Gregor Robson reckons he has some unfinished business at Trentham.
He was hoping Saturday's Ellerslie winner High Octane would correct that for him in the Thorndon Mile, but that's looking very unlikely.
Robson thought winning Saturday's $25,000 Radio Network Mile at Ellerslie would get High Octane sufficient weightor upgrade in rating to land him a start in the Thorndon Mile.
But yesterday chief handicapper Dean Nowell said he has re-handicapped High Octane half a kilo to 51.5kg, but doubts it will be enough to propel the horse into the field.
"I doubt anything under 52.5kg will get into the Thorndon, unless something wins the Anniversary Handicap on a light weight and is exempt from the ballot.
"Like the Telegraph Handicap, it's going to be a very, very strong field."
Robson was a talented young jockey who quickly found increasing weight was too difficult for him to cope with.
He retired after not much more than two and a half years in the saddle.
"I had only one ride in a group one race, a longshot in Castletown's second Wellington Cup win and finished at the back of the field."
Even if High Octane does not make the Thorndon field, Robson has an extremely promising horse on his hands.
And one that has come a long way in a short time.
And there is always the Duoro Cup the same day as the Thorndon.
Lisa Cropp rode High Octane well on Saturday.
She had him in exactly the right spot on the home turn and the horse's tenacity and ability to cope with a rain-affected surface did the rest to get the better of Magnetism, who showed he could still make a successful comeback.
The racing pattern at Ellerslie meant horses needed to ideally be inside three lengths from the lead on the corner and not wide on the track.
Tinkerbeel was a stunning exception to that, but many other back runners looked inconvenienced.
Superalloy, a hot favourite, looked to be one of them.
The O'Sullivan/Scott stable will be looking for Stolen Thunder to inject some professionalism into his work in the two months before the $700,000 Mercedes Derby in March.
That should happen with experience and the Thunder Gulch 3-year-old showed the necessary ability was there when he overcame greenness to justify his favouritism at Ellerslie.
Stolen Thunder looked to shy at the big inside television screen after getting to the lead halfway down the running.
He ducked sideways but was sufficiently clear of the horse on his outside.
