Racing: Win would put icing on cake

Peter McKenzie will be under pressure to perform at Trentham today.

The Levin trainer needs to come up with the right results to mark his youngest son's 21st birthday.

Jonathon McKenzie will be celebrating his milestone at Trentham with about 70 friends and a win or two from the McKenzie racing team would be the icing on the cake.

McKenzie has only 10 horses in work but at Trentham will have five runners - Miles, Buran, Empyreal, Elendil and Bejayjay.

Empyreal is running in the Jonathon McKenzie 21st Birthday Progressive and Jonathon is a part-owner of Miles, Buran and Elendil.

McKenzie's sons - Jonathon, Justin and Bret - are involved in Buran and Elendil through the Cops'n' Robbers Syndicate and their father also gave them a share in Miles. McKenzie has a high opinion of Miles but concedes that a share in a racehorse could be seen more as a liability than an asset.

He is also hoping that appearances will be deceptive when it comes to his Trentham team.

At first glance, there would appear to be little cause for optimism. Empyreal ran sixth at his last start, when third favourite, but the others all ran near last at their most recent outings.

However, all of his runners are dropping back in class today and should be suited by a wet track.

"The only one who might be troubled by the track is Elendil," McKenzie said.

"He has won on a heavy track but that was when he was coming through the grades. But he will be racing down the 1200m chute and the ground should be better there."

In addition, McKenzie's horses invariably perform at Trentham. Bejayjay has won four races on the track and Elendil has had two wins and three placings from eight starts at Trentham, including a stakes' win and a group one placing.

Buran and Empyreal have also won on the track and Miles ran second at his only appearance.

- NZPA