Racing: Eel Win to handle heavy track

Canterbury trainer Michael Pitman thinks Eel Win, one of the runners in the group one Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham, is aptly named.

"He's a good horse, he knows how to win."

And Pitman thinks he is a realistic chance of winning the weight-for-age 1600m event, despite his pre-post odds of $21. "I think some of the better horses will be scratched because of the wet track, so that price might be halved come race time."

The Wellington Racing Club moved the Captain Cook from Labour Weekend to tomorrow's date in the hope of getting a good track, but the weather gods have not been kind to them, with plenty of rain giving the track a decent soaking.

It was rated heavy on Wednesday but improved to a slow 9 grading yesterday, with fine weather forecast today and tomorrow.

Pitman says Eel Win is not "a true-blue wet tracker" but the 5-year-old performs on all surfaces, unlike some of his race rivals.

Eel Win finished fifth in the group three Coupland's Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11, battling on well after leading into the straight. Pitman says the San Luis gelding has improved since then, raising his confidence levels heading into the race.

Tell A Tale was a $5.50 favourite for the race today ahead of tough mare Culminate on $6.50 and Fritzy Boy on $8. Kelt Stakes winner Vosne Romanee and Sterling Prince were on $9. Tell A Tale found Wall Street too good in the Coupland's Mile but he is one of the country's top gallopers and has been placed twice in four starts on slow surfaces, as well as winning his only run on a dead track.

Culminate is adept on all surfaces and is in a rich vein of form and Ekstreme is another good wet track performer.

- NZPA