Racing: Time for filly to be counted

No one is more delighted than Brent Hrstitch that the Awapuni track will likely be close to firm tomorrow.

"If that's the case I'm going to be pretty confident that Julinsky Princess will go close to winning."

Hrstitch admits he felt the same when Julinsky Princess resumed from a five-month break at Ellerslie three weeks ago. She went out favourite and finished fourth, nearly three lengths from Entralling.

"We were kidding ourselves that day that she could go close to winning. Also, she didn't handle the easy track. She's got wet track form, but it's misleading, it's purely that she was a 2-year-old that was too good for the horses she was racing against."

Hrstitch said Julinsky Princess has to put her hand up this time.

"After this she'll either be heading for a decent spell or she'll be going to the Gasmate Stakes at Te Rapa with no weight on her back with tentative plans to race at the Queensland carnival."

Julinsky Princess gets a 3kg allowance off the topweight Cedar Manor, whose participation was not confirmed last night.

"The barrier draw [No16] is a worry and he may not go," says co-trainer Stephen Autridge. "If he doesn't go there he'll need to have a race pretty quickly, because he's being booked to fly to Queensland."

Cedar Manor has not raced since he finished 10th in the Mercedes Derby on Boxing Day, which followed a luckless run at Ellerslie behind Mandela two weeks earlier.

"We believe he's a better horse now that he's been gelded and has had a decent break."

Canterbury trainer Peter Williams warns not to disregard his 3-year-old Sambura, a last-start winner at Riccarton over 1200m.

Sambura, by O'Reilly from Our Twinkle, will accompany smart stablemate The Raj, who will tackle the favourite King Johny in the $60,000 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic. Both southerners will be ridden by Brian Hibberd.

"The Raj is improved for his winning run at Riccarton last start. He'll run a big race."

The danger will be the favourite Our Johny, having his last start before a spell. His co-owner and trainer Raymond Connors said this race was never really considered, but the 3-year-old had done exceptionally well since his fourth to Eremein in the AJC Derby.

"My only concern would be if they walk around and sprint home, that would be a disadvantage."