By MIKE DILLON
Bruce Marsh did not know whether to laugh or cry this week heading into today's $270,000 Lion Brown Wellington Cup.
When Marsh walked off Ellerslie after Paddy Maloney finished fourth to Our Unicorn when not suited in the Auckland Cup, he figured he could win the Wellington Cup with the horse.
Then Paddy Maloney started to look and work like the country's slowest maiden.
"His gallop in the weight-for-age race at Trentham last week was the worst run he's put in in his life," said Marsh yesterday.
Desperate measures were needed and Marsh drastically changed the horse's work patterns.
"I did road work with him and his gallop here midweek was nice, much improved."
Last night Marsh was waiting for the results of a second set of blood tests he took from Paddy Maloney and said even if they proved favourable, he was not sure what to feel about the horse's chances today.
"I guess the best way of putting it is that we'll be going into the race not as confident as some races in the past."
Marsh is unsure whether Paddy Maloney's problems were caused by the Auckland Cup having taken more out of the horse than first thought.
"The annoying part is his whole career has been hampered by nightmare barrier draws and for the first time he has drawn beautifully."
Marsh set himself to attempt a top group one double with Paddy Maloney and Cheiron in the $130,000 Thorndon Mile and is delighted with the condition of Cheiron, who scored a brilliant first-up win at Awapuni two weeks ago.
"I won't be using this as an excuse if he's beaten, but I believe he should not have been re-handicapped for that Awapuni win and now sit only 2kg below the best horse in the country, Zonda.
"I don't want to sound like I'm complaining because he's a class horse and the weight won't stop him winning. If he gets the right run he can win.
"It probably isn't ideal going into a race like the Thorndon second-up after a break, but he'd done a lot of work before Awapuni and I'm sure he'll handle that okay."
Trentham's weather broke with 10mls of rain on Thursday night which, according to racing manager Blair Thompson, improved the track which had been starting to feel the effects of two days racing and drying weather.
"The forecast for Wellington late tomorrow is for the winds to switch around to the south and some rain coming in, but we're more sheltered here at Trentham than Wellington city and we don't get as much southerly rain."
Rain would badly affect the form and certainly disadvantage well-fancied Ebony Honor.
Thompson advised that the official racing computer issued the incorrect rider for Mr Kudos in Race 4 at Trentham and Pompeii River in Race 6.
The official rider for both horses is Thomas Russell, not Russell McAra.
Racing: Marsh desperate to fix Paddy
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