Racing: Rumour machine takes over

Paul Kerr always thought Pay Me Christian was a champion and this week he received the confirmation - the gossip machine has started to clobber him.

Racing thrives on gossip and any titbit of information on a top horse, or horseperson, is quickly traded on the open market.

The bigger the target, the more exaggerated the rumours tend to get.

So Pay Me Christian must have made it because this week the rumour machine was in overdrive.

Every second person you spoke to in Australia, as well as many in the South Island, wanted to tell you Pay Me Christian's tilt at tomorrow night's Victoria Derby was in trouble after a paddock injury last Sunday.

Of course none of these people had spoken to trainer Kerr. So we did.

"Really, that is staggering that people would say that," replied a stunned Kerr.

"He put his hoof over a low fence wire on Sunday and grazed it but I am surprised anybody would even know.

"It is completely superficial and hasn't affected the way he has worked this week. It is remarkable how rubbish like that gets around."

In fact Kerr has a warning for punters and cynics: Pay Me Christian will be better at Moonee Valley tomorrow night than he was in his freakish heat win last Saturday.

On that occasion he shattered the Ballarat 2200m track record in a time almost a second inside the New Zealand national record for a 3-year-old.

"He hadn't raced for six weeks before that outing and I am sure he will be a better horse this week," said Kerr.

"He is a natural athlete and has come through that brilliantly so I expect him to be right up to his peak on Saturday night."

If Kerr is right then Pay Me Christian would have been unbeatable off the front line tomorrow night.

Unfortunately for his fans that won't be happening as he has drawn one on the second line behind second favourite Devisive.

That raises the possibility of Pay Me Christian getting locked away on the markers, yet Kerr says that is not his problem.

"Really what happens on the race track comes down to the driver and we have a very good one in David [Butt].

"I think the draw could end up winning us the race because I think the bloke on Devisive will want to lead and if he does then we should be sitting on his back.

"From there we have to be very hard to beat."

And what if Devisive does not lead.

"Well, worst-case scenario we are three deep on the markers, which is never a bad place to be in a Derby or the others have to go so hard early we can get off the markers.

"There are plenty of things that could happen but there is no point worrying about them.

"We have a fit and healthy horse and that is all we can control at this stage."

Pay Me Christian drifted slightly to $1.85 in the betting this week on the back of the rumours and concerns about his draw but it is hard to see how one on the second line will be bad because Devisive is a natural leader.

His driver Peter Rixon could take the gamble of handing the lead away to trap Pay Me Christian but there is no guarantee he can keep the favourite on his back and he also has to rely on the leader getting him to the passing lane.

So he looks likely to stay in front and that should give Pay Me Christian the trail.

The one concern about that is the $1 million colt appeared to pull hard when he trailed stablemate Alta Sirroco in the Great Northern Derby, a race he was ultimately checked out of on the home turn.

Again Kerr's confidence is undented.

"I spoke to David about that and he said it looks worse than it is.

"He does get keen but he doesn't actually pull that hard. David tells me not to worry about it so I am not going to."

If Pay Me Christian and Devisive are the first two horses on the markers it is hard to see them not providing the quinella even though there was plenty to like about the runs of Aussie pacers I Am Sam and Dereks Pick last Saturday.

I Am Sam has good gate speed and should settle handy so is a trifecta must while Dereks Pick is an exciting sit-sprinter but would need a hot pace, which looks unlikely here.

The only other winning chance would be New Zealand's second rep Tuherbs, who was an expensive failure when fourth behind Divisive last Saturday.

He was asked to work very hard in the middle stages in his first start for three months so should strip fitter tomorrow night.

From barrier four he could do anything - lead, win, gallop, finish last.

He is too hard to predict to be backing with any confidence but may be worth a saver for those having a decent bet on the favourite.