Racing: NZ Cup target after northern success

Juicy Fruit Mambo has the New Zealand Cup on his schedule after his lightning raid victory at Hastings.

The Riccarton-trained stayer was sent north for just the one race by trainers Dawn and Peter Williams, and he got the money in the last stride against the likes of Envoy, Lilakyn and St Reims.

There is another suitable race at Hastings on Kelt day on Saturday week, but the partners are not prepared to risk the horse, who has a history of jarring up.

"Lisa Cropp said the track was quite hard for him yesterday, so we've made the decision to bring him home," said Peter Williams yesterday from Geraldine races where he won with classy type Fiscal Madness and Al Farouk.

Preparing a horse for 3200m when it has a tendency to jar can be tricky, but Williams said they have an advantage with Juicy Fruit Mambo.

"He's a horse who takes very little racing. That race yesterday was his first since the last day of the National meeting at Riccarton and that was more than a month ago.

"He can have a run around in the $30,000 race at Riccarton on October 8 and he won't need a lot after that."

Williams said the stable has managed to curb Juicy Fruit Mambo's tendency to stand in the starting stalls and watch the other horses go.

At Riccarton, Juicy Fruit Mambo is likely to meet Mr Hefner, who came back from a short break to score well in the $30,000 Evans Classic at the Counties meeting at Paeroa on Saturday.

Robert Priscott did a good job of having him ready to win in fairly testing conditions.

Under Queensland apprentice Gavin McKeon, Mr Hefner joined a line of horses in the home straight and did well to catch Kenadaad, who looked certain to win at the 200m.

Priscott pulled off another slick training performance to have Tadan ready to topple one of the most competitive fields of the day at Hastings in his first start since April.

Tadan sat parked and quickly raced clear of the favourite Figurinit and Delbrae.

Macavelli Miss, even under her 58kg, was a shade disappointing in finding no kick in the home straight, finishing a distant fourth.