Racing: Lord Asterix adds bite to Gold Cup preparation

Karen Zimmerman reckons Lord Asterix could have played one of the leading roles in the movie Grumpy Old Men.

But she doesn't mind that heading into today's $100,000 Waikato Gold Cup at Te Rapa.

At least Lord Asterix's nastiness tells the t trainer more than just to watch out for her arms and head when around one of her stable stars.

Lord Asterix, you see, only gets grumpy when he's right at the top of his form.

And Zimmerman expects the horse to prove the need for a warning sign on his stall when he arrives at Te Rapa tomorrow.

The tendency to bite is a sure sign Lord Asterix is going to go out on the racetrack and produce his best, just like he did when he turned in a slashing final trial for this race when third to Kerry O'Reilly and subsequent Avondale Cup winner Creil in the Counties Cup on this track.

"If I hadn't put him in the tie-up stalls at Te Rapa that day he'd have bitten my head off," said Zimmerman.

"But I don't mind, the owners told me to watch out for that when they sent the horse to me. At least it's an encouraging sign - it'd be worse if it were the other way around."

Darryl Bradley jumped off Lord Asetrix after the Counties Cup and said to Zimmerman: "This would be an ideal Wellington Cup horse."

"Well, that's good," replied the trainer, "I've just nominated him."