Racing: Southerner after greater things

Southerner Nat Nat is on trial for much bigger things when he takes on the $14,000 metric mile at Te Rapa tomorrow.

If Nat Nat handles the job well he will be set for the $100,000 Speights Gold Medal Mile (1600m) on the final day of the carnival at Ellerslie.

He should go close to winning - his effort over 1400m on the first day last Saturday was a superb trial for tomorrow.

That race was an open handicap won by Travellin' Man and this time Nat Nat drops back to two-to-six win company.

He was back and wide last week and finished powerfully to be beaten only half a length and a long neck.

"We felt this race is a nice soft option going ahead to Ellerslie," said co-trainer Dawn Williams.

Nat Nat, part-owned by harness trainer Mark Purdon and wife Vicki, should have too much class for most of this field.

Williams is delighted with her two $500,000 Mercedes Derby runners, Fiscal Madness and The Raj.

Fiscal Madness finished fourth behind runaway winner and Derby favourite Cheval De Troy in the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie on Sunday and The Raj was eighth.

"I wasn't disappointed in either of those efforts," said Williams.

"Mark Du Plessis was very pleased with the effort of Fiscal Madness. He said he settled well, which had been our concern, and he doesn't expect to have any problems with him doing that again over the 2400m of the Derby."

The Raj appeared to get a little lost at his first attempt racing right-handed.

"It didn't help that the rail was so far out. He'll be a lot better with the rail back in the true position on Derby day."

Noel Harris replaces Jason Laking on The Raj in the Derby.

Daddy Knows Best is looking for some stakemoney to absolutely guarantee a place in the Derby field when he contests the 1600m Stainless Alloys 1600 at Te Rapa.

A bruised heel forced the Takanini 3-year-old to miss the Bonecrusher Stakes.

He was right on the cusp of a start and then Sista and Matiri King were pulled out.

If Justa Tad is nominated today and Sir Woody earns a stake in the last race at Manawatu tomorrow they will jump in ahead of Daddy Knows Best, but he should still be safe.

"The wide draw is not going to help," said co-trainer Frank Ritchie. "We had hoped to ride him handier from an inside gate, but that won't be happening."

Matiri King was withdrawn from the Derby on the instructions of his Hong Kong owners, who want him sent to them without a further race in New Zealand.

Matiri King looked a live Derby hope when he finished strongly into third in the Avondale Guineas.