Racing: Mr Tipsy well placed

An expected wet Trentham track will not bother Mr Tipsy tomorrow. Photo / Dean Purcell

It all looks like falling into place for Mr Tipsy in tomorrow's $200,000 Century City Wellington Cup.

He has the form, likes it wet and enough rain will keep away at least one of his main dangers.

Trainer Frank Ritchie said yesterday if the track got to a heavy rating he would withdraw second favourite Showcause.

"It would be pointless sending him around on a track he couldn't handle."

Ritchie will wait until tomorrow morning to make that call.

This race sets up beautifully for Mr Tipsy. He won the Marton Cup last start in the manner of a horse just about to start his run of form, not a horse that was peaking.

There was only one horse in that race - the 1.3-length winning margin could easily have been greater.

Weight is critical in almost all staying races and Mr Tipsy looks magnificently placed on 54kg.

And his progress has been good.

"I'm very pleased with him, he's gone on since that last win," said co-trainer Murray Baker.

Opie Bosson will once again ride Mr Tipsy.

The forecast for Wellington is rain tonight and tomorrow morning.

That shouldn't inconvenience He's Under The Gun, who has looked very good lately.

He fought hard when run down late by talented So Pristine in the final of the Dunstan Stayers Championship at Ellerslie and was only 1.3 lengths from Mr Tipsy when third in the Manawatu Cup.

Although he could not be described as a mudder, He's Under The Gun has won and been placed on a heavy track and has placed form in the slow.

On a wet track, Fazza comes right into calculations.

His record is eight starts on a slow surface for two wins and a placing and on heavy it's five starts for two wins and a placing.

Perhaps, most importantly, he has come to form at the right time with a win at Trentham on Monday, admittedly, in much easier company than he meets tomorrow.

Innocent Lady will have her following after a luckless fifth to Showcause in the City Of Auckland Cup.

After winning three straight, Innocent Lady was jammed up in heavy traffic approaching the home turn at Ellerslie and the leaders got away on her by a couple of lengths.

She fought well after that and was just 2.4 lengths off Showcause.

She finishes her races off well, will be suited by the Trentham course and her form on wet tracks is good.

MIKE DILLON'S VIEW

Well done
Congratulations to all those who co-operated to push the scratching time for Sunday's $1 million Karaka Million out to 12.30pm.

Rain is forecast in Auckland tomorrow and the later scratching time will allow connections a further six hours to decide if there has been sufficient drying at Ellerslie to permit a start.

Sensible. Great stuff.

Not confident if it rains
Christchurch trainer Peter Williams with Karaka Million favourite Planet Rock. "Don't really know because she hasn't been on a wet track, but she's a long-striding filly and they don't generally handle the wet too well.

"She's got the class if she gets some good ground though."

Overs?
Mr Tipsy looks nicely priced at $4.50 in the Wellington Cup, particularly if Showcause doesn't start and he can't win anyway if it's wet.

Cup confusion
Outside of Mr Tipsy the cup field looks tough, evidenced by the TAB bunching nine horses together on $21.

Only a maiden
But a chance in the Trentham special conditions - Orinda. Stiff at Ellerslie last start. In the wet? Who knows?

Each way
Shantaine in the Douro Cup.

Longshot
Prairie Star in the Wellington Cup if she gets in off the ballot.

Unlucky last time
Roi D'Jeu. Improved for that run and won't mind some rain around in the Summer Cup.