KEY POINTS:
Kevin Myers doesn't overdo public information on his horses, but tells everyone not to get carried away with Balmuse's jumping debut.
It's unlikely that many will pay attention after the big boy's stylish US$130,000 Rotorua Cup win on Saturday.
"He's an average jumper so don't get too carried
away with his first couple [of jumping starts]," Myers told the Rotorua crowd at the official presentation.
Balmuse, one win away from a million dollars in earnings, is very close to his first jumping race.
It's also close to public knowledge that like many of the Myers horses he has been schooling for several years, he has been an extremely slow learner.
One element of racing ringcraft he doesn't need to learn is his ability to pick his way through a field, something apprentice Sam Spratt found in extracting him from what looked an awkward spot at the 600m to be challenging for the lead on the home bend.
"I just closed my eyes and he took me around," she said.
There was an element of truth in the understatement. Balmuse could not have received, or found, a better passage late in the race.
"Even though I was mid-field, I was really only three places back on the rails and got taken into the race.
"Had the horse in front of me been stopping, though, I probably would have panicked and pulled to the outside."
Balmuse was a credit to Myers - after a tough run for second in the previous weekend's US$100,000 Canterbury Gold Cup and a long trip north, the horse still stood out in appearance in the birdcage.
"There are no more flat races available for him. Despite this win his jumping career is still going ahead."
Spratt rode at Paeroa yesterday then jumped on an 11.30pm flight to London to attend the wedding in Italy of her brother Neil, a prominent eventing rider in Britain.
"Neil came home here briefly in November, but apart from that I haven't seen him for three years," said Spratt.
Sculptor showed he was on track for a second Brisbane campaign in finishing second.
He missed the start by several lengths, but was quickly up trailing the leader Shamrock Star and took over when that horse stopped quickly at the 600m.
After that it was near impossible to hold out Balmuse.
Pretorius flew wide from back in the field for third.
* In the previous race, Troy Harris turned in what may have seemed an ordinary ride on rising star Hamlets Ghost, but the jockey was obeying instructions.
"I told Troy to stay out of trouble," said trainer Mark Walker after Hamlets Ghost sat three wide in mid-field before running away for a soft win.
After the race Walker spoke to Shane Dye in Hong Kong about the grey's immediate future.
Hamlets Ghost has been purchased by a Hong Kong owner on the former New Zealand jockey's advice advice.
"He'll race at Ellerslie in two weeks then a decision will be made whether he goes to the Queensland Guineas or straight to Hong Kong," said Walker.
"I don't know what sort of permit the owner has."