Racing: Time to relax now pair have made Cup

After sweating all week on the release of the final Wellington Cup field, Andrew Scott finally let himself relax a little yesterday afternoon.

The Matamata trainer's progressive grade lightweights Straight Eight and Il Cognoscenti had beaten the ballot and squeezed into the line-up for the $250,000 feature on Saturday.

Both Wellington group one features fell away sharply in numbers yesterday, with only nine game enough to challenge Calveen and Sedecrem for the Thorndon Mile crown.

She may be only a three-win horse, but Auckland Cup emergency Straight Eight would have been unlucky to miss a start in another two-mile feature.

She chased Cup winner Bazelle home in the Nathans Memorial, then had Wellington favourite Etoile Du Nord at full stretch to beat her last time out in the Marton Cup at Awapuni.

Scott said Straight Eight, the mount of Michael Coleman, has trained on the right way and he has no fears about the Danske four-year-old running a strong 3200m.

"I believe she's improved with the Marton run and I'm very pleased to have her in the race," said Scott.

"I know she's only a three-win horse but what she lacks in wins she makes up for with quality."

Scott's training partner, Michael Moroney, and the horse's co-owner, Paul Moroney, both rated Straight Eight the stable's top Auckland Cup hope ahead of their recently retired Avondale Cup winner The Mighty Lions, who was fourth at Ellerslie.

"I know Straight Eight's bred to go 1600m but the way she switches off in her races I've got no doubt she'll cope," said Scott.

"She seems to know where the 600m is every time. As soon as she gets there she just powers home. I've ridden her in work and she's exactly the same."

If there is a chink in Straight Eight's Cup hopes, it's her tendency to lug in racing left-handed.

But Scott is hoping that Coleman can counter her waywardness by carrying the whip in his left hand.

Coleman is now a huge chance to win both the group one events on Saturday after picking up the Thorndon mount on warm favourite Calveen.

The mare's owners dumped regular rider Leith Innes this week after his unlucky third on Calveen in the Rich Hill Mile.

Innes now partners Sedecrem as that horse's Telegraph Handicap pilot Opie Bosson is committed to weight-for-age star Lashed.

Il Cognoscenti, who will be ridden by Paul Taylor, comes into Saturday's test fresh from a mid-week progressive grade win at Te Rapa over 2000m.

But Scott said the Masterclass five-year-old's group one debut over 3200m is long overdue.

The horse was nominated for this season's New Zealand and Auckland Cups but little went right in his build-up.

"It wasn't until his last race that we knew we had him 100 per cent fit," said Scott.

"He was always a wildcard to make the field but I believe he's looking for more ground.

"Everyone who has ridden him on raceday tells me he is looking for two miles. It took Reese Jones until the 1000m before he could pull him up at Te Rapa."