By BARRY STREET
Noel Harris, a scene stealer on Derby day at Ellerslie yesterday, has a choice of two good rides in the Auckland Cup on New Year's Day.
One is former Sydney Cup winner and Melbourne Cup placegetter Count Chivas, on whom Harris finished fifth in the Manawatu Cup last Saturday.
The other is Nikisha, who responded gamely to a typical Harris late challenge in the Armacup Queen Elizabeth Handicap yesterday.
A phone call last night between Harris and master Manawatu trainer Noel Eales was expected to have a big bearing on Harris's selection.
The unsound Count Chivas was felt to be feeling a hard track after the Manawatu Cup, so Harris walked him back to scale. A day later, though, there was no evidence of soreness, but Eales decided to have precautionary scans taken of the horse's legs.
"It all depends on what Noel has to say about the scans," Harris said.
Nikisha had only a faint hope of contesting the 2001 Auckland Cup until she bounced back to form yesterday with a neck win over Ebony Honour and Te Akau Jack.
She had been considered a top New Zealand Cup chance at Riccarton last month only to be ruled out of the race by a stone bruise.
In her absence, her stablemate Count Cristo managed a game second for up-and-coming Matamata trainer Katrina Alexander.
A course of swimming helped Nikisha to overcome her stone bruise but not in time for her to be back at her best for the recent Avondale and Waikato Cup carnivals.
"I was fairly confident she would be competitive today because it was her third race since the injury," Alexander said.
"She always goes well in her third race after a let-up. Winning today was a consolation prize for her missing out on the New Zealand Cup."
Alexander now considers she has two good Auckland Cup chances, even though Count Cristo failed to flatter yesterday.
Count Cristo is an "out-and-out two-miler," she said.
"He proved that with his second to Smiling Like in the New Zealand Cup, despite a rushed preparation."
Smiling Like was again one of the fastest finishers yesterday, flashing home from last into fifth - barely two lengths from the winner.
Glamour apprentice Michael Walker had only one word to describe Smiling Like's run - "huge."
Paddy Maloney (fourth) also satisfied his Auckland Cup rider, Leith Innes.
"He had a bit of a sweat up before the race, Innes said, "and covered some ground but got to the line well.
"I'd expect him to improve quite a bit with the run."
Takanini trainer Trevor McKee was neither ecstatic nor sad that Ebony Honor had to be content with another close minor placing after a nose-nose third in the Avondale Cup.
"At least his second today ensures he races again for the big money next Monday," McKee said.
Racing: Cup choice hinges on leg scan
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