Racing: Pretorius eases throttle back

Pretorius' best results have come when he's raced near the front. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Jakki Good would like to see Pretorius lead in tomorrow's $100,000 Hawkes Bay Cup, but doesn't think it's going to happen.

Good wanted Pretorius to lead when he tackled weight-for-age racing at Awapuni last start, but Hayden Tinsley couldn't get the horse to the top of the field.

"Hayden jumped off and said: 'this horse just doesn't want to go forward'."

Tinsley had to ride the talented stayer hard to get him up outside the leader after being forced wide early and it left Pretorius without a finishing effort, even though he did well to finish sixth, less than three lengths from the winner Tusker.

"Most of his best performances have been when he's been on the pace or in front, but it's late in his preparation and he's probably lost that sharpness to lead," said Good.

"This time we're just going to let him race where he's comfortable."

Catherine Treymane replaces Hayden Tinsley.

"Catherine has always had first option on this horse and she was available for Hawkes Bay," said Good.

Tinsley will ride Desert Flight, a last-start winner under 57.5kg at Te Aroha.

The value could be New Zealand Cup winner Trebla, who came back from a two-month break to finish strongly into fourth over 1650m behind subsequent Easter Handicap winner Rags To Riches.

The 2200m here will suit perfectly.

The TAB's odds on the Hawkes Bay Cup are: $4.50 Kerry O'Reilly, $5 King Of Ashford, $8.50 Pretorius, $11 Desert Flight, $12 Madam Shinko, $13 Trebla, Pacific Dancer, $14 Vision, $16 Anne Carina, Murali, $18 Gorgeous George. $20 plus the others.