Racing: Southerner seeks redemption

Tommy Hazlett climbed off Havana City in the Ellerslie birdcage on Saturday and looked for trainer Ann Browne.

The talented Hazlett felt he hadn't produced one of his better rides to land Havana City into fifth in the steeplechase and wanted to mention it to Browne before she told him.

"Not a problem," said Ann Browne.

As Hazlett chewed on several cigarettes after a shower and a change, you could tell he was steeling himself to redemption.

The South Island jumps rider is keen to establish himself with the powerful Browne stable and at Ellerslie this afternoon he gets his first big chance with Drizzle, topweight in the $40,000 Northern Hurdles.

It didn't start well as Hazlett looked to shore up his confidence at Wingatui yesterday.

Racing on a track so heavy only in New Zealand would the race meeting go ahead, Hazlett rode Thyme's Up in the first race, the steeplechase.

The in-form 'chaser could not pull his feet out of the deep mud and finished last of the four finishers, fully 300m from the winner.

But Hazlett will start today's meeting on a winning note after guiding Jamie's Chance to victory in the second, the hurdles, at Wingatui.

Drizzle has not started in a jumps race for eight months and has a 3kg clear topweight to carry today in the form of 67kg, but he's a jumper who knows how to win.

Several times he looked to be under pressure late in his races last winter, but each time he pulled through for punters.

Being from the Browne stable he will not lack fitness today.

The one issue is that he has shown a preference for loose, wet footing and yesterday's weather had the potential to turn what was a testing but loose track on Saturday, to puggy footing, which could test some topweights on the programme.

But Drizzle deserves to be the favourite.

Al Burkan is the big improver. Jamie Gillies declared the tough jumper one race short of his best at Otaki last start.

Al Burkan revels in tough, testing conditions and he is certain to be well suited today.

John Wheeler is worried about the heavy track for Midnight Opal, who was devastating against lesser opposition in winning at Paeroa.

"I wasn't going to run her, which is why Ben Ropiha took another ride, but then I thought, well, there's nothing else around for her and if she did manage to handle the track she'd go close to winning," said Wheeler from Brisbane, where he is campaigning a team.

"The conditions will probably work against her."

Murray Baker will back up Tacit Approval after his fourth placing as beaten favourite in the minor hurdles on Saturday.

"He's come through that race well and the longer distance will suit him this time."

Tacit Approval ran on from last on Saturday.