Racing: Spratt sticks to trainer's game plan at Te Rapa

There wasn't a moment to spare when Hammer Down grabbed his deserved win in Saturday's $70,000 Windsor Park Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday.

It eased the total frustration trainer Stephen McKee felt when the talented but luckless 3-year-old drew barrier No 13 at acceptances on Wednesday.

Despite the shocking barrier draws and unsuitable wet tracks Hammer Down has continually struck since earlier sensational form, he was going for a spell immediately after this race, regardless of the result.

McKee decided worrying wasn't going to change the barrier draw and became fatalistic.

"I told Sam [Spratt] that if she got caught wide just to grin and bear it and let him relax as much as possible."

Spratt did exactly that. Hammer Down glided to the front early in the home straight and although the break he had on the others was narrow he never really looked in danger.

"He started to gaze about, but was always going to win it," said Spratt.

No thought was given to changing plans to spell Hammer Down.

"He'll go to Dean Hawthorne's straight from here and come back as a sprinter in the spring," said McKee, who declared the Mudgway Stakes at Hastings as a very unlikely target.

"He should have a better record but for the barrier draws and wet tracks."

Although never a chance to pick up the winner, Sweet Suitor looked good coming from well back on the home turn to be beaten three-quarters of a length.

McKee didn't have quite the same luck with another of his 3-year-olds Starcheeka in the A$115,000 Tattsbet Stakes in Adelaide.

The midweek flight to Australia became a nightmare when Melbourne Airport was fogged out and the aircraft was diverted to Adelaide.

When told of the diversion, McKee said "Great, unload him there", but was told no licence existed that allowed horses to be taken off flights there.

"There was a delay, then they flew the horses back to Melbourne, unloaded them and he had to be floated back to South Australia.

"Talk about government red tape."

Starcheeka looked below his best form when he led in Saturday's race and dropped out in the run home to beat only one runner.

Roger James didn't fare much better when Rasteau wilted in the home straight to finish fifth in the A$150,000 Hawkesbury Guineas.

But like Stephen McKee, James had his luck at Te Rapa, winning the $40,000 Presland Tocker Insurance Premier with Firebolt, now three from three at Te Rapa.

Firebolt has extraordinary ability on his day, but has been a bit picky when those days are.

James has been jumping him lately to get his mind on the job and Saturday's win indicated it may be working.