Racing: Trainer has chance to star again

Trainer Peter McKenzie played the witchking Elendil in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

From starring in two group one events of the big screen to a shot at headlining the final two features at the Wellington Cup carnival.

That's the fairytale scenario for Levin thespian-turned trainer Peter McKenzie if his staying star Empyreal can pay a divvy in the Wellington Cup Trial at Trentham today.

The first three home in the 2200m last-ditch chance for Cup hopefuls are exempt from ballot for next Saturday's $250,000 showcase.

If Empyreal measures up, as McKenzie confidently predicts, he will give the star of Lord of the Rings, and now Peter Jackson's follow-up King Kong, three shots at group one glory.

McKenzie already has Bejayjay in the Cup.

Stablemate Elendil, who McKenzie named after the witch-king he played in The Fellowship of the Ring, stormed into Thorndon Mile calculations when he won the listed Community First Foundation Anniversary Handicap on Saturday.

While horses are his hobby, acting has always been a passion for McKenzie, whose multi-talented son Bret also featured in LOTR and has just finished shooting a US-pilot comedy series from the makers of Friends and Seinfeld.

McKenzie has a long list of musical and theatre credits and was also a narrator with the New Zealand Ballet Company.

"In King Kong I play a seaman on the ship that goes to the island to find King Kong," said McKenzie.

"I'm not sure yet if I get killed by King Kong or at the hands of some other prehistoric creature. I'll know more when I go back to finish the scenes next month."

Meanwhile, McKenzie may need to start rehearsing more victory speeches instead.

He says Empyreal has thrived since his last-start sixth in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and is in no doubt he has the talent to win the Cup.

McKenzie scratched Empyreal from the PQ 2400m won by outsider Mene at Trentham on Saturday, but not because of a setback.

After doing his homework on the Cup hopefuls rated above Empyreal, he realised a win in that race wouldn't guarantee his New Zealand Cup placegetter a run next weekend.

With 52.5kg in the Cup, Empyreal was rated 19th equal on the order of entry yesterday.

The others that need to finish in the first three today are Arreviderci, Havoc, Envoy and Gorgeous George.

McKenzie has already suffered the anguish of seeing Empyreal stuck on the Auckland Cup ballot and is understandably anxious to avoid a repeat at Trentham.

"I would have preferred to run him on Saturday instead of Monday because it gives him another two days to recover.

"But he'll be racing to win. I just hope it won't be too demanding in the Cup Trial. There's a few smart horses in there and a few desperates.

"I'm still very confident he can win the Cup, and I'll be even more confident if there's a bit of rain about."

Meanwhile, Elendil drops 3kg in the Thorndon from Saturday's win and has a new rider, Gary Grylls, as Anniversary pilot Bruce Herd is unable to make the weight.

McKenzie still can't pinpoint why last year's Thorndon placegetter failed so miserably in the Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie in his previous start.

He was trapped a little wide that day but after his lead-up second behind British Ensign the run behind winner Belle Femme was too bad to be true.

"Hopefully he's back to where he was," said McKenzie. "This time last year he looked like he was going to be anything."

Elendil dented some big reputations with the listed victory, the biggest of his short career.

He always had favourites Maroofity and Kristov covered and TAB bookies reacted accordingly.

Elendil quickly trimmed into $16 on the fixed odds market for the Thorndon yesterday, with Maroofity now easing out to $20.

Calveen was the $2.75 favourite ahead of unlucky Telegraph runner-up Sedecrem at $6.50.