By MIKE DILLON
Melbourne Cup favourite Showella guaranteed herself a start in Saturday week's $100,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings with her win at the Ruakaka trials yesterday.
The clincher was not the veracity of the win, but the way she blew fairly heavily afterwards.
"The Mudgway is necessary now," said co-trainer Frank Ritchie after the trial. "She surprised me a little, she was a bit fatter than I thought.
"She had a blow and it took her a while to cool down."
Showella was fit enough to begin her spring campaign last year with a dashing 1600m victory at Counties, 200m further than she will be required to run in the Mudgway.
Showella settled back last in her open heat and cruised around the field easily to take the lead and while her one and a half lengths victory over Di Caprio looked easy enough, she did not have a lot left in the closing stages.
"She was going easily then ran out of puff 100m out," said Michael Coleman, who rode Showella in her Counties win last spring.
Ritchie has no doubts he can have her fit for the Mudgway.
Of greater concern is who he and owner Terry Archer will have aboard Showella for the campaign which will peak for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Both want the same jockey through the carnival.
While leading Victorian jockey Damien Oliver has indicated he would like to ride Showella, he has not committed himself completely.
"Look, I know the way these things work. Damien might want to ride her, but if there is any suggestion she is coming off the boil, a rider in such great demand will always look for another option," said Ritchie.
Waiting for a phone call is former Ritchie champion apprentice Eddie Wilkinson, currently riding under contract in Singapore.
Showella is favourite for the Melbourne Cup with both the New Zealand TAB and Melbourne's Double Bet.
Racing: Showella for Hastings
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