Racing: Fiorano needs better luck

No one could deny Fiorano a change of luck.

The classy emerging stayer will be looking to absolutely guarantee a Wellington Cup start with victory in tomorrow's $20,000 Westbury Stud at Karaka 2010 at Ellerslie.

In consecutive starts, Fiorano has been beaten favourite in the Avondale and Manawatu Cups through no fault of his own.

A wet track at Avondale brought him undone and at no stage of the home straight in the Manawatu Cup did he get clear air ahead.

The luck continued when Fiorano drew 13 of the 13 runners tomorrow.

That may not prove absolutely critical at the 2010m start, but from any starting point an inside draw is preferable to the outside gate.

Fiorano is No 21 in order of entry into the 18-horse Wellington Cup field, which should be enough to get him into the final field.

But if Booming - currently No 28 in the cup - wins at Awapuni tomorrow, which seems likely, the upgraded rating would probably see him leap-frog Fiorano of order into the big race in two weeks and No 22 might prove to be borderline. A win here would eliminate any worry.

The barrier draw aside, Fiorano looks comfortable on the 54kg minimum. Cross Roads and Chettak look dangers.

Plenty of interest will centre around the $15,000 Rich Hill Yearlings 3YO in which Keyora, Corporal Jones, Our Heir Apparent and Maciano head a massively strong line-up.

Corporal Jones has looked exceptional in winning his two races so far and against this field punters will determine just how good he might be.

* Haere Mai certainly does get a welcome when he takes on Race 6 at Paeroa today - a welcome drop in class.

The promising 3-year-old has been performing well in stakes races and drops here to R70 grade.

Haere Mai got back in running in the Guineas at Ellerslie last start and that proved fatal to his chances, but before that he was narrowly beaten into third in stakes class.

He is dropping back in distance, but should still be good enough to get the money today.