Racing: Wheeler win would be a Real Tonic

Talking to John Wheeler you don't get enormous confidence about the chances of Real Tonic in tomorrow's $40,000 Pakuranga Hunt Cup.

But race sponsor the Mad Butcher and Wheeler himself, despite his comments, both believe the Australian-based steeplechaser has a top chance.

Wheeler is flying Real Tonic over from Melbourne today, with the upcoming $100,000 Great Northern Steeplechase as the former New Zealander's main mission.
For that reason you suspect, while talking to Wheeler, that this race will be a lead-up event for the big race.

"He'll definitely be competitive this time," says Wheeler.

Real Tonic raced four times at Ellerslie when trained in New Zealand, but has not jumped the Ellerslie steeplechase fences.

"I don't expect that to be a problem because every one of the Ellerslie fences is easy and horses enjoy jumping them.

"The Hill is different because if he has a downside it's that he tends to over-race a bit.

"But he's having an air trip over the morning before the race, so he shouldn't be too fresh and I expect a rider of Jonathan Riddell's experience to be able to find him a bit of cover."

Real Tonic won a steeplechase at Sandown last week with Wheeler's Melbourne stable rider Brett Scott in the saddle. Scott is not available for the Great Northern - he'll be part of the Australian jumps jockey challenge in Ireland that week - and Wheeler was keen to have the same rider on for both New Zealand races.

Wheeler describes Real Tonic as a horse on the up: "He wrenched a joint and missed an entire year and has missed most of this winter because of a small damaged muscle problem high up on his hindquarters. He's only had the four runs and is definitely improving."

With five runners, the Ken and Ann Browne stable has a powerful hand in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup.

Ann Browne has always had a bit of an opinion of Jolly Sir, who won a steeplechase at Ellerslie at long odds on July 8. His only start since has been in a flat event at Rotorua.

The Storytella narrowly won the Inter-Island Steeples at Paeroa, beating two of his rivals here, Bart and Just The Man. His other two wins have been at Ellerslie and he rates very highly for the Brownes.

In the Lumbercorp Open Hurdles John Wheeler will line up Midnight Opal and High Season, both of whom were pulled up in the Grand National Hurdles last start.

"Neither of them could handle the testing conditions at Riccarton," said Wheeler.

"Both are great chances this time if they strike a half decent track."