Racing: Rivals not scared of favourite St Reims

If Stephen Autridge's gut feeling is right, St Reims could need a massive lead turning for home in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie today.

The Tuhikaramea co-trainer is confident mum-to-be Lashed is at least as fit as she was when over-hauling Penny Gem for an impressive win in last year's race.

"She's working as good as ever and appears to be enjoying it just as much," said Autridge, who trains the outstanding mare in partnership with Graeme Rogerson.

"We wouldn't want to be giving St Reims 10 to 15 lengths but when she's won, they've always been hard run races and that appears likely to be the case again

"So at least we can go into the race confident it will be run at a decent tempo."

Lashed, who is in foal to Saturday's Auckland Cup-winning champion stallion Zabeel, had the look of a next-up winner when eighth in Bhandara's slickly-run Kings Plate over 1600m on Boxing Day.

Rider Michael Walker tapped her up at the 500m, but when he really asked her to unleash her usual sprint, he was blocked for room inside the final 250m.

"Michael got off her and said with a better run she would have finished miles closer. He definitely thought she'd win next time," said Autridge.

Owner and race sponsor Patrick Hogan has opted for Opie Bosson for the group one ride over 2000m today.

Bosson was aboard Zabeel Classic rival Society Beau in the Kings Plate.

Autridge said pregnancy seems to be agreeing with Lashed, a horse he'd only had in his care a matter of days before winning last year's race.

"You can see a different side to her attitude. She seems to be enjoying everything and wants to do it."

Lashed conceived on November 10 and Hogan said she's now in the perfect hormonal zone for racing.

Safely through today's test, Autridge said she'd follow the same programme as last summer when she stamped herself as the best weight-for-age performer in New Zealand.

Punters wont be making the same mistake as last year when they let the black type specialist jump at $16 in the Zabeel.

Yesterday, Lashed was the TAB's fixed odds equal second fancy at $5 with another high class mare in The Jewel.

Fixed odds for Ellerslie today. -

Zabeel Classic: $2.25 St Reims; $5 The Jewel, Lashed; $13 Penny Gem, Society Beau; $14 Distinctly Secret; $16 St Jessie; $18 Bridie Belle; $20 Millennium, Cent Home.

Rich Hill Mile: $2.75 Calveen; $7 Maroofity; $9 Our Fuji, British Ensign; $12 Belle Femme; $13 All's Well; $16 Elendil; $17 Sir Kinloch; $18 Filey; $20 Desert Flight, Alleyrun, Ubiquitous; $25 Tadan, Brave Flyer, Mr Robert; $30 Travellin' Man, Macavelli Miss; $40 James Scott; $50 Fire In The Hole, Just Aqua, Rotang, I Rock My World, Be Famous.