Racing: Salvatore suffers stone bruise

Obsession (front) is well placed tomorrow. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It was a frustrated Anne Herbert who late yesterday made the phone call to scratch the favourite Salvatore from tomorrow's $200,000 Thorndon Mile at Trentham.

"That's the fifth time he's got a stone bruise or had a foot problem leading into a big race," said Herbert.

"It happens when the weather's wet and he has to work on a sand track.

"He's got very soft feet and anything at all aggravates them."

Which throws the Thorndon Mile wide open, particularly with the likelihood of a wet track.

On reasonable conditions November Rain would be very dangerous.

She was badly placed under 56.5kg at weight-for-age in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie last start, but still managed to finish just 2.3 lengths from winner Booming. The drop to 53.5kg here under handicap conditions is much more favourable.

November Rain has had one placing from three starts on rain-affected footing, so there has to be a question mark.Conditions will almost certainly dictate her chance.

Former Australian galloper Joku has wet track form. His latest form overall has looked smart, particularly with his ability to get to the line strongly. That is going to be important here and even with 57.5kg he rates a big chance.

Rich Hill Mile winner Fears Nothing has had no starts on heavy footing, but has won three of his five starts in the slow.

There was a lot to like about the way he stormed home to win at Ellerslie and he looks well placed here on 52.5kg.

Dasoudi remains under rated. She safely held a pretty good field to win the sprint at Awapuni last start and has won in very testing ground.

The negative is she has yet to try 1600m and group one level is probably not an ideal testing ground, but she has been hitting the line strongly in her races and gives the impression it may not bother her.

While Frank Ritchie is unhappy over the likely conditions for Showcause in the Cup, he is less concerned about his runner here, Obsession - provided the footing doesn't get too heavy.

"She'll handle it dead to slow, but it would be too much for her if it was heavy."

The TAB's odds for the $70,000 NZ Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes will be interesting when released.

It's a difficult race to assess with the likes of emerging stars such as the unbeaten Shez Sinsational pitched against the established fillies like Smoulder, Blinding, Rememba Howe and Kiwi Lady.

The TAB odds for the Wellington Cup: $4.50 Mr Tipsy, $6 Showcause, $10 Innocent Lady, $11 He's Under The Gun, $12 Veloce Bella, $14 Can't Keeper Down, $15 Six O'Clock News, $18 The Terminator, $21 Dawn Ghost, Mandela, Spiro, Fazza, Blood Brotha, Crocodile Canyon, Prairie Star, Zabene; $26 Borninthestates, $31 Loose Change, Bruce Almighty.

The odds for the Thorndon were to have been restructured later last night with the withdrawal of Salvatore.