Racing: Small weighs up options with Cup hopefuls

Murcielargo kicked off his southern career with a win. Photo / APN

Trainer Geoff Small is considering whether to race Zenola Seelster and Jarcullembra close to home at Cambridge on Thursday night or head to Christchurch for the Canterbury Classic on Friday.

Jarcullembra, who finished second to Pembrook Benny at Alexandra Park last Friday, is off 50m and Zenola Seelster, 60m over 2700m at Cambridge.

Jarcullembra is 19th in the rankings for the NZ Trotting Cup and Zenola Seelster 27th for the 15-horse field.

Another round of ratings is due today, taking into account the race at Auckland and the Methven Cup on Sunday. Fly Like An Eagle is likely to improve three or four placings from 18th in the rankings for his win in the Methven Cup.

Zenola Seelster missed a start in the grass-track Methven Cup on Sunday when his flight from Auckland to Christchurch was cancelled.

"I am just assessing whether to race them at Cambridge or go to Christchurch. I am trying to work out which is more convenient in terms of the stable operation," Small said.

"There are plenty of flights available to get to Christchurch."

I Can Doosit is the backmarker on 30m in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup on Friday night.

I Can Doosit resumed racing with a win from 25m in the Banks Peninsula Cup on September 30.

Lyell Creek won the CP Cup from 35m in 2000 after success in the BP Cup from 30m at his previous start.

Cedar Fella (1998), Buster Hanover (1997) and Bay Talent (1996) won the race from 30m and Above The Stars was successful in 1995 from 40m.

Above The Stars is among six winners of the race for trainer Paul Nairn. The others are Call Me Now (1994), Call You Later (2003), Stig (2008) and Dr Hook (2010-11).

Nairn has Stig, Musgrove and Dr Hook entered for the race on Friday.

Stig ran Sovereignty to a neck at Addington last Friday. The 10-year-old is off 10m, the same handicap as 2008.

Murcielargo has been entered for an intermediate trot at Addington on Friday night. Murcielargo, having his first start from the Oamaru stable of Phil Williamson, won easily at Oamaru on September 16 after losing a big stretch of ground early.