Racing: Distance should suit Zabene

The 2400m of the Dunedin Gold Cup at Wingatui today should suit Zabene even better than the 2000m of the cup trial he won at Riccarton last Saturday.

Zabene managed 3200m in November to finish second to My Scotsgrey in the New Zealand Cup.

The Zabeel gelding was runner up in the Gold Cup (2500m) on the first day of the cup meeting.

Jason Collett, who rode him last Saturday, has retained the mount.

Collett is also aboard The Beekeeper in one of the day's other features, the Dunedin Guineas.

Natasha Collett, who has ridden The Beekeeper in her wins at Dargaville and Rotorua, has the mount on Tea For Two, trained by Kenny and Lisa Rae at Ruakaka.

The Drama Critic gelding won a 1200m maiden on his home track last month.

The Rae stable are also represented by Cassius, who followed a maiden win at Greymouth with a second at Riccarton last week.

The Beekeeper, from the Pukekohe stable of Richard Collett, could prove a worthy opponent for Chaparella, impressive winner of the Gore Guineas (1355m) on January 23.

Chaparella has pleased her North Taieri trainer Steven Prince since her win.

"She has come through the race good and worked well on Wednesday," Prince said.

"There is nothing much of her but she has a good physique."

Lesley Brook, who ran fourth in the Gore Guineas, is the hope of trainer Terry Kennedy, owner Fred King and jockey Chris Johnson. They combined to win the race last year with Miss Millbrook.

Jason Laking is wasting to ride Westend Lady in the Eclipse Stakes.

Laking does not usually ride below 54.5kg, but Westend Lady has 53kg and trainer Steven Anderton said he was prepared to put up half a kilogram overweight to retain Laking.

The Ashburton jockey has ridden Westend Lady to win at Gore and Wingatui in her past two starts.

"She is really well," Anderton said.

Coup Align, who was unsuited by a rain-affected track when seventh in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham at his last start, is obviously the horse to beat in the Eclipse.

He won a maiden race at Wingatui 16 months ago.

His trainer Michael Pitman has Eel Win and Coup Bloomsbury in the $70,000 White Robe Lodge Handicap. Eel Win won the race last year with 56.5kg when ridden by David Walsh.

Coup Bloomsbury won in 2006 with 54.5kg in the hands of Elin Whittle. Darryl Bradley has the mount on Eel Win today. Lisa Allpress is on board Coup Bloomsbury.

Bradley has not ridden Eel Win since he finished fourth in the 2008 Southland Guineas.

The last dual winner of the White Robe was A Gordon For Me in 1992-93. He was trained by Brian and Shane Anderton, who have Royal Flight in the field today.

The mare has had a setback with a foot abscess since she won her last start at Wingatui on December 26.