By MIKE DILLON
It may have been difficult to declare any winner sensational in tough conditions at Ellerslie on Saturday, but Likely Story's victory was at least spectacular.
Coming back from a 3200m preparation to 1600m is not easy on any horse, but Likely Story made it look like a walk in the park.
Remarkably, trainers Frank and Craig Ritchie would have preferred Likely Story to have been home in his box when the Ellerslie race was run.
As a lead-up to tomorrow's $40,000 Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga, they would have preferred the improving stayer to have had an outing at the cancelled midweek Counties trials.
"He's probably a horse who likes being a bit on the fresh side and a trial would have fitted that scenario better than a race," said Frank Ritchie.
"When he pushed Bel Air hard in the HIH Classic at Ellerslie at Easter he went into it with a trial rather than a race."
Only tomorrow afternoon will tell if the seven day gap between races suits Likely Story.
He will have a change of rider and be ridden by Matthew Williamson.
Williamson had been engaged for Lately for last Saturday's race by the time Likely Story's trial had been canned and Lee Rutherford landed a fortuitous mount.
As he showed last weekend Likely Story has a touch of class, but Ritchie says he is not going to be easy to place.
He believes his best form will be at 3200m and was bitterly disappointed when a stone bruise cost him a start in last month's Adelaide Cup.
"He's probably better on rain-affected footing, but where do you find a guarantee of a wet-track 3200m?
"The Brisbane Cup or Adelaide Cup are possibilities and sometimes you can get a wet spring in Sydney, which would make something like the Metropolitan Handicap a target.
"The way we got looked after in Adelaide I'd love to think we could go back there."
Now that would be sensational.
Lately could be the one to beat. Last week's ninth behind Likely Story was only his second run back this campaign and he is certain to be fitter for it.
He is a classy wet weather stayer at best and is well up to threatening here.
Classic Spirit scored at massive odds in the Cornwall at Ellerslie, odds he probably did not deserve to be at.
He has got up to 56kg second topweight for this as a result, but don't discount his prospects of at least being part of the trifecta. He is tough and retains his ability, despite rising 10 years.
If the track got heavy and loose it would make it easier for Watch Officer to lump his 58kg topweight, even though he is reasonably close in weight to those at the bottom of the handicap.
He was less than two lengths from Classic Spirit at Ellerslie and meets that runner 2.5kg better off here.
Racing: Trials best work for Story
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