By MIKE DILLON
Keith Hawtin has always known luck runs in cycles, but it is frustrating him right now.
Lady Luck seems to have deserted him and training partner Graeme Rogerson as they chase the New Zealand Trainers' premiership they won last season.
Right now the pair would like a touch of the Blarney that saw them emerge from virtual obscurity to win that title.
"Last year we won 19 races in the last six weeks - this time it's only frustration," said Hawtin, sitting three wins behind premiership leader Paul O'Sullivan, who scored two wins at Matamata on Wednesday.
"At the last meeting at Ruakaka last month we had one winner, but three seconds. We've had 67 seconds in the stable this season."
Hawtin and Rogerson knew it was not their lucky week when they looked at the barrier draws for the big team they line up at Ruakaka tomorrow.
"Our sprinters, Life Of Riley and Jerome Jerenevich have drawn 14 and 16, the 2-year-old Skip's Fancy has No 14 in a 14-horse field and our maiden stayer Beech Bonanza has 16 of 16," said Hawtin.
Before the barrier draw Hawtin was tipping Skip's Fancy as his best chance to win in the $35,000 Westbury Stud Breeders Stakes despite a hot field which includes last-start winners Egyptian Raine and Rainman, but now says Ballet Queen in Race 1 might be the stable's best.
"Don't worry, I still think Skip's Fancy can be right in, even from the wide draw.
"She's smart and while she didn't beat much when she won up there last start she ran time and won easily by a margin."
Life Of Riley will be a big chance in the sprint, even though he finished last at Avondale last start.
That day he carried his full 58kg topweight and was caught wide before Noel Harris allowed him to ease down in the closing stages.
This time on a much better surface, which he prefers, and a big apprentice allowance off his 58kg, he makes much more appeal.
"The start before Avondale he struck a nice sandy surface at Foxton and went a nice race."
Hawtin expects Pourquoi and Lacroix in Race 10 to perform better than at their last starts.
Both got bogged down and the Ruakaka footing will help them both.
Hawtin also expects his Trentham runners Chantage (Race 5) and Marionetta (Race 9) to be at least some winning chance.
Noel Harris said Chantage did not appreciate the sticky track at Ellerslie last start and Marionetta, well, she just loves Wellington.
"If she produces what she did last year, she could win the Parliamentary Handicap."
One of those Life Of Riley will have to beat in the sprint will be Jaiapeno, who seemed not to like the heavy track when beaten at Avondale last start with the advantage of a 4.5kg apprentice claim.
"I can only forget the run," said trainer Jim Gibbs.
"I was happy with him before that race and I'm happy with him again. The better footing this time should help."
Rachael Tunnel will take 1kg off Jaiapeno's 53.5kg.
Likely Story should prove hard to beat in the $25,000 Pacific Ford Whangarei 2100.
He has been freshened since being beaten at Tauranga last month and is another who should benefit from a better racing surface.
Racing: Luck leaves only frustration
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