Wanganui Chronicle newspaper co-owner Eddie Symes hopes the $45,000 Cambridge Thoroughbred Sales Wanganui Cup is not run late today.
He reckons his runner Just Tilly is trained to the minute.
Symes races the Victory Dance mare with wife Dawn, and the six-year-old mare is trained by the couple's son-in-law John
Boon and his partner Paul Reid.
Just Tilly showed she was ready for the 2400m assignment with a narrow but impressive victory in a Rating 92 2000m event at Taranaki a fortnight ago.
Just Tilly was sent out fifth favourite that day and prompted Symes to label the punting public mugs.
"I can't believe the punting public sending her out at those odds," he said this week.
"Her lead-up runs were over distances a bit short of her best, but she showed she was ready for the 2000m with a top run for third in the sprint at Wanganui two starts earlier.
"She was paying $4 a place that day and I had a bit of a lash - that was equal to a win divvy."
The mare was set for today's race right from the time she resumed at Wanganui on October 24.
"Everything - the distance, her fitness level and the track conditions - were in her favour when she won at Taranaki and shows she's right on target for a bold run in the Wanganui Cup," Symes said.
"I hope they don't run the cup late because Just Tilly is trained to the minute."
Symes, who has trained horses in his own right for decades, will also line up last-start winner Desiderata in the Radioworks Wanganui 1600 for fillies and mares.
"I wanted to run her in the cup, too, but preferred not to pit her against Just Tilly, so the fillies and mares' race was the next best option," he said.
"In all the years I've been training I don't think I've ever had a horse in better nick. She's as fit as I can get her and the mile will still suit.
"She's been unlucky in her lead-up runs to the win at Tauherenikau [November 6]. The gaps just didn't go her way. She will be very hard to beat on Saturday.
"After her win at Tauherenikau I put her in a yard to cool her down. She was coming into season and got kicked in the leg by a horse in the next yard. She's well over it now and hasn't missed any work."
- NZPA
