Racing: Stayer gets jump on rivals

Keith Opie was one of New Zealand's leading jumps jockeys for a couple of seasons in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

He can't quite remember.

What he can recall is how horses enjoyed jumping and how it could occasionally turn their form around.

So when Indikator absolutely devastated Opie with his poor fresh-up performance earlier this winter, the Te Aroha trainer decided there was only one option.

"I put him over a couple of fences and it switched him on," said Opie yesterday.

The transformation was spectacular.

Indikator won at Te Rapa then scored a runaway victory in the Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga last start.

Keith Opie has left a decent space between the two races given how tough it is to win at this time of year, but says he's not too concerned.

"I elected not to run him because I didn't want him getting too far up in the weights, but that was a decision made carefully.

"I gave him one week in the paddock after the Tauranga win and his work since has been nice and even.

"He popped a couple of fences this week and I'm very pleased with him."

Opie is delighted with the way rider Andrew Calder gets on with his stable star.

"He jumps out and Andrew seems to be able to get him mobile.

"He'd been jumping out and getting back off them. But he travels beautifully for Andrew."

Most of the jockeys in tomorrow's Cup will be watching newomer Zlato very closely.

It's very difficult to win at your first start in open company at any time-- to do it in listed stakes company is exceptional.

Zlato will tell us just just how good he is tomorrow.

If it's as good as some think, then the Cup might be heading to Paul Duncan;s Cambridge stable.

The runaway 9-length win over Soph at Awapuni last start looked good on the surface and when Soph came out and destroyed her opposition last week the form suddenly looked exceptional.

Despite problems, Zlato has won five of his 17 starts and very much looks on the verge of his best form.

Astute trainer David Haworth is confident of a big showing with Halls, which is perhaps justified with the 31422 formline.

"I think he's the horse to threaten the favourites," said Haworth yesterday.

Last start Halls was clearly beaten into second by High Powered at Trentham and before that was narrowly beaten by Soph carrying 57.5kg.

Soph went on to reach career-best form and durable stayer Halls has just 54kg this time.

SEASON FINALE
* Te Rapa hosts the last of the season's feature handicaps with tomorrow's Taumarunui Cup.
* Accomplished mudlarks Strapped For Cash and Indikator clash with emerging young stayer Zlato.
* Astute Foxton trainer David Haworth treks north with dour stayer Halls.
* Lightweight hopes include the mares Carib and The Strutter.