Racing: Our Fuji given chance to atone

As Awapuni trainer Peter Hurdle so succinctly puts it, he is not making the long drive to Auckland for the scenery.

It's redemption time for Our Fuji, Hurdle's only runner at the Ellerslie twilight meeting today - with the 6-year-old's early summer programme at stake.

Win as his camp know he can and Our Fuji books a return Christmas carnival ticket for the Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day or for the Rich Hill Mile on January 1.

Run as he did when tailing the field last time out at Otaki on Levin Classic day, the worst performance in a 30 race-career, and Hurdle and wife Nikki, his training partner, are back scratching their heads.

"We're at a bit of a loss to explain his last start. It was just an off-day, we hope," said Hurdle.

"But he did come back with his tongue over the bit and the ground that day was a bit shiftier than he likes."

Our Fuji should get track conditions to suit today, and with no other obvious frontrunner, Leith Innes will be able to roll forward and lead without using excess gas.

The nine-race winner has also shown a liking for Ellerslie before, with an impressive PQ win there two years ago and a head defeat by Pomp And Glory in the group two Jerry Clayton Trophy (1600m) weeks later.

While a restricted open 1600m suits nicely third up in this campaign, Peter Hurdle is confident Our Fuji's future lies over 2000m.

He was tried twice over that distance late in his last campaign, for an end-to-end win in the group three Taranaki Cup, at the expense of Queen Elizabeth Handicap winner Mistrale, and a fighting third to Kajema at Te Rapa in April.

"I'd like to get him up over ground a lot sooner in this preparation," said Hurdle, who scored a hit-and-run group two Ellerslie victory with the exciting Viennetta a fortnight back.

"I think he's more of a stayer. He's a one pacer, but he has a very high cruising speed and gets the others off the bit.

"He doesn't quicken, but he doesn't stop either."

British Ensign should push Our Fuji closest when they straighten.

The 7-year-old has gone some top races on the course and wasn't far off Millennium last time out in strong weight-for-age company at Tauranga.

Desert Flight is also a must-include in combinations. He will be improved by his fresh-up second over 1300m at Tauranga and has a near-faultless strike rate on the course.

* A decision is likely tomorrow on whether the drugs case against Lisa Cropp goes to the High Court.

A decision was expected on Monday but Geoff Hall, chairman of racing's judicial tribunal hearing the case, said it had been delayed.

Barry Hart, a lawyer for Cropp, said last week that he would seek a judicial review of the tribunal chairman's last ruling on November 29.

He would not elaborate but Hall said it was to deny an application for Phil Welsh, a member of the tribunal, to be disqualified from the panel. Welsh has recently taken seriously ill.

Cropp tested positive to methamphetamine in a routine drugs test at Te Rapa races on May 7.