Racing: Weight worry for repeat bid

Strapped For Cash attempts back-to-back Taumarunui Cup victories tomorrow with weight his biggest enemy, trainer David Smyth says.

Strapped For Cash won the listed race over 2100m by nearly seven lengths last year. He has since established himself as the best winter galloper in the country.

The big difference between last year and Saturday will be his handicap. He carried 54kg in his win last year but on Saturday he has top weight of 58kg and that has Waikato cattle buyer Smyth concerned.

"My confidence levels are not quite as good as they have been because of the weight," he said yesterday.

"I'm not grizzling at the handicap because he has earned it, but it is unfortunate that when they do as well as he has, they cop it with the weight.

"With 58kg he is up against some quite good lightweights. Zlato is a good horse in the making and is on 52.5kg."

Strapped For Cash has won two of the staying features of the winter - the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie and the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham this winter - both on deep winter tracks.

He ran away with the Cornwall, but had to fight to hold out the lighter-weighted Herman in the Parliamentary two weeks ago.

Smyth said the horse's key attribute was "mongrel".

"When it comes to fighting out a finish, the mongrel kicks in. He is a hard horse to handle and you have to put up with a fair bit, but that mongrel in him gets him through. He is a fighter."

And those qualities showed in the win at Trentham. "He knuckled down to it in the straight when they came at him."

Te Rapa was rated as slow last night, leaving Smyth hoping for rain today and tomorrow.

"The wetter the better. I hope it rains and doesn't stop."

Michelle Wenn will ride Strapped For Cash again tomorrow and Smyth said there was an obvious connection between horse and rider.

"'Michelle always tries her best for you," he said.

Wenn's first ride on Strapped For Cash was in last year's Taumarunui Cup. She has ridden him in all his eight subsequent starts.

A win tomorrow will take his earnings over $200,000.

- NZPA