Racing: Kelt dominates for Cedar Manor

Stephen Autridge is looking forward not back for Cedar Manor in today's $150,000 Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hastings.

For that reason he doubts the last-start winner can take away the group one prize.

He is not looking back at the dashing R98 class victory on Mudgway Stakes day, instead he has his eyes set firmly on the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes in two weeks.

"I haven't got him down as a winning chance," said Autridge candidly yesterday. "He's at weight-for-age at 1600m, the same distance he won at last start and he's drawn wide.

"He would need a lot of luck to win under those circumstances, particularly against this field.

"This time in he's been running handy, which means if he followed that pattern he would be covering ground. He'd need too much luck.

"We're hoping he goes a nice race and then we'll look at the 2000m of the Kelt."

Autridge is much keener about the chances of classy filly Vegas Showgirl in the $50,000 Highview Stakes.

Vegas Showgirl is resuming from a break following a very smart juvenile season in which she was placed against the likes of Dr Green and Darci Brahma. She also scored a great win in the New Zealand Bloodstock Stakes at Avondale.

She has not raced since May and faces fillies like Echo Maid, Boudi Woudi and City Affair, who are hardened by recent racing. Also Crepe De Chine, who impressed on more than one occasion last season.

"She'll improve with the run, but she's ready for it," said Autridge. "I'm happy with her."

Pin Up Boy attempts a winning treble in Race 10 at Hastings and Autridge rates his chances. He was hugely impressive winning on Mudgway Stakes day.

"He could be the one to surprise, and he's improved again."

Autridge takes 2-year-old Ifionlyhadtime to Hastings knowing the colt is going to run into boom youngster Don Garcia.

"He doesn't do much wrong, but that other horse looks pretty smart.

"At the Taupo trials we ran a whole lot faster than Don Garci [45.81 for the 750m compared to 47.32], but our heat jumped and ran and in his they hauled in the speed and sprinted home late, so you can't really take too much notice of that."

A lot of interest will centre around St Reims' attempt to carry 61kg to victory in the Cleve Mackie Premier Quality, which has been chosen as his Kelt Capital Stakes lead-up. He held on by only a short neck under 60kg to win on Mudgway day, but you got the impression the runner-up may have got to him.

St Reims is a great fighter and has stats on his side four from five at Hastings and seven from 11 at the 2000m distance.

The hopes of the south are riding on The Jewel in the Stoney Bridge Stakes. She was only two lengths from Xcellent in the Mudgway and will definitely be advantaged by the step from 1400m to 1600m.

Her 1600m stats are eye-catching seven starts for three wins and four placings. She is probably a trifecta must.