Racing: Stayer set for knockout

Prized Punch has not won beyond 1600m but a Wellington Cup campaign is on the cards if he performs well in the $75,000 Feilding Gold Cup today.

The 5-year-old gelding looks a stayer in the making and it should be underlined in the Feilding Jockey Club's feature race at Awapuni.

Prized Punch has only had three starts beyond 1600m but each time has raced well.

The second of them was in the $30,000 Easter Cup (2100m) at Trentham last April when beaten half a head by All Square, but controversially relegated to third for interference.

His third run over a middle-distance came last Saturday when second to Altesino in a rating 90 event at Trentham.

Wairarapa trainer Jamie Phillips said it was a top run considering the winner received a good passage and was carrying 4kg less than Prized Punch.

Prized Punch was last night the $4.50 favourite on the New Zealand TAB's fixed-odds market ahead of Nanjara at $6 and Zatiger at $7.

- NZPA