KEY POINTS:
It seems almost certain that barring a mishap Waikato jockey David Walsh will ride his 2000th winner at Wingatui tomorrow.
He was left one short of the magical figure in New Zealand after riding only one winner at Riccarton on Wednesday to take his tally to 1999.
Only three other jockeys have ridden 2000 winners in New Zealand: Lance O'Sullivan (2357 wins), Bill Skelton (2156) and David Peake (2093).
To help the 48-year-old attain his goal Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman will saddle up 10 of Walsh's 11 mounts tomorrow. Locals Brian and Shane Anderton will leg him aboard Killigrew in the fourth event.
Pitman and Walsh were in devastating form during the holiday period with Parole providing the duo with three of their many wins.
Tomorrow, Parole steps up a class to contest the Pacific Sheet & Coil Dunedin Guineas in which he will clash with Opaki gelding Fritzy Boy, winner of the Gore Guineas on January 19.
Another leading prospect will Pukekohe filly Morgalicious, who looks an improver after stepping up from maiden class to finish fifth at Gore. She is much better drawn and will be ridden by stable apprentice Chad Ormsby, who notched a double a Hawera yesterday.
However Walsh may already be celebrating his milestone after he rides The Pipi Pincher in the opening race. The last-start course and distance winner faces only five rivals, including her stablemate Julia.
Borninthestates, a worthy topweight for another of the feature races, the Dunedin Casino Gold Cup, won three of his four starts last month from as far afield as Waikouaiti to Oamakau and Kumara.
