Racing: Guineas day just saved

Racing Club CEO Mike O'Sullivan wants a dates review after Saturday's historic Wanganui Guineas meeting was put in doubt over horse numbers.

Only 88 nominations were received for the meeting on Tuesday and a decision to proceed was made only after the total crept to 106 when entries were left open until yesterday morning.

O'Sullivan believes the scheduling of today's Foxton races two days before Wanganui seriously undermines the viability of a raceday which stages the Waikato Stud Stakes as well as the Wanganui Guineas, both at $35,000.

For the same $5000 stakemoney, Foxton drew 1200m maiden fields of 15 and 16.

Wanganui's original nominations for its 1200m maiden numbered just 6.

Foxton attracted 12 maidens for its 1600m event and Wanganui just 5.

"I'm trying very hard not to sound like I'm simply complaining about this, but it needs to be addressed for the sake of the industry," said O'Sullivan.

"The Foxton meeting is a 'go around' affair to say the least, whereas the Wanganui Guineas meeting is an important industry raceday that is being put in doubt.

"If we can't draw enough lower class horses, we can't run the meeting.

"It's a difficult time of year for attracting horses with the transition between winter and spring - there are only so many horses around," said O'Sullivan.

Under the same scenario, Wanganui started just 81 horses on a nine-race card last year.

O'Sullivan said that was "an ordinary financial result" and indicated Saturday's meeting was heading the same way.

Exciting Cambridge colt Dr Green heads the list for the Wanganui Guineas.