By MIKE DILLON
Tony Cole says he has no choice but to run Travellin' Man in tomorrow's $30,000 Lindauer Bowl at Counties after a nightmare barrier draw.
The highly talented Travellin' Man drew barrier 15 at the 1000m start, but that has been somewhat negated by at least half the leading chances coming away with wide draws.
Last-start Ellerslie winner Jaiapeno is in No 17, Volkaire No 13 and Bahnhof Zoo No 10.
Cole has set Travellin' Man for the $250,000 McDonogh Stakes at Ellerslie on January 1 with tomorrow's race the only lead-up.
"There is nothing else suitable around to run him in," said Cole last night.
Cole expects Travellin' Man to be fifth or sixth in running.
"He's a big bloke and he's always better one off the fence."
Another reason Cole says he is obliged to run Travellin' Man is that the horse is so fit he's becoming a nuisance.
"He's been ready to go to the races for about 10 days and he's been looking to get a race into himself."
Provided he does not get caught three and four wide around the big top bend. Travellin' Man should still take a lot of beating. He has a powerful finishing sprint and is well suited to the long Counties home straight.
The barrier draw favoured Selenium, who can run a blistering 1000m. She raced a bit too keenly in the trail when resuming at Te Rapa on November 6. That race should have settled her and the faster tempo of this race will suit.
The speed should be so electric, something coming off the pace might be suited. Vain Ana falls into that category. She is suited to this type of race as she showed with top efforts in Newmarket and Railway handicaps at Ellerslie.
She has been lucky enough to draw barrier No 2 and being a back runner, will have used no petrol when the time comes to sprint in the home straight.
Trainer Graham Cox is convinced he has Rijeka back to the class mare she showed she was last spring and early summer and can go close in the $100,000 Eagle Technology Counties Cup.
Disappointing runs came to an abrupt end when Rijeka finished a luckless third to Bexley in the weight-for-age Deutz Stakes at Ellerslie last start.
Cox is not basing his opinion of Rijeka's fitness on that one run.
"She is better overall. Her work at the beach has been much better and I realise now I'd been too easy on her. The fat is right out of her now."
Cox feels Rijeka peaked too early when she failed in the Auckland Cup last summer.
"It's a easier to be coming up than to be at the top and try and stay there. She won first-up last year and had the job of trying to stay there."
Kaapeon is the most improved stayer. His last-to-first swoop at Trentham fits him into this race perfectly and because Count Chivas on 58kg forces a few others down in the weights, he comes into this on a still comfortable 54.5kg after winning with 56kg in lesser company at Wellington.
Another ladder climber has been King Keitel, going for four straight. This will be by far his toughest opposition, but he gives the impression he was always going to measure up.
He has not started since his magnificent Rotorua win six weeks ago.
Racing: Fit Travellin' Man forced to run
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