KEY POINTS:
A horse qualified for jumping races in Australia showed he still has some business to prove on the flat when winning the Wellington Cup final lead-up race at Trentham yesterday.
The $5 favourite All Square got home narrowly in a three-way finish to the $40,000 Wellington Cup Trial Handicap (2200m).
The 8-year-old now goes into Saturday's group one $350,000 Wellington Cup sharing topweight of 57kg with Mirkola Lass.
All Square and Mirkola Lass had previously been equal second topweights with 56.5kg. But because a minimum topweight of 57kg is required, they both go up half a kilogram following yesterday's withdrawal of former topweight Kerry O'Reilly.
Last winter All Square raced in Melbourne where he had one second placing from four starts on the flat.
But while he was there the opportunity was taken to give the veteran a jumping trial in front of stipendiary stewards which is required in Australia.
Manawatu trainer Gary Vile joked the trial may have acted as a wake up call for the Vyner's Orb gelding.
"He's just got better with age - jumping in Australia might have scared him," Vile said.
Vile said having the Wellington Cup topweight was a concern but there was nothing he could do about it.
"He's won 11 races and there's no use moaning about it," he said.
"He's only had 46 starts (before today) - and the bugger can jump."
Vile believed All Square would be suited to the 3200m of the Wellington Cup. He has raced only once before at the distance when eighth in the 2006 Auckland Cup.
But Vile said All Square was not at his best for the Auckland Cup after finishing second on a firm track in the Nathans Memorial Handicap four days beforehand.
"I jarred him up by starting in the Nathans but this win is not going to jar him up," he said.
The Trentham track had been well watered beforehand and was rated dead yesterday with a penetrometer reading of 2.7.
Pasta Post, winner of the group two $200,000 City of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on January 1, is the Wellington Cup favourite but Vile is not running scared.
"Pasta Post is going to have to be right up to his game. My horse is a good horse. He's as tough as teak. He was ready today but he had to be because he's got to go over two miles on Saturday."
All Square had a good run three back on the inner for rider Leith Innes who bided his time after angling into the clear in the home straight.
Innes waited until about 200m from the line before asking All Square to accelerate. In a well-timed run, All Square scored by a long neck without too much exertion.
Innes said he was confident of All Square staying 3200m because of his ability to relax during the running.
"He does nothing in the running. He went to sleep down the back straight, a baby could have ridden him."
Hi Yo Gotcha fought well for second after racing outside the winner most of the way. She had her chance but rider Darryl Bradley said the mare was still a lightweight Wellington Cup chance.
"She's a mare that relaxes early in her race," Bradley said. "The (Wellington Cup) field is falling away."
A long neck away third yesterday was Bahhzaar who fought well after racing outside the leader while half a length back fourth was Avaroadi who had trailed the leader Taikorea.
The latter was a neck away fifth and there was just half a neck to second favourite A Great Life who appeared to be held up for a run in the straight.
Rider Chris Johnson said the horse only "plodded" when clear.
- NZPA
