Racing: Upsetthym team looking forward to Trentham

Trainer Karen Fursdon and rider Vinny Colgan are counting down the days until the Wellington Cup.

Based on the excitment between the pair outside the jockeys room on Saturday you would have thought Upsetthym had run Bazelle a lot closer than fifth.

But there were two factors that had Fursdon and Colgan buzzing about the 3200m specialist backing up at Trentham on January 29.

The 2004 Auckland Cup winner was having just her second start since November 2 and had been squeezed out of a gap at a vital point turning for home on Saturday.

"I'm not saying she would have beaten the first two but that definitely cost her third," said Colgan.

"That stopped me in my tracks and then we had to get balanced again. She did well to pick herself up and run on as well as she did."

TAB bookies agreed, firming her into an early $9 fixed odds favourite for Trentham with Justine Coup, who finished 10th on Saturday.

Their job will be easier without either Bazelle or Aussie runner-up Bondy heading to Trentham.

Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil was rapt with the run of his grey for rider Kelvin Sanderson but it wasn't enough to entice him back.

"The horse ran super and Kelvin positioned him so well, he's a very under-rated jockey at this level," said Vasil.

"But logistically it's a bit difficult for me to come back. Its hard to train them over the phone and I can't neglect the owners back home."

Vasil said Bondy's next two-miler is likely to be the Adelaide Cup in May.

"He's proved he's a genuine two-miler who is still coming into his own maturity wise".

While co-trainer Dean Logan wasn't making any commitments toward Trentham on Saturday, rider Peter Johnson is in no doubt the big Rhythm five-year-old should make the trip after his gutsy third.

"The track took the sprint out of him a bit and he's a big strong fella who is really only still learning," he said.

Punters aren't likely to desert Zabeat again like they did on Saturday.

He went from a $6 fixed odds favourite before the Queen Elizabeth to start 12th win fancy.

"I think a lot of people thought the Queen Elizabeth run was ordinary," said Dean Logan.

"But there's still so much improvement left in him.

"He's a very exciting prospect for Brisbane next winter."

Andrew Calder is convinced The Mighty Lions, an early $25 fixed odds hope for Trentham, only needs a decent alley to be a threat at the end of the month.

From her 17 gate on Saturday, Calder said the Avondale Cup winner was inclined to over-race and did well to box on for fourth, the same spot she filled last year.

"All she needs is an alley so I can put her to sleep in the running," said Calder.

Tantalic, also rated a $25 chance at Trentham, should have finished closer than sixth.

Trainer Alan Biddick said the grey simply got too far back from his wide draw.

"I expected him to be a lot handier than that," he said.

Rider Allan Peard said favourite Garrard had no excuses in finishing eighth.

"I had him four back on the fence doing nothing," he said.

"I think he will eventually get the distance but he is 17 hands, weighs 550kg and has the brain of a two-year-old.

"He is probably still at least a year away from being a really good horse."