Racing: Kristov appeals despite weight

Kristov will put racing's finest CV on the line again at Avondale tomorrow.

Racing's Mr Consistency has 58.5kg to lump in the Bream Aerosol 1400, but the task is not beyond him.

The weight itself is not the issue - the fact that it is essentially only 4.5kg above most of the live chances is the focus.

Kristov is used to carrying big weights and with his outstanding stats staring back to you, he has plenty of appeal.

He is the horse you would love to own - from 17 starts on good ground he has seven wins and eight placings.

At this 1400m distance his form reads seven attempts for two wins and four placings, and in three starts at Avondale he has a win and two placings.

Take little notice of his first-up sixth to Baltaine last start - he was never a chance in the conditions.

"It was only that it was on his home track that I ran him," said part-owner and trainer Phillip Stevens.

"The one good point out of the race is that his work since has been first class. Michael Walker rode him on Tuesday morning and was rapt with his work."

The Avondale track was rated dead mid-week, but the sensational burst of weather in Auckland has dried it out to be perfect.

The grass cover has thickened and will provide a good cushion.

Horses run their best times when they are comfortable in such conditions, and this is perfect for Kristov.

The talented gelding will make things even tougher for himself in the handicaps if he wins this, but Stevens knows Kristov's future lies in weight-for-age racing.

"He's carried big weights right through, so he'll be better off under weight-for-age."

In the same category is the remarkable Sedecrem. He has 59.5kg topweight to lump, but trainer Richard Yuill does not see that as stopping him from featuring.

"Overall he's not too badly off and there are no claims available for the others, so they'll have to carry their weight."

Sedecrem, winner of more than half a million dollars, resumed on the very heavy track at Rotorua last start.

He tailed the field, but in retrospect that does not surprise Yuill.

"He's a hard case. He simply won't gallop in those conditions.

"Grant [Cooksley] jumped off him and said he hadn't had to look after him, the horse looked after himself."

Yuill has been happy with Sedecrem's work since Rotorua.

Veteran Mr Robert could help to make a decent trifecta. He has run some smart races in strong fields and could surprise with a bold fresh-up race.

"He's eight and hasn't had a barrier trial," was Jakki Good's clinical summation, but she gives her favourite horse a real chance.

"I expect him to run a slasher, but he's up against a couple of weight-for-age horses and he isn't quite that class.

"I gave him a real chance until I saw he drew 11 out of 12. He likes to be up there running, so he's going to have to do a bit of work early.

"I'd be disappointed if he doesn't run a very good third or fourth."

Filey does not have any form fresh from a spell, but she has a touch of class. Her solid form in the autumn was around the likes of Rockabubble and Calveen, either of which would be $1.50 favourite for this race.

Al Jameel is another possible danger for the trifecta.