Racing: Hamilton hopes to jump start winter season

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Omakau trainer Murray Hamilton is hoping to start the jumping season with a win today, and Deceptive could do just that in the first race over the obstacles this winter.

Hamilton has six runners at the Wingatui meeting.

Deceptive, who will tackle the 2700m hurdle, looms as Hamilton's best chance of the day, as he makes his return to jumping after finding good form on the flat.

Deceptive's past two starts have produced a second at Riccarton behind Confused, before finishing on well into fourth behind Stormy Rain at Wingatui on April 9.

The I Conquer 8-year-old reacquainted himself with the hurdles in a schooling session at Wingatui last week, and Hamilton was happy with the way he jumped.

The gelding had five starts over hurdles in 2011, for two placings. "He should be fit and ready and he'd be the best chance we've got, I'd say."

Day Centre finds himself in the steeplechase with his lack of speed being found out on the flat. The Yamanin Vital gelding had 27 flat starts for two placings, but is coming to the steeplechase game well after having one crack over the larger fences last season, along with two hurdle starts.

"He schooled good the other day - he's just a young steeplechaser, so it could be his go," he said.

Hamilton has Down Here Up There and Keep The Quest looking to break out of maidens over 1400m, and he rates Down Here Up There as the better chance of the two, stepping back up to 1400m - a distance she ran fourth over at Wingatui two starts back.

Ballyrina will get her jumping ticket soon, but Hamilton was heartened by her fifth at Wingatui last week as she heads into a rating 65 2200m assignment. "She's been terrible and awful, but she went better the other day on a sticky track which is not her go," he said.