KEY POINTS:
It won't be the same dollars for the Zabeel Classic, but trainer Lisa Latta will be extremely pleased if Spud can win one of the two main races at Ellerslie tomorrow.
Latta travelled Mikki Street from Palmerston North to Ellerslie on Boxing Day to lift the $200,000 Zabeel Classic and if the pocket won't be quite as rich if she wins again tomorrow, the satisfaction will be just as great.
That's because Latta refers to Spud as "a difficult bugger".
Spud has won three of his 11 starts and should have won more.
"He doesn't do things 100 per cent right," she says. "The main thing is you've got to try and get him off the bit because he's inclined to pull too hard."
Spud wears blinkers, which is unusual for a horse with his tendencies, but Latta said he won't run straight in the late stages of his races unless he's wearing them. "Without them he's got to the front a few times and run all over the place."
Latta has done a magnificent job of carefully nurturing Mikki Street through to now being a group one winner and she has done the same with Spud - few 5-year-olds have had just 11 race starts.
Spud resumed after an eight-month break at Te Rapa in mid-December and rattled home late for a close fourth - beaten just 1.5 lengths in a very strong field.
Talented mare Shikoba narrowly beat Pinsoir, who faces Spud again tomorrow.
Latta is unsure where she wants to aim Spud after this race.
"He holds a nomination for the Telegraph, but that looks like being an ultra strong field.
"You have to drop him back in his races because he needs cover and that can make it difficult for him over 1200m. I think he's probably going to be a better 1400m horse."
Spud hasn't raced at Ellerslie, but he nearly did - he was a late scratching there after dropping Noel Harris on the way to the start.
Cameron Lammas rode Spud at Te Rapa, but Harris, who has won on the horse, is back aboard this time.
The small field will make it easier for Spud to come from the back, but he will still find Pinsoir a tough opponent.
Pinsoir is starting to look like a very promising type and should get the perfect trip just behind the speed from the No 5 gate.
Volscar and Captivate help make this a very competitive race.
Volscar finished third to stablemate Imananabaa in an open sprint at Ellerslie two weeks ago and was squeezed for racing room in the early part of the home straight.
The No 1 barrier draw should ensure he gets the run of the race again.
* Latta said Mikki Street arrived home in good condition after the Zabeel Classic victory.
"He's out in the paddock today and will stay there for 10 days," she said.
"I have to sit down with the owners to decide what he will do next.
"He's in the Thorndon Mile, but there is an option to give him a decent break and aim for something like the Brisbane Cup, now it's back in distance to 2400m."
