Racing: Rider doubts may stop run in features

Otaki trainer Kay Lane had good and bad news for fixed-odds followers of her stable late yesterday.

Her sensational Taupo winner Figurinit, one of the early favourites for the Telegraph Handicap and Thorndon Mile, is now in serious doubt for both features over the Wellington summer carnival.

Unless a suitable Telegraph lightweight rider is found over the weekend, Lane was leaning towards reserving Figurinit for a 1400m event on the second day, January 24.

But on the plus side, Lane is confident her 2003 Thorndon winner Zvezda will be at Trentham on January 29 in the best shape of his life.

Zvezda, who was rated an $11 Thorndon hope by the TAB yesterday, is expected to top off his preparation for the group one mile with a win in the ITM Rural Handicap at Awapuni today.

Lane, who owns Figurinit and Zvezda, has never been keen on the pair clashing in the Thorndon.

"I'm almost certain Figurinit won't run in the Thorndon, unless something drastic went wrong with Zvezda at Awapuni," said Lane. "It's pointless running them against each other when I own them both."

Figurinit was yesterday rated a $5 second favourite for the Thorndon, after the TAB took three successive fixed odds hits of $1000, $500 and $600 on the chestnut winning, all at $7.

Wherever Figurinit does front at Trentham, it is likely to be his last appearance in this campaign.

Lane said Figurinit would need a break before being aimed at his main target this year, the A$1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.

"If I can't get the rider I want here for the Telegraph I am considering bringing Stephen Baster over from Australia," said Lane.

"But that can get expensive so I may be better off running Figurinit on the Monday instead.

"If I do that, I only hope they still hold the race. The only reason I took him to Taupo the other day was because of all the cancelled open sprints in the central districts lately."

Figurinit was super impressive over 1350m at Taupo for regular rider Hayden Tinsley, who can't make the horse's 50.5kg in the Telegraph.

Fresh from his sixth in the Newmarket when he botched his chances by missing the kick, Figurinit didn't even get into top gear, yet still left dual group one winner Maroofity gasping in his wake.

"He's that well at the moment, Sunline wouldn't have beaten him that day," said Lane.

Lane is also rapt with the condition of Zvezda, who should record his third win from just five starts at Awapuni today.

A cold stopped Lane bringing Zvezda to Ellerslie for the Rich Hill Mile on January 3.

But he is clearly over that minor setback.

"He has had the knee operation and all sorts of problems since he won the Thorndon, but I'm sure he's better now than he was two years ago," said Lane.

While Zvezda is bound to shorten in the Thorndon market if he wins today, most interest from TAB bookies rests with the performance of Better Boy in the New Zealand Herald 2200m at Ellerslie.

The Michael Moroney and Andrew Scott-trained five-year-old is easily their worst result so far if he wins the Wellington Cup.

Insiders climbed all over his early $100 cup quote, leaving the TAB sweating on a $100,000-plus payout if he scores on January 29.

Better Boy needs to beat today's moderate line-up to be any hope of even making the cup field.