Racing: Entry debacle still rankles

SYDNEY - Waikato trainer Paul Jenkins yesterday remained dumbfounded that English hurdler Carte Diamond had been included in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday at the expense of his mare Bazelle.

Bazelle was named third emergency for the Caulfield Cup, after Carte Diamond and Sir Dex were elevated into the 18-horse field ahead of her.

As if to add insult to injury, Bazelle drew well at five in yesterday's barrier draw for the A$2.5 million ($2.74 million) race. Kiwi-owned mare Vouvray drew 14.

Jenkins shunned an invitation to the draw, disgusted at the Melbourne Racing Club committee's action in ranking his Auckland Cup winner behind Carte Diamond, who has not won a stakes' race.

Bazelle and Lachlan River, another horse emergency, were the only two of five horses competing for the last two places in the cup field who had group one winning form.

Jenkins told NZPA: "I can't believe they have not rated the group one form for Bazelle and Lachlan River. It's not as if it's old form.

"Group one racing is your elite level, or it should be. I feel for Lachlan River's connections as well. I feel they have treated our group one form with scorn."

Jenkins has not given up all hope of Bazelle gaining a start, but admitted chances were slim. Australian jockey Matt Pumpa is on stand-by.

Jenkins had worked hard to get Bazelle back on track for the cup after she knocked a ligament at the start of last month.

She ran sixth in the group one Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday at her first run for five weeks and Jenkins thought it a worthy performance.

"It was against the best weight-for-age horses in Australia and she did very well, all things considered. I am just dumbfounded at what has happened since."

He had no quibble against Leica Falcon and El Segundo leapfrogging into the cup after their wins at Caulfield on Saturday, but the decisions in favour of Sir Dex and Carte Diamond amazed him.

While the connections of Carte Diamond have made much about spending A$80,000 to get their horse to Australia, Jenkins has been on the road with Bazelle in Australia for close to six months and said he had probably spent more.

He said he had made the sacrifices for Bazelle because he knows she is a special horse.

If she doesn't gain a start in the cup, Jenkins will probably line her up in the group three Coongy Handicap (2000m) as he aims for the A$5 million Melbourne Cup on November 1. She would probably also run in the Mackinnon Stakes, three days before the Melbourne Cup.

Bazelle is 30th in the elimination order for the Melbourne Cup, one place ahead of Carte Diamond.

Jenkins said normally that ranking would be enough to get her into the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field. But he concedes with Tuesday's debacle still rankling, there are no certainties.

- NZPA