Racing: Cup betting based on dry conditions

You could open a book on rain or no rain for Auckland Cup day tomorrow.

The MetService says rain today and tomorrow, Ken Ring's 'Predict Weather', based on moon phases, says no significant rain.

Ring's forecast is for a few passing showers today, clearing by tomorrow, in which case we would be looking at an okay track at Ellerslie for the $600,000 SkyCity Auckland Cup.

This is a race that will be greatly affected by the weather - betting will switch dramatically if there is a downgrade in track conditions because of rain.

TAB bookie Ken Rutherford said there had been no detectable overall betting based on a wet forecast.

"That's apart from some significant money at $35 for Boulevardofdreams, who probably wouldn't mind a little easing of the footing."

The biggest Auckland Cup bet fielded yesterday was on Viz Vitae.

"He wouldn't appreciate too much rain, so I suppose you could say people aren't betting with a wet track in mind."

Rutherford said the TAB's Auckland Cup prices reflect the agency's attempt to balance the books rather than what TAB bookies think can win.

Pentane is the current favourite at $4.50, but second favourite Zarius is their tip.

"We're pretty keen on Zarius and we think he's value at $5."

Zarius looked good winning the 2400m City Of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and ran home strongly into equal third to record the fastest last sectional of the 2200m Nathans Memorial at Ellerslie at Saturday's meeting.

Trainer Mark Walker continues to be pleased with the Zabeel stayer, who will once again be ridden by Lisa Cropp.

The Cambridge-based premiership-leading jockey will start a two-week suspension after tomorrow's meeting.

Rutherford said the TAB is expecting massive betting close to the race on Pentane, Zarius and Kerry O'Reilly.

"We believe the money will be big for the trio."

* It seemed a big call for the Auckland Racing Club to develop the Auckland Cup as its race that stops a nation.

But there is one sign that the race has generated enough interest to at least start it down a Melbourne Cup-like path.

The Waikato Racing Club will operate what is essentially a phantom meeting on its Te Rapa course tomorrow afternoon, with a big screen in operation and, it says, prizes galore.