Racing: Hastings suits favourite

The popularity of moving the $100,000 Wellington Guineas from Palmerston North to Hastings depends on which horse you're connected with.

Unquestionably the connections of Alberto and Magic Cape were looking forward earlier this week to competing on a rain-soaked Awapuni.

The camp around raging favourite Jokers Wild are delighted the race will he staged on what should be a good surface if rain stays away.

Only half a neck separated Jokers Wild and Alberto in the Hawkes Bay Guineas on this track last start, but the honours were clearly with Jokers Wild, who had to overcome traffic problems.

The Alberto camp were happy to admit afterwards that their horse is better when rain is around and the firmer the track the more it leans the way of the favourite.

The TAB already has Jokers Wild at $1.85 for the $300,000 First Sovereign Trust 2000 Guineas at Riccarton next start, a quote which will shorten even further if he wins tomorrow and Naturo is declared a certain starter in the $275,000 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas and is a non-runner in the 2000 Guineas.

The Hastings track was officially 3.4 and dead yesterday and firming with the fine weather.

The big improver is likely to be Sands Of Time, who was very stylish in winning in lesser company at Rotorua last start.

The last 75m was the most impressive part of his effort and if he can kick as hard at the end of this he should propel himself very close to a trifecta spot.

Arlingtonboulevard did well to get close to winner King Of Ashford in the Matamata Cup after spotting the leaders a huge start from the halfway point.

Footing with just a little yield, which should be Hastings' style tomorrow, is perfection for the Matamata mare.

Provided the leaders don't walk to the home turn, she should be able to produce another dashing finish.

Hurrah didn't figure in the Kelt Capital last start, but it might pay to completely ignore that effort.

He is going to prove difficult to manage if he produces a similar effort to the one that saw him motor home into third from an impossible position to Seachange in the Stoney Bridge Stakes.