Racing: Old warhorse needs some rain

Punters be warned - warhorse El Duce is extremely doubtful in Saturday's $100,000 Counties Cup unless it rains.

Co-trainer Donna Logan says the stable is not prepared to risk the grand old performer's veteran legs on a track that is firmer than he prefers.

El Duce looked one of the horses to beat in the Counties Cup when he finished within a length of Millennium for third in the weight-for-age race at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day.

But Logan came close to her Saturday decision when she walked the Pukekohe Park track two days ago.

"It's pretty firm, firmer than he likes.

"Look, he'd go a great race, but he's an old boy and you have to look after those sort of horses.

"Cathy [Treymane] jumped off him after Ellerslie and said his legs feel better than they'd ever felt, but you still can't risk the chance of jarring him up."

The Counties Racing Club, through the governing body New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, has had Waikato Racing Club course manager Neil Treweek assisting as curator of Pukekohe Park for Saturday's meeting and the aim of having it at a rating of 2.2.

Treweek oversaw around 20 horses gallop on the course proper on Tuesday morning.

"Afterwards you looked at it and it was just bruising the surface.

"You could see where they'd been, but a few showers would help enormously. If the predicted showers arrive the footing will be perfect for Saturday."

Treweek was a little shy of guaranteeing a 2.2 surface.

"Pukekohe only has a sprinkler system as distinct from a full blown irrigation system.

"I've been employed by Thoroughbred Racing to go around all the tracks and my recommendation is that any track running a stakes race should have irrigation rather than a sprinkler system."

Treweek said the cost to upgrade to full irrigation is $130,000, which would seem pin money compared with the cost to any host club that lost a meeting because of any given unsatisfactory surface.

Treweek says Te Rapa's irrigation system has worked brilliantly with the sand-slit surface in the last two years.

"Even if we have no rain, I can guarantee a 2.2 track at Te Rapa on Sunday for the Cambridge meeting."

The Logan stable has two options and is delighted with a firm track for Wellington Cup winner Zabeat for the Counties Cup.

"The firmer the better for him,"said Logan. "We don't have to panic with El Duce. There is the Waikato Cup and the Avondale Cup and a few races after that."

El Duce has practically made the Waikato Cup his race since his return from a successful career in Singapore.

"I'm very happy with him," says Logan.