By BARRY STREET
Jim Wallace believes he has Baron Blue fit enough to win a second successive Te Awamutu Cup tomorrow but cannot be sure.
The trainer of several smart gallopers at Opaki, Masterton, has had Baron Blue in his stable for about six months.
Despite that, the former Takanini 5-year-old is still one of the least familiar horses in the team.
"He has only raced once for me - and that was back in early March, so I still don't know as much about him as I need to," Wallace said yesterday.
"I think I've got him fit for the 2000m but can't be positive."
Indeed, Wallace needs only to be about 90 per cent on the right mark with Baron Blue because he is dealing with a virtual fresh-up freak.
For co-owner Dianne Bowbyes, Baron Blue won his first race as a 4-year-old in runaway style and four other races on rain-affected tracks by margins of up to 12 lengths.
Mrs Bowbyes also produced him to score by a length in last year's Te Awamutu Cup even though he had not been to the races for nearly three months.
Wallace admitted yesterday that he would have preferred a lead-up to tomorrow's Windsor Park-sponsored cup or a race of a lesser distance.
"I was getting him ready for the Whyte Handicap [1600m] at Trentham next week," he explained.
"But about a month ago the owners decided they would like to try and win another Te Awamutu Cup, so I changed course then.
"When you look at the two races, I suppose it's true to say that 2000m at Te Awamutu at this time of year should be no tougher than 1600 at Trentham."
One of Baron Blue's main rivals tomorrow is one of his own ilk, Te Atatu Chap, who shocked by downing a top 1600m field on a wet track at Ellerslie on June 17 when having his first race for six months.
As would seem necessary, Te Atatu Chap has been given time to get over that effort, in which he doggedly held out Clarify by half a head.
Meantime, Clarify has underlined the value of that form by finishing third in last week's open 1600m at Avondale and earning likely favouritism for the Whyte at Trentham.
Te Awamutu, because of its turning shape, is very much a horses-for-courses track.
For that reason Count Cristo should be a must for TAB double and jackpot bettors in tomorrow's other Waipa feature, The John Gryylls Memorial Classic.
The jackpot has a guaranteed pool of $100,000.
Count Cristo is unbeaten in two starts at Te Awamutu and has a fine record over the 1600m distance of the race in honour of the late outstanding Te Awamutu jockey - six starts for two wins and two placings.
The 1600m should suit Count Cristo admirably after an unlucky third, promoted to second, over 1400m at Hastings eight days ago.
Racing: Cup again on cards for Baron
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