Matamata trainer John Ralph is just happy to share the same seat as Noel Eales at Hastings today.
Eales trained top galloper Manchu for Ralph in the 1980s but today they are in opposing camps for the group two $100,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m).
Both saddle up royal chances, and regardless of the result, you can be sure the two veterans will still be talking.
Ralph has seven year-old The Message - $3.50 favourite in fixed odds betting - while Eales is putting the polish on 1400m specialist Tall Poppy ($5 fixed odds).
"Noel Eales is the best trainer in the country, in my opinion, so Tall Poppy has to be one of the ones to beat," Ralph, 65, said.
"I'm biased of course, but I respect Noel so much."
Eales is invariably the first person Ralph turns to in need. A fortnight ago Eales arranged a base in Ballarat for The Message, who will likely cross the Tasman on October 9.
The Message is scheduled to contest the remaining races in the weight for age series at Hastings - the group three $100,000 Challenge Stakes on September 16 and the $250,000 Kelt Capital Stakes a fortnight later.
His Melbourne targets include the $A2 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
In the meantime Ralph expects a bold run at Hastings tomorrow.
"(The) 1400m and 1600m (trips) are his best distances," Ralph said.
"He jumps so well, the barrier (draw 10) shouldn't be a problem and hopefully he is right on them at the turn."
Linda Ballantyne, who rode The Message to an eight-length victory in the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 12, retains the mount.
The ground was heavy then, which will be in stark contrast to today's expected firm track.
"He can run on anything - he's certainly not a wet tracker," Ralph said.
"He's had four knee operations so the soft track cushions the knees a bit and sometimes slow the others down, but the ground won't worry him."
With glamour galloper Cent Home vulnerable fresh-up the other big hope is Matamata mare Integrate. She may have an edge on fitness on many of her rivals after racing in Brisbane this winter.
Success by Integrate would give part-owner David Ellis a group two win on his first day of training. Ellis has replaced the suspended Mark Walker as trainer at Te Akau Stables.
"Mark has left her in great condition so really the credit goes to him."
- NZPA
Racing: Old friends happy to saddle rivals
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