Racing: Lynds ponders campaign in Sydney

Vosne Romanee beats Harris Tweed (red and black), Tell A Tale (orange and blue) and Red Ruler. Photo / Greg Bowker

Awapuni trainer Jeff Lynds has an enviable dilemma to mull over this week.

With a staggering four group one wins in the bag already this season - the latest courtesy of weight-for-age star Vosne Romanee at Ellerslie on Saturday - Lynds now has the option of shooting for two further same-day scalps in Sydney.

He has Vosne Romanee pencilled in to sign off a Horse-of-the-Year winning season in the group one A$350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 24 and could also saddle Booming in the group one A$400,000 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) on the same card.

It's the kind of quandary that made the long drive for two relatively minor Waverley events yesterday go a whole lot faster.

While still "working through those issues", Lynds hinted that the late-blooming 7-year-old Vosne Romanee could be the more likely to go.

Lynds was confident his Auckland Cup runner-up Booming would win his 3200m debut at Ellerslie on March 10.

Although thrilled with his effort for second, Zavite's comprehensive victory has now given Lynds added reason for circumspection.

"The question is, is he ready for another two miles in the same preparation, or are we better off waiting another year?" asked Lynds.

Meanwhile, he confirmed yesterday that his other group one star, Thorndon Mile winner Wall Street is on target for the group three Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham next Saturday.

He's shaken off his last-start miss in the group one at Otaki when trapped wide and Lynds is confident he can bounce back.

Although injury free his entire racing career, Lynds said "wear and tear" would get to Vosne Romanee eventually.

But the Electric Zone gelding, nicknamed "Popgun" by Lynds, because he's so straight and narrow, like a gun barrel, has defied his perpendicular conformation from day one.

"He's kept surprising us all the time - these type of horses don't normally go far," said Lynds.

It was his freakish acceleration in his early appearances that first clued Lynds into the fact that owners Ian and Alana Smart might have got lucky when the horse failed to attract a single Karaka bid as a yearling.

Things didn't quite go to plan last season over 1600m - he was beaten as warm favourite in the Thorndon Mile for one.

Lynds, however, never lost faith even after he battled into fifth as favourite on a slow track in the Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).

"Hayden Tinsley got off him after that and said 'He'll win you a big one Jeff, so don't worry about that'.

"Since then everyone's awoken to how good he is, especially over 2000m."

Regardless of where he heads next with the horse, Lynds says he's unlikely to ask Vosne Romanee to go further than the trip he's dominated in winning the Kelt Capital Stakes, Zabeel Classic and now the SkyCity New Zealand Stakes.

Lynds says he proved when third in the last Hawke's Bay Gold Cup (2200m) that a longer assignment is beyond him - and it also makes his legs more vulnerable.

Rival co-trainer Bjorn Baker, however, can't wait to step-up Saturday's runner-up Harris Tweed over more distance.

In just his second run this preparation, the exciting Cambridge 4-year-old had no answer to Opie Bosson and Vosne Romanee's sensational final 100m burst in the New Zealand Stakes.

However, Baker is confident he'll be much tougher to beat when seen next in the A$2.25 million The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 3.

Safely through that assignment he's heading for the Sydney Cup (3200m) three weeks later.

"He's the type of horse who is going to improve out of sight when he steps up over 2400m and 3200m," said Baker yesterday.

"He's a class horse and if there's any moisture around as well he's going to be right in it."

Baker said the gelding's fifth in last year's Melbourne Cup was even better than it looked on paper.

He covered more ground than the winner, Shocking, and nearly fell when clipping heels early on. Harris Tweed resumed with an enormous effort for second over 1600m at Ellerslie on February 20 and could have cemented early Sydney Cup favouritism with Saturday's run.

"He's right on the front foot and hasn't missed a beat," said Baker, who trains in partnership with his father, Murray.

"Last time he took a long time to get into the stride of things, but in this preparation he's bigger and stronger."

With first-choice Hugh Bowman likely to partner Daffodil in Sydney, Baker said Michael Rodd is the preferred rider for both assignments.

Matamata trainer John Sargent was also thrilled with Red Ruler's effort for fourth on Saturday, confirming a raid to Hong Kong next month for the Queen Elizabeth Cup.

He'll have his final lead-up in the Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) on April 3.