By DANIEL GILHOOLY
SYDNEY - Matamata trainer Roger James is unsure how Danamite should attack the tricky Canterbury track from a wide draw in tonight's group one $A350,000 ($424,000) Canterbury Guineas (1900m) in Sydney.
Fine weather was expected to continue today, leaving James confident his smart three-year-old, with jockey Brian York on board, could upset former New Zealand-trained rival Sir Clive.
"I'm very, very happy with the weather and with the horse," James told NZPA.
"But Canterbury has always concerned me a little bit in that it's a tighter track than he probably prefers. Drawn out at 16 hasn't helped matters.
"I haven't worked that out how he should run yet because I haven't seen a publication that will tell me how much speed there is going to be in the race. I don't know the other runners that well."
Sir Clive holds a 2-1 advantage in previous meetings in New Zealand but Danamite's win was an easy one when track conditions were dry.
Danamite was fifth behind Hail and Sir Clive in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on a track rated as good last December but James said that result was misleading.
"The track had been heavily watered and it was definitely affected that day.
"If it is wet tomorrow then we can't beat Sir Clive," said James, who was surprised his horse was at $A11 with Sydney bookmakers yesterday while Sir Clive and the in-form Universal Prince are at $A4.50.
"If he (Danamite) met the best three-year-olds at home he wouldn't be paying half that."
James was preparing for his biggest Sydney autumn campaign, with The Pumper another top three-year-old prospect.
The Pumper has won three of his last four starts, with a second to Danamite two starts ago and is being primed for the $A2 million AJC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 14.
"Danamite is very good but this bloke (The Pumper) has just kept on improving. He could be the best three-year-old in my stable."
James was unsure if The Pumper could get a start in the $A460,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) because AJC officials may decree he had not won enough prize money despite having form on the board.
He was also sceptical over whether Lunete had earned enough prize money to start in the $A120,000 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill next Saturday despite three wins from her last three starts.
- NZPA
Racing: Draw against Danamite
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