Racing: Spring back in step after failure

Jim Gibbs has become happier with each day about the City Of Auckland Cup chances of the favourite Kerry O'Reilly.

Gibbs did not know what to make of the classy stayer's unplaced effort in Monday's weight-for-age Zabeel Classic.

He's still unsure what happened in that race, but he's becoming increasingly encouraged by Kerry O'Reilly's demeanour.

"He's back to bouncing," said Gibbs at Ellerslie races yesterday. "He's got the spring back in his step."

If Kerry O'Reilly goes into Sunday's feature in his best condition then he deserves to be favourite in a 2400m handicap provided the footing is reasonable.

"It would need to be pretty good ground."

Even though tracks can firm up very quickly at this time of year, punters who backed Kerry O'Reilly into short odds for this race must have been worried when they saw the torrential rain at Ellerslie early yesterday.