Racing: Pulcinella pinches it from Guineas hope

Favouritism for the $275,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas firmed up yesterday and there is no reason to replace Tsarina Belle despite her being beaten at Te Rapa.

In going under by the width of the racebook, Tsarina Belle showed why she is the Guineas favourite and that's in no way underestimating the performance of the horse who beat her, Pulcinella.

Pulcinella is hugely talented, which made Tsarina Belle's effort to come from last, after an uncharacteristic slow start, simply fantastic.

Beaten rider Leith Innes said he and Tsarina Belle were victims of circumstance.

"When she went into the barriers she charged the front of her gate, which is not like her.

"I asked for someone to hold her head. Someone jumped up but before they could grab her the gates opened."

Tsarina Belle was last to hit the ground and Innes said it definitely cost the filly the race.

Pulcinella gave the others something to chase when Allan Peard shot her clear early in the run home.

The move looked a tad too soon, but with her class she stuck at the task and as hard as Tsarina Belle tried to grab her, Pulcinella found more.

"I didn't think she'd sprint quite as quickly as she did," said Peard.

Pulcinella is also heading to the 1000 Guineas, which trainer Don Sellwood has had her aimed at all preparation.

With the trip to Christchurch ahead of the fillies, clearly there needed to be something left in them and both Sellwood and Tsarina Belle's trainer Lance O'Sullivan were both tipping significant improvement.

O'Sullivan said he had Tsarina Belle fit enough to win and clearly that was the case, but she is a very round filly who will obviously be better with racing.

Hong Kong-owned Pulcinella has a big heart inside her small frame.

"She has grown a little," said Sellwood, "she's half an inch over 15 hands."

Pulcinella does not lack strength though and is likely to be a tough opponent for Tsarina Belle again at Riccarton.

Everswindell, only one start out of maidens, showed good potential in finishing third.

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The whole of New Zealand rejoiced when the sun came out on Sunday, but few celebrated more than Cambridge trainer Murray Baker.

Baker wanted a decent track at Te Rapa yesterday after all the rain.

He got his wishes and proved his point when Tusker nosed out odds-on favourite Cog Hill in the Seafood Bazaar 1600.

Tusker was one of New Zealand's better 3-year-old fillies last season and showed she was on the way back to that form with a first-up third at Hastings. Since then Baker has been gloomy over wet tracks.

"She and Mistrale (unplaced in the same race) need firm footing."

Like many of his colleagues, including Richard Collett with Cog Hill, Baker is looking at the $250,000 Couplands Bakeries 1600 at Riccarton.

"I haven't totally made up my mind. If she doesn't go down there I'll run her in the weight-for-age race at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day."

Buddy Lammas said the race was a fraction too sharp for Mistrale.

Clifton Prince just held third from the fast-finishing Kerry O'Reilly, who showed he is on track to be one of the summer staying stars with his first run back from a winter break.

Trainer Jim Gibbs said the Counties Cup was likely to be Kerry O'Reilly's first big mission.

Gibbs had reason to be pleased with the gallop between races of his fine sprinter Vinaka, making his first public appearance for a year.

After winning the country's premier 1200m sprint, the Railway at Ellerslie, Gibbs sent Vinaka to Singapore to be trained.

"He had only the three starts up there," said Gibbs yesterday.

"He spelled for six months when he came back and he's been in work for three months."

Vinaka will reappear in the sprint on Counties Cup day at Pukekohe Park.

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Bernard Dyke was keen to shout Grant Cooksley a drink after the races when the vastly experienced jockey landed Floydeboy home at Te Rapa.

"That was a fantastic ride," enthused Dyke. "It was only the rider that got him there."

Floydeboy will have one more start before a spell, the Counties Cup.

"He's had a big campaign," said Dyke.

Floydeboy raced four times in Melbourne during the winter, but failed to find his real form.

Dyke believes the antibiotics that were necessary when the horse cut his jaw soon after arrival had him physically flat for the trip.

In a bruising finish, Floydeboy got home from Shinko Prince with topweight and leader Northern Beau sticking on grimly for third under 58kg.

Northern Beau's effort impressed Michael Walker. "The New Zealand Cup, bring it on."