WELLINGTON - Amateur jumps jockey Raymond Connors warns punters to back off sending Our Jonty out a raging hot favourite in the $10,000 Rhind and Gardiner House of Travel Steeplechase (400m) at Trentham today.
The former Waikato Steeplechase winner is the logical favourite, but the turning nature of the Trentham figure-eight course has tripped Our Jonty up before and makes Connors wary.
"He could go out favourite but he's no certainty and I wouldn't back him," Connors said.
"I've ridden him before (at Trentham) and he hasn't really enjoyed it like he does at a course like Ellerslie. I hope he goes a good race but looking at it, Cache Me looks the one."
Our Jonty's best effort at Trentham was in the Eric Riddiford two seasons ago when he stormed home for second behind Clem.
"He was flat that day and then just took off, he could do that again but a wet track and the course puts me off a bit."
Trentham is expected to provide soft footing today, though it will be considerably better in the middle of the course for the steeplechasers.
Our Jonty, trained at Wanganui by jumps maestro Kevin Myers, cut himself on a fence last season and was subsequently below his best. However, Connors said judging by his last start fifth at Ellerslie on April 24, and his work this week, the eight-year-old was feeling like the horse of old.
Our Jonty's main targets are the $35,000 Ecolab Waikato Steeplechase (4900m) at Te Rapa next week and the $100,000 Mercedes Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie (6400m) on June 5.
Connors, who is a part-owner of Our Jonty, will have limited riding opportunities this winter. He will partner Mighty Chatham and Three Generations, who make up half of the team he is training.
Three Generations was a winner on the flat at Foxton last month and "has been schooled and jumps a bit."
Connors has every right to fear Cache Me tomorrow. She won the Eric Riddiford in her first season of 'chasing and at Foxton last month made up a huge slice of ground for third behind Currency.
Lost In The Rain is likely to set the pace and an upset win would provide co-trainer Ken Browne with his 100th steeplechase win as a rider.
Browne said the milestone meant little to him, especially as he rode a winner at Sandown, in England, earlier in his career.
"My job now is to supervise a racing team not (concentrate on) riding winners."
Lost In The Rain gave some cheek at Ellerslie on April 24 before dropping out to finish 71 lengths behind Boon's Boy.
"He's the best he's been for 12 months so we might get some of the money but I doubt we can win it.
"He'll run along and if something takes him on he'll go like a mad bull. If they don't, well, he could do something. I just suspect they'll pick him up in the last 1000m."
- NZPA
Racing: Trentham twisters turn probable favourite off
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