Remember when Elblitzem struggled to put two decent races together?
Well, racing's Mr Inconsistent has become racing's Mr Rocksolid.
Despite hanging on to his worrying habit of walking out of the starting stalls, Elblitzem is putting together an impressive run of form, highlighted by his victory in Saturday's $50,000 Team
Wealleans Matamata Cup.
"Yes, he's certainly come solid," said co-trainer Clayton Chipperfield.
There is a problem though - Elblitzem is about to run out of rain-affected tracks just as he finds his best form.
"There was a suggestion of him having a look at the Coupeland's Mile ($250,000) at Riccarton, but the track might be a bit good for him down there," said Chipperfield.
"There is a nice race for him up here around the same time."
Chipperfield is hoping tonight he will feel the same freedom in his action as Elblitzem. This morning, he gets the cast off his leg that has been there since a recent operation to correct an ankle problem he has had since birth.
"I'm only the truck driver at the moment, but hopefully in a month I'll be back riding work."
Winning rider David Walsh is "a couple of hundred and a few" wins off Lance O'Sullivan's all-time career race winning record for a jockey and sees the target as achievable.
"Absolutely, I think so.
"Things have to keep going along smoothly like they have been and I have to remain injury free, but as long as those things happen, yes the record is possible.
"I'm loving it at the moment," said the Cambridge 50-year-old yesterday.
"Life's good, I don't have too much on my plate whereas in parts of my life I've probably taken on too much at a time.
"I've purposely missed a few meetings lately because you can't go flat out all the time. The best time is around Christmas.
"The form is much more consistent then and it's easier to pick and ride winners whereas in the spring the form is very airy-fairy. There is not a lot of consistency."
Central Districts visitor Kuda Mahal, running on gamely, took second, but was never going to be a problem for the winner.
Locals Waitui Music and Miss Caruso were next ahead of Krash, who made up an enormous amount of ground late from the tail of the field.
