Racing: Waikato Cup for The Raj

The Dawn and Peter Williams stable is still considering some options with Coup Entrepreneur and The Raj but their major targets are set in concrete.

The Raj is headed to the 2400m Waikato Cup in December and Coup Entrepreneur is owner Ray Coupland's best hope now for the $250,000, 1600m event he is sponsoring at Riccarton on November 9.

Both horses were first-up winners on Saturday, Coup Entrepreneur out- classing his rivals while The Raj had to work hard to head Global Saint.

Peter Williams was defending that yesterday.

"He was first up and that ground doesn't suit him.

"I was very pleased with the run. Remember he had done a bit in the race, he had not just sprinted home. Also he ran without blinkers and that would have affected his sharpness.

"I will probably run him over 1800m at the next meeting at Riccarton or, if not, just find a nice suitable race for him. He is not under pressure."

Coup Entrepreneur will probably run in the open 1400m at Riccarton next week."

The 3-year-old, Al Farouk, like The Raj raced by Dave Aitken, will clash with Sea Saint, Bearable and others in the Couplands Stakes at Ashburton after a dashing maiden win at Timaru.

Summer Tonic will make his race debut there.

Wazawhatsyn is likely to drop back to her own grade for her next outing though the One Thousand Guineas on Novemer 5 is still in the game plan.

- NZPA