By MIKE DILLON
User-friendly will be the altered catchcry of the new-look Avondale Jockey Club.
And a bit of PR is going to be necessary.
A clean sweep of the old brigade at Tuesday's annual meeting put new air into the troubled club, but oxygen alone is not the answer.
Ivan Sapich, who got the presidency back in the election, admits the club has a tough year ahead.
"Financially it's going to be a battle under the new regulations, but we accept that challenge.
"We want the entire AJC operation to be user-friendly, from those training on the track each morning to the raceday patron.
"We will be concentrating on that, because it has not always been the case."
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Mark Hills is devastated a shoulder injury will keep him from riding Hero in Saturday's $40,000 Lion Brown Plate at Rotorua.
Trainer Jim Campin is shattered for another reason.
He is worried there is another tearaway leader, Goldbrearne, in the race.
Hero is well known for his hatred of being restrained or taken on in front and in a fresh condition starting a new campaign, he is going to want some freedom.
"There is nothing we can do about it, we'll just have to wait and see what happens on the day," said Campin yesterday.
Hero is a gross horse and Campin says while he has had to push the 7-year-old a bit to get him to race fitness, he's sure he is tight enough to be a winning chance.
"He worked well here on Tuesday and he's capable of a very good showing."
Jim Collett replaces Hills, who tried his shoulder out with one quiet mount on Tuesday morning with the idea of riding Hero on Saturday, but quickly realised it was a hopeless cause.
The track reading at Rotorua yesterday was 3.5 with reasonable weather forecast for today, tomorrow and Saturday.
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Roger James would like to think he can keep One Under in his stable for an extended period despite the mare's sale at California breeders John and Anne Kunkel.
"I'm hoping to get her selected for the Hong Kong Mile in December and who knows after that," said James.
One Under was named champion 2-year-old of the 1998-99 season.
Racing: New-look AJC has friendly face
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