Racing: Oldies but goodies in hunt

Two elder statesmen of the jockeys' room - Noel Harris and Peter Johnson - could fight out the finish of the $250,000 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham today.

Harris, 50, will ride the favourite Etoile Du Nord while Johnson, 48, is aboard the well-supported Zabeat.

The pair have won over 3000 races between them on New Zealand tracks.

Former top apprentices, Harris and Johnson have remained competitive throughout their careers, and are still ranked in the top echelon of jockeys in New Zealand.

Harris will be having his 25th cup ride - his first was aboard Classico in 1972. He has chalked up three wins, all aboard the grand stayer Castletown.

In contrast, Johnson has had only six Wellington Cup rides. He was successful aboard Flying Luskin in 1990 and also had a third on Whitole in 1985 and, in his first cup ride in 1979, was fourth on Happy Union.

Johnson spent about 10 years riding in Singapore, Macau and Australia during the 1980s and 90s and also took a break from riding for a period.

But he returned to the saddle in 1997 and said he thoroughly enjoyed riding and had no plans to retire.

He has had a long association with the Auckland stable of Trevor and Stephen McKee at Takanini and will ride their smart mare Belle Femme in the $100,000 Thorndon Mile today.

"I'll keep riding while there are good horses to ride," Johnson said. "They are hard to come by but the McKees have a strong stable and always have something coming through."

Johnson combines riding with other interests, including a chicken fattening business and a lifestyle block. "I'm kept pretty busy."

He is bullish about his chances aboard Zabeat in the cup.

"We just want a good track," he said.

Zabeat has come into favour after a third in the Auckland Cup and a fifth in the Wellington Cup Trial (2200m) at Trentham on Monday, both on tracks that were rain-affected.

"He just can't quicken on wet tracks," Johnson said.

Whangarei trainer Dean Logan said he had always rated Zabeat highly.

"We've always thought he had more class than (Metropolitan Handicap winner) Victory Smile who was more of a grinding stayer," Logan said.

"On the right going, he has a definite change of pace."

Zabeat, who is bred on a similar cross to Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal, was taken to Queensland last winter and produced some top performances, including a second in the Caloundra Cup (2400m) and a third in the Grafton Cup (2400m).

"We always had the Auckland Cup in mind but unfortunately he didn't get the track to suit," Logan said.

"But he still went a very good race," he said.

A $20,000 yearling purchase, Zabeat is by Rhythm from the Zabeel mare Zabest and descends from the same family as outstanding racemare Champagne.

Zabeat is raced by Logan's training partner and wife Donna Logan in association with long-time stable client Ashley Goodwin.

The Logans have enjoyed considerable success at Trentham, with Vapour Trail winning the New Zealand Oaks and El Duce winning the Wellington Guineas. Zabeat is their first Wellington Cup runner and could be a winning one.

TRENTHAM CARNIVAL

* The highlights of the final day of the carnival are the Wellington Cup and Thorndon Mile.

* Both are group one races.

* The feature $250,000 Wellington Cup has the added bonus of a $100,000 Six Pack.

- NZPA