Racing: Pressure on as buyers circle

Nigel Tiley may never have trained a large team, but he is an extremely talented horse trainer.

And he is severely under the pump today.

Savute, one of the two horses Tiley has in work, attacks the $60,000 Westbury Stud Sunline Stakes and if he wins, mark down a big plus for Tiley.

Savute ran a terrific race for a close fourth to Magnetism in the 1600m Guineas at Ellerslie on March 5. Tiley did an excellent job of freshening Savute to win over 1300m at Tauranga a month later, but he has to pull something even better out of the hat for an even sharper 1200m group-rated race at Te Rapa this afternoon. Going 1600m, 1300m then 1200m is defying a racehorse's natural progression.

Savute can win, but the pressure is right on Tiley's shoulders because there have been a number of big overseas offers made for Savute since his Tauranga victory and nothing chases those away quicker than a defeat.

Orpington is the possible party destroyer. He has had only four career starts and struck the worst possible luck when he had the summer golden stretch of his 3-year-old racing torpedoed by a badly ricked hind fetlock after winning at Tauranga in mid-December.

His close second to class sprinter Gee I Jane at the recent Te Awamutu barrier trials showed he has come back from his lengthy break in great shape. He was big in condition at the trials and should be a lot fitter today.

Orpington is a speed horse and if he has the conditioning behind him to see out 1200m today that sharpness is the one factor that could destroy Savute. Tiley has deliberately allowed three weeks between races to try and put speed into Savute's legs and only the winning post today will tell how successful that has been.

The pair should at some stage of the home straight be fighting a duel in what will be an exciting race. Have a sneaky crack at Orpington if he comes up at $4.50 and crack the quinella. Darcybee, dead stiff for a run last start, is the danger to the quinella.

Auckland owner Tim Vince used to be heavily involved at the gallops and is more recently a high profile harness owner, essentially with the Purdons. He is still in a few gallopers and has a big chance today with debut runner Jonty Da Scoundrel (No 5, R1), an impressive juvenile he races in partnership with his trainers, Chris and Colleen Wood. If the barrier trial performances are an indication, the Al Akbar 2-year-old is ready for a big effort, even from an awkward wide barrier draw. Jacquart (No 2) and another eye-catching trials performer , Petirrojo (No 4), owned by NZ Racing Board CEO Graham Hansen, are chances.

Even though Kainui Belle (No 4, R3) won in four starts last campaign, overall she was very disappointing. She has had a good spell and if she performs to her best she can figure today, if not Mr Multiwin (No 3) has this race to himself. Forget Mr Multiwin could finish only fifth at Manawatu last start, his first defeat in six starts since coming back from Hong Kong. He was slow from the gates from a wide barrier and did not get many favours in transit. What it did show was that he is capable of producing plenty of ticker in his finishes and is not just a high-speed racehorse. He deserves to be favourite here, but at her best Kainui Belle is capable of making it interesting. The tiny field will help the back-running Sovereign (No 2) get close.

The 4kg apprentice allowance might be the key to Opiki (No 2, R4) returning to winning form. That was a smart run for a close third under 57kg on this track last month when coming back from a break. The 53kg appeals more today and it's fair to assume Opiki will be a fraction fitter. Golden Harvest (No 1) is the class horse of the field, but 58.5kg is a daunting task and the decision not to go for an apprentice allowance is interesting. He would look brilliantly placed here with 55kg.

Focal Point (No 6, R5) is close to a win. She was narrowly beaten by Minza Diamond at Ellerslie then topped off by another smart type in Grace And Favour at Tauranga. She hits the finish line strongly and looks well placed as an each-way bet in a field that does not lack chances.

The open handicap should be a great race. Trainer Murray Baker holds a strong hand with Mistrale (No 7, R8) and rapid improver Grace And Favour (No 8). Mistrale was never a chance behind Distinctly Secret at Awapuni last start, but she will appreciate falling back to handicap class. She drops 2.5kg as a result and looks well positioned with 53.5kg in this field. Luck has not been with her throughout this campaign and she gets her chance today. Madame Shinko (No 9) tailed right off in the weight-for-age at Awapuni. Not that it is the reason for her defeat, but that was not her race and she is better placed here. Her previous form had been stunning. Coming back from longer trips, Aeroforce One (No 10) might need real pace on here to be competitive at the 2000m. Our Fuji (No 4) looks to be the only speed in the race and it's unlikely he'll set up the gut-buster tempo that would assist Aeroforce One.

Lance O'Sullivan says Calveen (No 4, R9) is right at the end of her preparation and while he's saying she can still win, he doesn't want to see anything go wrong in running that could make her vulnerable. On her fabulous lead-up form, you have to stay with Calveen - she is extremely well off at level weights with this field. If she is caught short, Rapid Kay (No 5) is the most likely to get over the top of her. The underrated mare did not get all the favours when sixth to Calveen in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie last start and if a predicted shower or two arrives, so much the better.

There is a possible scenario here Calveen might be beyond the end of this campaign and Rapid Kay might find the track a tad too firm, in which case the inexperienced Hasta La Ciao Ciao (No 7) can shine. Trainer Roger James has clearly been thinking along those lines.

Brecon Road (No 2, R11) has done enough to say he can make it three from four, but he might come up too short on the tote. There is some smart emerging talent engaged in the race and if Brecon Road is at around $2.50 he is bad value and the multiples might be the way to go. There are 10 or more chances, but Bronte (No 8), who was unlucky last start, could be value and Peter McKenzie has a big opinion of Miles (No 9).