KEY POINTS:
The connections of many of the leading chances for tomorrow's $200,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup are guessing about the weather.
They needn't feel too bad because so too is the Canterbury Jockey Club and the MetService.
Mid afternoon yesterday Riccarton course manager Brad Cowan was preparing for rain.
Two hours later he was preparing to water the track with the forecast now for fine weather in Christchurch today and tomorrow.
"We're not sure what's going on," said CJC chief Tim Mills.
"I was on the phone when Brad stormed into the office and said, 'What are we going to do? We probably have to water'.
"It appears now as if they say it won't rain."
Despite the stakemoney on offer, John Wheeler and Mark Oulaghan, trainers of the favourites Pentathon and Shamrock Star, appear pretty relaxed about the situation.
"It won't worry him [Pentathon] if it rains," said Wheeler. "He doesn't mind it either way."
Pentathon won the Riccarton lead-up last week by a bare neck, but he never looked like being beaten and it was the perfect strong guide into this race. It would have taken the edge off him nicely.
Shamrock Star has a touch of class. He has had an unconventional 3200m lead-up and Oulaghan admits he has no more clues as to whether the horse will manage 3200m than anyone else.
"He either will or he won't, it's fairly simple," said the Awapuni trainer.
Dimondsontheinside has not finished closer than third in five starts in her lead-up preparation for this race, but she had looked on track to be ready on the right day.
She got going late behind Pentathon last week and was making ground nicely at the end of 2500m, suggesting she is very much looking for the 3200m.
Many rate Coup Triumphal the danger to hot favourite Pentathon.
He wasn't a consistent horse last preparation but with a 1-1-2 formline this time in, he's looking very much the real deal.
He has always been rated highly.
