Racing: Waddell has Just The Man for the job

Giving away 3.5kg as clear topweight in a race like tomorrow's $60,000 Wellington Steeplechase is never going to be easy.

Trainer Davina Waddell is not the slightest bit worried about the weight for the top of the handicap Just The Man.

What she was concerned about as she prepared to load Just The Man on the float for the trip south last night were the track conditions. Heavy rain this week has guaranteed this race will end up a slog.

"I've talked to the club and been told they had 35ml of rain overnight," she said. "The place is awash with water. I understand the river is overflowing into the bottom yards at Awapuni."

Waddell would like to have seen slow rather than heavy footing for her winner of last year's Great Northern.

"The conditions the way they are will level things out among the top chances.

"Just The Man definitely appreciates better ground than he's going to experience.

"But it is winter time and he'll be competitive. I think he can carry the weight."

Just The Man last start had a 2100m flat race at Avondale as a final lead-up. Before that he finished third under difficulties when favourite behind Primo Canera in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase.

Rider Nathan Hanley broke an already injured shoulder when Just The Man put in a massive leap over a fence with a lap to go. And while he did extremely well under the circumstances, Hanley was, understandably, unable to offer his mount much assistance.

"I'm very happy with him, he feels great. He's had a perfect preparation for a race like this," Waddell said.

With Hanley still sidelined, Just The Man will be ridden by Joanne Rathbone, who guided him to victory in last year's Great Northern.

Waddell also has in the race Feu D'Amore, a last start maiden steeplechase winner at Te Rapa. Even though this is perhaps not a classic Wellington Steeplechase line-up, it is still a huge rise in class for Feu D'Amore.

"If Just The Man had not been travelling south for the race I probably wouldn't have considered running him [Feu D'Amore]. It might look a bit cheeky, but I rate him a chance of getting into the money.

"He has worked very, very well since Te Rapa. He doesn't have much natural speed, but he can stay all day and he handles the worst possible mud brilliantly.

"He'll keep going and I'll be surprised if he doesn't get some of it."

Ann Browne has The Storytella, Kia King and Havana City engaged.

Kia King could be the best of the trio. He has shown he can topple just about anything and you can probably forget his fourth placing behind Crown Dancer in a sharp chase at Te Awamutu last Saturday.

He got back in that race and ran on late, showing he will greatly appreciate the additional 1600m this time.

Browne said after Kia King's first-up steeplechase victory at Ellerslie on June 3 that she had thought the horse would have needed the run.

If he has improved then he is the one to beat.

* Evan Rayner has been very patient waiting to give Van Winkle his first jumping start of the year and he is an interesting runner in the $40,000 Wellington Hurdles.

The rising 10-year-old has a record of three wins and two placings from just seven jumping starts and Rayner has said the horse's work at home this preparation has been first-class.

Van Winkle's third to talented Miles on the flat two starts back at Foxton should alone be justification for favouritism.

Trainer Paul Nelson felt tomorrow's topweight Just A Swagger needed his run in the hurdles at Hastings and, if so, he should still improve a bit again from this outing.

But he has plenty of ability and just loves very heavy footing.

Unquestionably the most interesting acceptor is recent Rotorua Cup winner Gliding, who, if he starts, will be making his jumping debut in a Wellington Hurdles, something pretty much unheard of these days.

Being one of the Kevin Myers team, he will have done plenty of jumping away from raceday.

Gliding is also an acceptor for the maiden hurdles, but is second ballot and may be committed to running here.