Racing: Shanamann a winter wonder

Jenny Scott believes Shanamann is better for Rotorua tomorrow than he was before his stunning Cornwall Handicap win at Ellerslie last start.

Which means the opposition have a job on their hands in the $50,000 Amcor Kiwi Packaging NZ Kiwifruit Cup.

Few horses win as easily under 58kg as Shanamann managed in the Cornwall.

He sat back, looped the field approaching the home turn and raced clear to score by 2.25 lengths.

On returning to the birdcage rider Cameron Lammas was almost apologetic for having made his move what he considered too early.

"But I couldn't hold on to him any longer," he said.

The one fact you always search for when horses aim at Rotorua is whether they have tackled the track previously.

In Shanamann's case the answer is no, and that could be a significant factor.

Horses either handle Rotorua or they don't and there is no middle ground.

The surface is unique and has torpedoed many before Shanamann.

But he is worth the risk - he is absolute quality on winter tracks and has never been better than he is right now.

Cambridge trainer Scott can't believe the improvement in the stayer, who is booked to fly out for a three-race Melbourne campaign on Tuesday.

"My trackwork rider says he's fairly bouncing in his work - he says he's another horse. I hope he's right.

"I do all the pacework on him and that's the impression he gives me as well.

"You have to watch him because when he gets very well he gets mentally bright - sometimes too bright."

Safely through tomorrow's race, Shanamann will run in the A$100,000 ($120,000) Banjo Paterson at Flemington on July 8, a 2500m handicap.

The second feature he will be aimed at is an identical race in August.

"If he's to run in the second 2500m race then he'll need something in between and there is a A$50,000 handicap at Caulfield over 2400m." Lammas has been offered the Australian rides.

This field is considerably stronger than the line-up Shanamann beat in the Cornwall.

Rotorua Cup winner Gliding is there with the hugely talented Miles, top class mudder Woodbury Lane, American Gothic and evergreen Van Winkle.

And there are three or four at lower weights who can seriously test the favourites.

Woodbury Lane is an interesting runner.

He appeared to be put off his rhythm in his first attempt at right-handed racing at Ellerslie last weekend. He finished 8.25 lengths behind Leica Guv over 1600m, but that is at least that distance off his best form. He reverts to a left-handed track this time.

His racing has predominantly been over 1600m, but the late finish he put in to finish second to Banchiere at Awapuni and third to Bulginbaah at weight-for-age at Wanganui suggest that may be an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

Miles is probably the horse to beat. He came off a 58kg Rating 92 victory at Wanganui to win as he liked in open company at Foxton last start.

He has always looked capable of winning a race like this.

Gliding does not look as well off here with 56.5kg joint second topweight as he did carrying 52.5kg in the Rotorua Cup, the handicap for which was compressed by the presence of his stablemate Balmuse.

But any two-from-two winner at Rotorua rates highly going back for a third crack.

Latest betting:

Kiwifruit Cup, $50,000, opn hcp, 2200m (run at Arawa Park tomorrow): $3.75 Miles, Shanamann; $5.50 Gliding; $9 American Gothic; $10 Art Link; $12 Melanion, Woodbury Lane; $20 Nufsed; $22 From Heaven; $24 Van Winkle; $30 Beaudamiss; $50 Astaire.

KIWIFRUIT CUP

* On paper Shanamann looks to have a tough task as the 58kg clear topweight.

* But trainer Jenny Scott says the horse has improved since his easy Cornwall Handicap win at Ellerslie.

* Shanamann is booked to fly to Melbourne on Tuesday for a three-race programme.

* This is a better field than the one Shanamann beat in the Cornwall.