Racing: Jockey rues absence of top rival

"I wish Seachange was still around," said Michael Walker as he dismounted from Shikoba at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Walker admitted in his Herald interview for Saturday morning that it had been Shikoba's wins that had hurt him the most during the two months he had off with a broken wrist.

Winning his first big race back on the filly was marvellous, but he said it would have been sweeter if the unbeaten Seachange had been among the beaten runners instead of at home nursing an injured leg.

Walker and trainer Mark Walker went into the $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic unsure where Shikoba would be best placed in running.

"It was difficult to tell what the speed was going to be like and in the finish Mark said to me to come out of the gates, squat over her neck and see what happens."

Michael Walker did that, ended up in the "parked" position outside the lead and discovered a new dimension in his favourite filly - the ability to sprint late in the race without having had the benefit of cover.

"She's a terrific filly," said Walker in admiration. I felt her blow out at the 75m, but she just kept going."

Even when she comes to the end of her run, Shikoba has great battle potential and when she sticks her neck out the opposition have a job to get past.

Shikoba probably has the Filly Of The Year series tied up and Mark Walker will not decide until the end of the week whether he will take her to Trentham for the Oaks.

"The problem with the Oaks is that she would have to have another race before it.

"She definitely won't be going to Trentham for the Lowland Stakes and if I decide on an Oaks start I might run her in the Starcraft Stakes at Ellerslie. That will give her another chance of getting that group one win."

The Starcraft New Zealand Stakes is 2000m at weight-for-age on the final day of the Cup and Derby carnival.

Walker said if he decides not to take on the Oaks he will ease Shikoba and probably aim at the Queensland Oaks during the winter.

Saturday's race was rough in places. Allan Peard, on eventual runner-up Fancyfree, copped three weeks' suspension for flattening Pulcinella early in the home straight. Pulcinella returned with skin missing from both front legs.

Third-placed Everswindell turned in a huge Oaks trial by being one of the few all day that ran on from the tail of the field. A big, scopy filly, Everswindell has always given the impression she would get better as distances increased.

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Roger James has not ruled out taking Congrats to the $600,000 Mercedes Derby without a race beyond 1600m.

Congrats won his second race within seven days when he barely got out of three-quarter pace to win over 1600m at Te Rapa on Saturday.

James says he will hold the nomination for Saturday's 2100m Championship Stakes at Ellerslie, but is mindful that it would mean running Congrats three weekends in a row.

By taking his earnings to $20,615 on Saturday, Congrats elevated himself into the Derby field, but James is watching to see whether three or four horses leapfrog his horse.

"It wouldn't worry me at all if I didn't race him again. He had 35 days between his first-up 1300m and the second-up 1600m and he sat three and four wide without pulling.

"If he was going to overrace, that would have been the time."

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Zarius will use the 2200m Nathans Memorial on the first day of the Auckland carnival as a lead-up to the $600,000 Skycity Auckland Cup four days later.

Under the steadier of 59.5kg, Zarius bullied his way through the pack to a grinding win at Te Rapa on Saturday.

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Lee Tiley will miss the Derby ride on Guineas winner Sculptor after breaking a leg at home on Saturday morning.

Remarkably, husband Nigel Tiley broke a leg falling from the same horse at the beach earlier in the week.

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The TAB bookies had a roller coaster ride on Saturday.

They took $7000 on impressive Te Rapa winner Sweet Caroline at $5, $7000 on Sphenophyta at $4.50 as well as $1000 on Dunedin Casino Gold Cup winner Artax, who paid $34.40.

Those losses were well balanced with the number of multi bets which crashed with the defeats of Pentane, Darci Brahma and The Silence Sir.