Racing: Switch for Cent Home

Cent Home will now use the King's Plate at Ellerslie on Sunday or Manawatu's Summer Cup as a lead-up to the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on January 3, the last day of the summer carnival.

Trainer Jim Wallace pulled Cent Home out of Saturday's $60,000 Manawatu Cup on the morning of the race.

"I originally left him in when the track rating was only easy," said Wallace.

"But the club called me and said rain had downgraded the track to soft and it would probably go to heavy."

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Southerner Nat Nat may also have to run in the King's Plate on Sunday after being unlucky at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A slow beginning cost Nat Nat dearly, but he might still have won instead of finishing fourth if he had had a few favours in running.

"He wouldn't get into the big mile the last day at Ellerslie now, so the only way we can sneak in is to win or run placed in the King's Plate," said co-trainer Peter Williams.

The Williams stable had no luck on the same programme with Juicy Fruit Mambo, who would almost certainly have won but for losing five lengths coming out of the starting stalls.

It is not the first time Juicy Fruit Mambo has refused to jump cleanly with the remainder of the field.

A start is being considered for him in the Nathans Memorial on the second day of the four-day Ellerslie carnival.

"It might be an easier option than running in the PQ race," said Williams.

He is unconcerned that Juicy Fruit Mambo has yet to race right-handed.

"They either handle it or they don't."

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Fountain Abbey will go straight into the $350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup without a further run.

The Takanini stayer pleased trainer Bruce Wallace when he justified his favouritism by winning at Te Rapa on Saturday.

"I thought he showed he had a touch of class with that win," said Wallace.

"That Dargaville form has been good."

Finishing fourth in the group one Avondale Cup also proved to be good form - third placed Avondale Cup runner Tantalic won Saturday's $60,000 Manawatu Cup.

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The $100,000 metric mile on the final day of the Ellerslie carnival is the target for the underrated Mr Robert.

And trainer Jakki Good will stick with apprentice Claire Anderson, even though there will be no allowance in the group two event.

Mr Robert shouldered his 56kg to score easily at Te Rapa on Saturday to show he is in career best form.

"You seem to think that as a 6-year-old he'd be at his best, but he seems to have improved as a 7-year - old," said Good.