Racing: Time for jockey to square ledger with trainer

Gibbs rates Kerry O'Reilly a live chance, but is worried about a rain-affected track.

It is no surprise that he believes Pentane and Zarius are his biggest dangers.

Jim Gibbs knows exactly the last five words he'll say to Noel Harris as he legs him onto Kerry O'Reilly at the Ellerslie track this afternoon: "You bloody owe me one."

And to square the ledger, the $600,000 SkyCity Auckland Cup will do just nicely thank you.

Gibbs has not forgotten, and never will, how Harris as much as anyone cost him Vinaka's win in the 2001 group one Sires Produce Stakes at Manawatu.

Vinaka, a horse Gibbs owned himself, won the Sires, but in one of the most controversial judicial decisions ever, lost the race in the inquiry room to Harris' mount San Luis.

"Noel was the cause of that - he came back and saluted the judge as if he'd won, basically declaring that he'd get the race in the inquiry room.

"That was what swayed it."

Harris has a chance for payback aboard the big stayer Kerry O'Reilly, a horse Gibbs set for the race three months ago.

The only downside for Kerry O'Reilly would be significant rain - he is such a big strider that he loses lengths off his form on a wet track.

Otherwise, Gibbs could not be happier with the horse, who has been among the first four favourites at the TAB since betting began.

He has no priors at 3200m, but that does not concern his trainer.

"He's a very relaxed horse with a big stride.

"He has had a nice preparation - he's had no setbacks, which is a big thing for a race like this.

"I gave him a nice let-up after the City Of Auckland Cup [in which a slightly dead track undermined him] and he's had a third and a fifth in two starts since."

That third behind Snazzy in the group one Whakanui Stud International Stakes at Te Rapa showed Kerry O'Reilly to be in his best career form.

And don't forget that he won the Waikato and Counties Cups in the spring and early summer.

He did not get the best of breaks in running behind Snazzy and there was a lot to like about the way he finished off the final 200m.

Noel Harris is on Kerry O'Reilly because regular jockey Cameron Lammas is sidelined with injury and replacement Michael Coleman has decided to ride Genebel for the Moroney/Scott stable.

The biggest shock to the team was when Kerry O'Reilly drew the outside No 24 barrier.

Apart from a reminder of the Manawatu incident five years ago, Gibbs will give Harris few instructions on how to ride the horse.

"I'll go through a couple of things about maybe an A and B plan but, no, I won't be saying too much.

"Noel will have to work it out from how the race develops.

"I don't get into giving too many instructions."

Gibbs quickly comes up with Pentane, followed by Zarius as the two he fears most.

"They've both got 3kg on me. That's a fair bit of weight."

But Gibbs is much more worried about the possibility of rain than he is about rival runners.