KEY POINTS:
Yesterday's weekend weather forecast meant a lot of different things to a lot of trainers.
Most were hoping the prediction of rain through the North Island from late today and through tomorrow was way off the mark.
Especially Allan Sharrock and Phil Stephens.
Their two top class performers Wahid and Kristov will almost certainly be out of play for the $30,000 Rural ITM Handicap at Awapuni if the weather affects the Awapuni track condition.
Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett yesterday inspected yearlings for the upcoming Karaka yearling sale with not a single worry whether or not the rain came.
Collett has leading prospect Kingsinga going around in the $70,000 Gallagher Group Marton Cup and unbeaten juvenile filly Crossyourheart in the $15,000 Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie and says both will run regardless of the conditions.
"Kingsinga won't be affected, he's won on and off track at Rotorua, and the filly will get away with it."
Collett said Crossyourheart needs to run because it is the only viable lead-up for her to the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique at Te Rapa in a few weeks.
And Sharrock says he finds himself in a similar situation with Wahid at Manawatu.
"He has to run to have a race before the Thorndon Mile so, regardless of the track conditions, he'll be there.
"We all know he doesn't operate as well on wet ground, but if he gets a decent surface he's going to be right in the race."
Sharrock was delighted with Wahid's luckless sixth behind Kay's Awake in the 1200m Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. It was the horse's first run since a close fourth in the Kelt Capital Stakes and had brought him appropriately forward.
"He's flying, but he's a real summer horse. All he needs is a decent track - for the first time in 20 years I've got a horse than likes running down a concrete road."
Punters face a difficult sprint race if the track is "off". Rosina Lad won't mind give in the footing, but he faces a tough task with 59kg.
Bonjour, on 54.5kg, could be the danger. He failed at 2000m in the Wanganui Cup, but more than the distance it might have been that he was coming off a tough winning performance.
Most of his best races have been when a little fresh and the break he has had now should fit him well for this task.
Stevens also has Kristov in the $25,000 Radio Network at Ellerslie, where rain was similarly predicted. "I'll decide tomorrow night [Friday] which is going to be the better track for him."
Kingsinga and fellow northerner Luckshan are going to take beating in the Marton Cup.
Kingsinga is a class act on the way through to good things and Luckshan is in the best form of his career. He has been racing well on reasonably firm surfaces and is even better when there is rain around.
He was less than one length from Valley Chief in fourth place at Te Rapa last start and will be much better suited here if there is give in the footing.
Far Away Places doesn't seem to mind what the conditions are and Creil might be about to show what she has after two starts back following a lengthy break. At her only start at this 2200m distance Creil won the group one Avondale Cup 13 months ago. She should have needed her two 1600m races in December.
