Neil Coulbeck believes his stable star Fritz could get beaten on a wet track in the Timaru Stakes at Riccarton Park. The Red Express's trainer Grant Laursen believes his charge is the one most likely to get the winning stake money for the second year in a row.
But Bruce Marsh, trainer of Mr Esteem, will be glad if his just get to the post.
Mr Esteem, an impressive Ellerslie winner last week, was stranded in Woodville yesterday on standby to cross Cook Strait, possibly last night or this morning.
Marsh is concerned that the Mr Esteem tilt at the $100,000 Canterbury Jockey Club sprint bonus could be stymied by the weather.
"Cook Strait is fairly rough and I just have to hope he can make it. He is cherry ripe to race if he does," Marsh said.
Mr Esteem is an experienced traveller with five trips to Australia under his belt. Marsh believes he can win the bonus, which is spread over the Timaru Stakes-Flying Stakes-Stewards Handicap treble in the next four weeks.
"His record is mixed but that is because we have trained him to get 1600m in the bigger three year old races last season," Marsh said.
"It looks like he's a pure sprinter. Put him back to 1200m and he is a different horse (four wins, four placings from nine tries) and Riccarton will suit him."
Foxton trainer Laursen has one up on the Marsh runner already. The Red Express, an honorary South Islander with 13 of his 15 wins at Riccarton or Rangiora, arrived in Christchurch on Wednesday and had light exercise yesterday.
"I think he is pretty well right," Laursen said.
"A wet track gives him an advantage. He has won in soft conditions at Riccarton more than once. I think he's good chance but he's no chance to win the bonus."
Laursen said the weight penalty The Red Express would gain for winning tomorrow would make it almost impossible for him to win the treble.
"He beat Fritz in this last year when Fritz had a bigger pull in the weights so he should be able to do it again all going well,"Laursen said.
The Foxton trainer has Tangioio lined up for a $15,000 bonus in a two year old event earlier in the day.
The track conditions worry Coulbeck as the South Island Horse of the Year, Fritz, resumes tomorrow.
"He's near enough fitness-wise," Coulbeck said.
"But while he's got form in the soft he prefers it firm. The Red Express has a big advantage there and under the handicap.
"Last time we were weighted together in a handicap, The Red Express was giving us more than 2kg. There's only 0.5kg in it tomorrow."
The subsequent Telegraph Handicap winner was mowed down by The Red Express in last year's ace. The track was rated soft, though the winner broke 1:09.
However, that event could be a tad misleading. Fritz went clear a good way out and, as he showed in the Telegraph, he is a tougher proposition coming from off the pace.
Paul Richards rides him for the first time tomorrow.
The weight conditions of the Timaru Stakes ensure class horses win. Only Pac Man, which could be the sly each way bet with two runs under his belt, Count Five and the Richard Dee-trained Hauriri Boy could be rated outside the top three and Pac Man and Hauriri Boy both prefer firm tracks.
Racing: Rough Cook Strait worry for Marsh
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