a foreign environment.

"You find that the longer you leave them in a temporary stabling arrangement like Sydney, the bigger the risk they'll go downhill," said McKee.

Which poses a problem for the team - if Culminate finishes mid-field tomorrow is it because she can't stay the 2000m for the first time or is it because she's come to the end of her campaign and is racing below her best?

McKee believes he has at least part of the answer to that.

"If she fails to stay you'd expect her to be not that far away because this field does not look over-strong."

It's certainly not as strong as the company Culminate mixed with in Sydney.

In her first start there she finished second, beaten by half a length, in the group one A$600,000 Coolmore Classic. It took the talented Typhoon Tracy to beat her and Culminate picked up $140,000 for her trouble.

One of the toughest to beat will be Veloce Bella.

Trainer Mark Brosnan has only one concern - the forecast rain for tomorrow.

The Travis is a late race at 4.40pm and Brosnan is hoping desperately the rain arrives after that.

Veloce Bella showed she was right back to her brilliant best when she flashed home for a close third in the group one Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha after a six-week break.

The 1600m that day was a touch short and Veloce Bella flashed home from last for third to Australian mare Dane Julia and Shanzero.

Back up to 2000m this time suits perfectly.

"She's back to her old self and she's trained on really well," said Brosnan.

The wide barrier is no issue as Veloce Bella will drop back early.

"If anything, it's a help rather than a hindrance."

If the rain arrived significantly, Material Girl will come right into it.

She was never a chance in a speed-dominated race in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie last start and the jump to 2000m is perfect.

And if the favourites are off their game there are a handful of good-value prospects, including Spirits Bay, Ebony Babe, Dutyful and Gin Dartre.

Spirits Bay looked unable to sprint off the dead Ellerslie surface at Easter and her last-start fifth was creditable.

$100,000 STAKES
* Culminate comes back from group one racing in Sydney for her first attempt at 2000m racing.
* Trainer Stephen McKee needs to determine whether the high-class mare has a 2000m future next season before spelling her.
* Veloce Bella is right back in form and likes Te Rapa.