Racing: Training bonus looks unlikely

Premiership contender Mark Walker fears that New Zealand's biggest training prize this side of spring is now out of reach.

Walker has assembled an eight-horse attack on the record $22,000 TRAC purse for saddling three or more winners at Matamata today.

But even with hotshot Arlingtonboulevard in the progressive 1600 looking a certainty if she runs, Walker is far from confident of banking the big bonus.

"I think we'll get to the end of the season now without the bonus being struck," said Walker, just six wins off the premiership pace set by Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge.

"A lot of teams are coming to the end of it, many of our horses are having their last run before a spell and not many win their last run for the season."

Late yesterday Walker wasn't sure if he could even count on a bonus leg-in with Arlingtonboulevard. Her owners were instead leaning towards taking on Calveen in the Travis Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday.

"Personally, I'd prefer to run her at Matamata to get a better line on her for Brisbane," said Walker.

Her Queensland assignments are the A$200,000 Doomben Roses (2020m) on May 21 and the A$400,000 Queensland Oaks (2400m) a fortnight later.

Outside of the Brisbane-bound filly, Walker rates Oh So Precious (Race 2), Comical Ali (Race 4) and Zamfir (Race 8) as his best bonus hopes today.

Oh So Precious, an Irish import owned by Peter and Philip Vela, was a costly flop in her only New Zealand run last December.

But Walker has been pleased with her work since and a recent trial placing at Te Awamutu hinted that race-day form was close.

"I do think she'll be a better mare over more ground, but she also may have needed that first turn here to acclimatise."

While still on the weak side, Comical Ali should relish the step up in distance in the intermediate 1600m.

The good-looking Kaapstad gelding was closing fast last time out over 1400m at Matamata against a much stronger field.

Zamfir didn't get the best of trips in the same race, but Walker said the smart Gold Brose filly had freshened up a treat.

If any rain arrives, she will be even tougher to beat dropping back to 1200m.

Chatsworth Agogo (Race 7) looks like being the toughest to beat out of the remaining Te Akau runners today.

She was a beaten favourite last time out at Rotorua but Walker feels she may not have been happy on the tight track.

If she repeats her fast-finishing burst for third first-up at Matamata over 1200m, the Grand Lodge filly should go close.

"But the only way I can see us winning the bonus is if someone else is unlucky," said Walker.