Racing: Frustrated James ends up staying at home

It's fair to say Cambridge trainer Roger James had a frustrating day yesterday.

On Tuesday night, James had been preparing to put The Party Stand and Pearl Dancer on a flight to Christchurch for Saturday's $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.

Accompanying them was to have been Maythehorsebemagic, a candidate for the $225,000 Christchurch Casino NZ Cup.

The wheels fell off.

Yesterday morning, The Party Stand came up with a soundness problem and Pearl Dancer also had an issue.

Pearl Dancer was not guaranteed a run and might well have missed out on a start, but her issue, believed to be a bruised heel, would have kept her at home anyway.

Emerging stayer Maythehorsebemagic was always borderline to make the cut for the New Zealand Cup, but the owners were keen to take the punt and make the trip anyway, deciding to run in the $30,000 R90, 2500m race if they missed a chance at the big race.

A decision was made not to put him on the flight as well.

"Yes, it's very frustrating," said James, confirming the obvious.

James said the problem with The Party Stand was not yet obvious.

"She's a bit lame, but we can't find where.

"I don't imagine it's anything too serious - we're hoping not, anyway."

Maythehorsebemagic is likely to be aimed at the $30,000 R90 2400m race at Pukekohe on Saturday week.

"There's all the staying races coming up like the Waikato Cup [on December 12] that will suit him," said James.

His stable jockey Andrew Calder has switched to fellow Cambridge filly The Grey Storm, who has been stabled in the lower North Island waiting to see if she managed a Guineas run after racing at Trentham last Saturday week.

Last Saturday's impressive 2000 Guineas winner Katie Lee was the $2 favourite when the TAB last night released the Final Field market for the 1000 Guineas.

Keep The Peace is at $6.50, St Germaine at $7 and Our Ella Belle at $12 is the only other runner under $21.

In a market that does not have a great deal of depth to it, My Scotsgrey is the $3.50 favourite for the New Zealand Cup with another recent graduate So Royal close up at $5.50.

Butch James and Smoking Chimneys are at $8.50 and Ginella and Never Plead Guilty share the $15 line.