By MIKE DILLON
Noel Harris said last season that Singalong was going to be his Oaks ride this coming January.
And when Singalong went to Wanganui last month and Harris could not make the trip, he told trainer Stephen Autridge that whatever the result he wanted to be back on the filly next start.
"She finished last and true to his word, Noel still wanted to ride her next time," said Autridge yesterday.
All of which is why Harris has elected to ride Singalong in tomorrow's $60,000 Lindauer Guineas ahead of her talented stablemate Ballina Kate, on whom Harris won the Guineas Trial two weeks ago.
"I left it entirely to Noel which one to ride," said Autridge.
You get the feeling Autridge has a slight preference for Singalong tomorrow, but he also knows how good Ballina Kate is.
Luck in running is going to play a huge part in the result and the difference in the two stablemates is that Ballina Kate can race handy, while Singalong's natural style is to drop back and storm home.
It was something she did sensationally well when she won the Guineas at Hastings last start, looking an impossible chance to take the major prize even inside the 200m.
"I could see her coming that day and I had my fingers crossed that she'd just get some of the money - I didn't dream, she could get up and win from where she was," said Autridge.
The Matamata trainer knows there is a limit to the start Singalong can give Ballina Kate.
"I'm not sure she can give Ballina Kate five lengths from the 500m if everything is going right for both horses."
Balancing the luck in running factor is Ballina Kate's greenness.
It cost her dearly at Hastings the start before the Guineas Trial and she was lucky to get away with the same thing in winning at Ellerslie last start.
"She didn't know how to run past the horse she narrowly beat," said Autridge.
"Those things can cost you races when you're at this level."
Mark Du Plessis, who rode Ballina Kate at Hastings, climbs back aboard.
There was a huge amount to like about the finishing effort of Cousteau in the Hawkes Bay Guineas. He looked out of the race at the 600m and was six and seven wide on the home bend.
He did not flinch in the run to the line and was less than two lengths from Singalong in fifth place.
He perhaps lacks the brilliance in his sprint the two fillies can produce, but the step up to 1600m will help him.
A slight risk factor is that Cousteau has not raced right-handed.
Cambridge-trained Secret was disappointing in the Guineas Trial, but can produce something better and it may not pay to leave him out of trifectas.
Racing: Harris in tune with Singalong
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