Racing: Howard's chance to shine

No Elsu, plus no Just an Excuse, plus a two-mile distance could equal a winning result for perennial big race placegetter Howard Bromac in tonight's Easter Cup.

The Kirk Larsen-trained 5-year-old has been a regular fixture in all the major open-class races this season but, while he has frequently gone close, he has managed just the one win in a heat of Interdominions.

"When I looked at things at the start of the season," said Larsen, "I thought he could easily go through the season without winning a race and still win $100,000.

"As it is he's won one and picked up about $160,000."

Howard Bromac's run of form this season has included third placings in the New Zealand, Auckland and Hunter Cups, not to mention a desperately unlucky fourth in the Interdominion Final.

Larsen, however, regards the season so far as more encouraging than frustrating and is realistic about where his horse sits in the pecking order, particularly in regard to Elsu, who enjoys a 10-2 career edge over Howard Bromac.

"At the start of the season we didn't know if he'd be competitive against the really good ones. Now we do. Elsu and Just An Excuse on their day are just better horses.

"It's not like he was really unlucky in any of the big races this season but I do think he could have run second in the Interdominions if he'd ended up in the trail or even three-back. As it was he was just a bit too far off them."

Although Howard Bromac hasn't raced since the Interdominion Final, Larsen isn't overly worried about his fitness, even over the 3200-metre trip.

"He had a pretty quiet week after the Interdoms but he really thrived at the series. I think he got fitter as it went along actually. We had his blood done and I gave him a good hit-out on Wednesday and he felt great.

"The two-mile races are really his go - the harder they go the better he goes."

The Easter Cup shapes as one of the most even major races of the season, with bookmakers opening Bobs Blue Boy as a $6 favourite, one dollar less than Howard Bromac. Also well in the market are others who shone at the Interdominions, Alta Serena and Sly Flyin.

In the other group one race on tonight's programme, the New Zealand Trotters Derby, trainer Gareth Dixon is confident his charge, Super Command, can make use of the ace barrier draw and hold the lead.

Dixon, who has yet to win a group one race in his young career, believes Super Command's winning trip to Australia last year for the Breeders Crown 2-year-old race was the making of him and is positive leading into the race.

"He's been really good. Even though he only ran third last time it was his first run for six weeks and it was a horrible night. I took him to Addington on Monday and couldn't be happier with his work."

Dixon expects the likely favourite for the race, One Over Kenny, to be the hardest to beat after her last-start win in the New Zealand Oaks. Also providing stiff opposition will be George Castleton, an outstanding premier-night winner at the recent Interdominion carnival, who has since joined the powerful Tim Butt stable.

The highlight of a strong undercard is likely to be provided by Pay Me Christian in the Welcome Stakes.

The stunning 2-year-old, for whom his owners recently turned down a $500,000 offer, was beaten at the trials this week after breaking, but trainer Paul Kerr is unconcerned.

"There were a lot of shadows on the track from the light towers and he just tried to jump one of them. He probably lost 25-30 metres but he went really well afterwards."

The star juvenile created a huge impression when winning his debut but remarkably Kerr says the horse wasn't feeling his best that day.

"Before his debut he'd been throwing his head a lot and rolling his food around but it was only after the race that we realised he had a broken tooth.

"We've had it pulled out now and it must have been affecting him when he won."

With dental work now dealt with, not to mention a track with no daytime shadows, there should be no stopping Pay Me Christian tonight, as his opening fixed-odds price of $1.65 indicates.

Perennial placegetter

* Howard Bromac was third in the New Zealand, Auckland and Hunter Cups this season.

* He won a heat in the Interdominions and was an unlucky fourth in the Final.

* His chance at group one honours comes tonight in the Easter Cup at Addington.

* In the New Zealand Trotting Derby, Super Command can make good use of the ace.