KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - Those sick of Australian pot shots at the standard of New Zealand group races have been handed a small piece of ammunition.
A maiden 3-year-old filly, Timuana, will line up in the group one Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm tomorrow in search of easy prizemoney.
The race attracted just five nominations on Monday, including two of Australia's best gallopers Eremein and Desert War.
But when nominations were extended and it became clear that prizemoney would be paid down to eighth, several wildcards entered calculations.
One was Rosehill trainer Bob Onikul who was moved to pay the A$2145 ($2438) acceptance fee on Wednesday despite his filly having run seventh and 10th in her only two starts in maiden company.
The Chipping Norton field ended up with 10 runners, including a class two 6-year-old Waltham Cross and Bay Princess, also a maiden who finished five places ahead of Timuana when they clashed last start at Canterbury.
Along with Eremein and Desert War, group race performers Confectioner, Grand Zulu and Mentality also line up with Sydney Cup winner County Tyrone and 3-year-old stayer He's No Pie Eater.
That leaves the lesser lights in a three-way fight for eighth prizemoney, assuming they can't get past the other seven. Sixth to eighth earn A$4500.
Eremein's jockey Glen Boss dismissed the presence of the maiden gallopers. "I'm not concerned, they won't be in the race at any stage. They won't have the speed to match my horse or Desert War."
- AAP
