Racing: Veteran Travellin' Man in form to beat bogey

Finally Travellin' Man has a chance to win a 1600m race.

He might have left it until he was a rising 9-year-old, but Travellin' Man looks a strong chance to end his 14-race losing streak at 1600m in tomorrow's $16,000 Rich Hill Stud 1600 at Te Rapa.

The veteran has had four minor placings in those 14 starts, but it is his last attempt when he finished only fifth that suggests this is a race he can attack with some confidence.

That fifth was behind Calveen in the group one $150,000 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie, in which he was only three and a half lengths from the mare whose late summer and autumn form makes her stand out in New Zealand.

If Travellin' Man simply produces the same run he wins this race.

"That's pretty much how I see it," said trainer Tony Cole of his $272,775 winner.

What has not helped Travellin' Man successfully last as far as 1600m on the racetrack is that throughout his career he has been unable to convey 100 per cent respiratory assistance to his system.

That will obviously continue for this race, but that does not alter his terrific Easter Handicap performance as a guide to this race.

An assistance will be the drying nature of the Te Rapa track. Fine weather has brought the surface back from soft midweek after 60mm of rain to a very good easy. It should suit at least 95 per cent of the horses at the meeting.

"He can handle it up to a bad easy, so there shouldn't be any problems. He's a long-striding horse and he should be able to get good purchase."

Travellin' Man will have one further start this preparation then be spelled, coming back for another crack next summer and autumn.

"Why not, he just loves doing it. He's a professional racehorse."

Travellin' Man has 57.5kg to lump, but his last four weights have been 57kg, 54.5kg, 56.5kg and 57kg and he has continued to maintain his remarkably consistent record with a 333522 formline.

There will be plenty cheering him to take that to the next level tomorrow.

Travellin' Man has a change of rider. Regular jockey Reese Jones is duck shooting in the South Island and is replaced by Thomas Russell.

Mr Robert has a useful record at Te Rapa. He did well after covering a fair bit of extra ground on this track when a handy fifth to Delbrae last start.

The step back up to 1600m from 1400m that day should be a plus for him - he has a record of three wins and nine placings from 18 starts at the distance.

Double Ar Be was running out of chances when he stormed back for a nice win at Te Aroha last start - his first at 1600m in four attempts.

He was a weight special in that event, apprentice Buddy Lammas pulling his handicap back to a luxurious 54.5kg in progressive class.

He has 53.5kg in open grade this time and, worse, because it is the main race of the day, Lammas' apprentice allowance will not apply.

That does not put him out of contention. He hit the line very strongly at Te Aroha, the niggling problem being that in seven starts at Te Rapa, Double Ar Be has been placed only once.

That adds up to a couple of negatives, but he deserves to be in the mix.