Racing: Rain would suit Harbour Magic

If you know of a gloomy weather forecast for Christchurch over the next fortnight, Otaki trainer Karen Zimmerman wants to hear from you.

Although an impressive Te Awamutu Cup winner on a soft track at the weekend, Harbour Magic's Winter Cup hopes Saturday week could be scuttled by a firmish Riccarton.

"He's actually performed on any track, but I think 1600m on top of the ground is just too short for him - they'll go too quick," said Zimmerman.

"A bit of rain around will help his chances a lot in the Winter Cup."

With his brave win for Jade Rogers on Saturday, Harbour Magic firmed yesterday into the TAB's $9 second favourite for the $80,000 Riccarton feature behind Opunake Cup runner-up Don't Ya Lovett at $4.50.

Zimmerman's Magic Of Sydney 4-year-old is now sitting on a hat-trick of wins after one of the transformations of the winter.

Harbour Magic was always a handy horse for Southland's Leda McNeilly, but since his Dunedin owners sent him north to chase the bigger bucks with Zimmerman, he's turned into a different animal.

"He's always had ability but since he's learned to settle and race kinder he's really improved," said Zimmerman.

"He's such a lovely horse to do anything with. He's a very cruisy type and pulled up well. He got off the float from Te Awamutu looking a million dollars."

Zimmerman admits she wasn't originally heading to Te Awamutu with Harbour Magic.

She had sworn off ever returning to the track after a costly flop by Flight Luetenant in the John F Grylls Memorial there a decade back.

But the cancellation of Trentham's Whyte Handicap meeting forced a rethink.

Jade Rogers, however, never gave Zimmerman any cause to panic on her return.

He tracked the swooping Shanamann when the pace quickened, then out-kicked the favourite in the straight.

Rogers finished fourth on the Zimmerman-trained Classic Design in the Winter Cup last year, but rates Harbour Magic a far superior chance.

Classic Design, an early $30 fixed-odds hope for Riccarton, gets his final chance to push for a return for the same race at Oamaru on Sunday.

"He's still in the Winter Cup provided he goes all right on Sunday," said Zimmerman.

"He's been struggling a bit on the wetter tracks in the north, so I'm hoping the better tracks down there will suit him."

Te Awamutu Cup placegetters Shanamann and Grani would have lost few fans for Riccarton with their placings. They were yesterday rated $16 and $18 chances respectively.

Lazaros, however, turned in one of the best Winter Cup trials at the weekend, without even paying a dividend.

Back to 1400m on a firmer track than he prefers, Lazaros was struggling to stay in contention for most of the John F Grylls Memorial, won by Elianto and Lisa Cropp.

But once rider Noel Harris balanced him in the straight, he powered home for a fast-finishing fourth under the topweight of 57kg.

Providing the four-race winner makes the field, the $14 long-range, fixed-odds hope also only needs a heavy Riccarton to be a huge hope.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman is looking forward to the return of new stable star King Of Ashford to her racing team this week.

After a short winter break the find of the autumn kicks off a fresh campaign in a 1000m trial at Hawera tomorrow.

"He's done extremely well - too well for my liking, he's a bit above himself," said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman will map out a more serious race programme for the exciting stayer after his raceday return in the Foxbridge Plate (1400m) at Te Rapa on August 13.